George Albert Ralphs was an American businessman.
14 Facts About George Ralphs
1.
2.
George Ralphs founded the Ralphs supermarket chain in Southern California, with the help of his brother Walter.
3.
George Albert Ralphs was born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1850.
4.
George Ralphs's family moved to California on a prairie schooner and a yoke of oxen when he was a boy.
5.
Once he was settled in San Bernardino, George Ralphs was trained as an expert bricklayer and even developed a reputation as the "Champion Bricklayer of California".
6.
George Ralphs opened his first store, Ralphs and Francis, in 1873, in the Spring Street Financial District of Los Angeles with S A Francis.
7.
In 1879, George Ralphs bought Francis's share of the company for $2,000, took his brother Walter as a business partner, and renamed their business George Ralphs Brothers.
8.
George Ralphs was incorporated in 1909 as Ralphs Grocery Company.
9.
Today, George Ralphs supermarkets are owned by the Kroger Company, with locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
10.
On June 21,1914, George Ralphs was with his family for a weekend trip to the San Bernardino Mountains.
11.
George Ralphs was taken to Ramona Hospital where he underwent surgery to have his injured leg amputated.
12.
George Ralphs awoke from the surgery and spoke to his wife for a few minutes, but died of shock later that afternoon.
13.
George Ralphs's body was shipped back to Hollywood where he and his family lived.
14.
George Ralphs was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles.