Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 187.
 
GEORGE H. GRABENHORST

     A man of broad vision and pronounced business ability, George H.
Grabenhorst has left the deep impress of Ms individuality upon the history of
Salem's upbuilding, while his achievements in the real estate field have won for
him more than local prominence. He is a native of Dayton, Iowa, born in 1887.
His parents, William H. and Eva (Haight) Grabenhorst, arrived in Salem on the
1st of June 1902, and settled on a farm in Marion county. The father cultivated
that ranch until 1910, when he moved to Salem and formed a partnership with his
son George H., who had entered the real estate business. They were associated
until the death of William H. Grabenhorst in 1923 and the mother still makes her
home in the Capital city.
     George H. Grabenhorst received a public school education and at the age of
nineteen ventured in business for himself, becoming a realtor. In 1908 he allied
his interests with those of Salem and for nineteen years has exerted a strong
force for progress in the city, which is indebted to him for the Richmond,
Rosedale and Kays additions. He has bought and sold many of the largest
down-town properties and his judgment in real estate matters is considered
infallible. Numerous sub-divisions in the country have been developed by Mr.
Grabenhorst, who has greatly enhanced the value of realty in every section in
which he has operated, and in the direction of his interests brings to bear the
wisdom, initiative and executive force of the man of large affairs. The business
is conducted under the style of the W. H. Grabenhorst Company, of which George
H. Grabenhorst and his brother, E. E., are now the owners, and their office is
situated at No. 134 South Liberty street. E. B, Grabenhorst was born in Dayton,
Iowa, in 1894 and in 1918, when twenty-four years of age, responded to the call
of his country. He went to France with the Engineers Corps1 and was stationed
abroad for about nine months. After the World war he joined his brother and has
since worked energetically and effectively to expand the business, which is
controlled by one of the most reliable firms of the kind in the city.
     In 1911 George H. Grabenhorst married Miss Caroline Coburn, of Salem. Her
father Waterbury Coburn, was one of the early settlers of Marion county, Oregon,
and afterward went to the state of Washington. About 1897 he returned to the
Willamette Valley and was one of its well known agriculturists. Mr. and Mrs.
Grabenhorst have three sons: George H., Jr., Coburn L. and Richard E.
     Mr. Grabenhorst is financially interested in several farms and manifests a
deep interest in matters pertaining to the development of Oregon's great
agricultural resources. He is a past president of the Salem Realty Board and in
1926 was selected as the executive head of the Chamber of Commerce. Along
fraternal lines he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and
is also a Rotarian. In politics he is a republican and heartily indorses
measures for the general good. He has won prosperity through his own exertions
and is well entrenched in popular confidence and esteem by reason of his
enterprising spirit, his steadfast integrity and civic loyalty.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2012 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.