Frank, Louis (1853-1927)

FRANK, BOSSERT, HIGBEE, REESE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/16/2015 at 08:36:55

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, March 17, 1927

LOUIS FRANK PASSES AWAY

Pioneer Clothing Merchant and Widely Prominent Citizen Dies at His Home

FUNERAL TOMORROW

Had Been Continuously In Business in Webster City for 51 Years

Louis Frank, who had been in very poor health for some five months, died last night at 8 o'clock at the family home at 526 First street. He was in his 74th year.

Mr. Frank was Webster City's pioneer clothier, having been continuously engaged in that business in Webster City for 51 years.

Funeral services will be held at the home tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with Dr. Effie McCollum Jones officiating. Burial will be made in Graceland cemetery.

During all his more than half a century of residence and business activity in Webster City, Mr. Frank was one of the city's substantial citizens. The widespread esteem in which he was everywhere held was manifest last year when Mr. Frank observed his fiftieth anniversary in business. At that time other clothiers of the city joined in sending him a beautiful bouquet as a token of their high esteem for a competitor whose business methods and private life were an inspiration to the whole community.

Mr. Frank came to Webster City in 1876 and, with Sam Reinhardt, established the Reinhardt & Frank clothing store. Shortly after, Mr. Frank's brother, Max, now deceased, bought out the Reinhardt interest and the firm became Frank Bros. This partnership lasted 10 years, when Louis Frank bought out his brother and had since conducted the business himself. The Frank store became known far and wide through the high business ethics of its proprietor and Mr. Frank, from the first, became one of the city's best known and highest respected citizens. He was a good business man, always honorable in his dealings and always giving generous service both to his customers and to the community at large.

Personally he was always quiet and unassuming in his disposition and very likable to his host of friends. He was a man of the strictest integrity and who always took a position on public matters for what he believed to be the general good. In his death Webster City loses a good citizen and his family a kind, loving and generous father.

Mr. Frank was born Nov. 28, 1853, in Eppington, Germany. When a lad of 13 he came to the United States. His boyhood was spent in the east largely about New York City. In 1876 he came west and located in Webster City. Here on Aug. 13, 1883, he was married to Miss Mary Bossert, by whom he is survived. There are also three children. Ralph L., of Chicago and Mrs. H.G. Higbee and Arthur both of this city. Mr. Frank's life since he came to Webster City had been an open book and of a character that made a friend of every acquaintance. There is also one sister, Mrs. Augusta Reese, of Kansas City.

Mr. Frank was stricken some time ago with a general breakdown in his health. He visited the hospital at Iowa City last fall. He continued to fail however, and finally died of creeping paralysis.