FOURT, Frank, D.D.S. - 1912 Bio (1866-1958)

FOURT, FOURTE, FORT, VALENTINE, SHANNON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/12/2007 at 20:14:32

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 312-314

Frank FOURT, D.D.S. Dentistry is unique among the professions in that success depends upon three distinct qualities: a thorough understanding of specific principles, marked mechanical skill and ingenuity and the capability to control the financial side of the business. In all of these requirements Dr. Frank FOURT is well equipped and Fairfield now acknowledges him as one of its leading dentists, his skill having gained him an extensive practice. He was born on a farm at Retreat, Wisconsin, July 25, 1866, his parents being Charles and Hanna FOURT. The FOURT family was of French origin and its representatives have occupied prominent places in the colonization and settlement of this country. Members of the family have been judges and congressmen and there is at least one state governor of that name. The name was originally spelled FOURTE but various branches of the family have made changes in the orthography until the usual spelling is now FORT. Charles S. FOURT was a farmer by occupation but interrupted his agricultural labors to aid his country in the Civil war, serving four years with the Union army. He wedded Hannah VALENTINE, who was a representative of a family of pure English stock.

After mastering the common branches of learning Dr. FOURT of this review spent three years as a student in the high school at Viroqua, Wisconsin. He took up the study of dentistry in a dental office, where he received practical training, and at the same time acquainted himself with the scientific principles that found their exposition in reading books on dentistry. This qualified him for the examination that admitted him to practice in the Dakotas in 1888. He afterward successfully passed the required examination in Iowa, a state that demands as high qualifications as any in the Union. This was in 1894. He first located for practice at Britton, North Dakota, in the fall of 1888 and remained there for a year, after which he removed to Brookings, South Dakota, where he spent four years, but not being content to remain in so small a town he removed to Fairfield in 1894. Here he had the strongest kind of professional opposition but gradually his superior skill and ability became recognized, his practice grew and he is today recognized as one of the leaders of the dental profession not only in Jefferson county but in the state of Iowa. He keeps in touch with the most advanced methods and improvements and has an office splendidly equipped with the latest appliances.

In 1890 Dr. FOURT formed the acquaintance of Miss Fanny L. SHANNON, was then a pupil in the South Dakota Agricultural College, located at Brookings, and after she had completed the college course and a special course in domestic science, she was pesuaded to give up the position of librarian, which she then held, and on the 23d of November, 1892, Thanksgiving eve, she became the wife of Dr. Frank FOURT. Unto this union have been born three children: Donald, whose birth occurred in February, 1894; Arthur, born in June, 1895; and Walter, in August, 1899. The first born, however, died in infancy.

Dr. FOURT has always recognized the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and has cooperated in various plans and projects for the public good, although he has never been a politician in the truly accepted sense of office seeking. He has, however, served as a councilman of Fairfield from the second ward, having been elected on the "paving issue." He served on the street and alley committee when the first paving in Fairfield was done and when he had accomplished the purpose for which he desired election, he refused nomination and has also declined to accept the nomination for other offices, preferring to give his undivided attention to his professional duties. He votes with the democratic party and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has served in all the chairs of the blue lodge and is found an exemplary representative of the craft. He attends the Congregational church and advocates the movements for the moral and intellectual development of the community. He served on the board of directors of the Chautauqua Association and after filling the position of treasurer of the association for three years, refused renomination. He took a prominent part in securing Slagle grove for Chautauqua purposes, and his opinions concerning the work of Chautauquas have had weight in deciding the questions coming before that association. It is noteworthy that Dr. FOURT is usually chosen treasurer of any association with which he becomes connected. He served in that position in the South Dakota Dental Society and is now serving his third term as treasurer of the Iowa State Dental Society. Progress and patriotism may well be termed the keynote of his character. His natural attainments and his acquired ability have placed him in a prominent professional position and at the same time he maintains an even balance in his character and in his life by his activity in public affairs and in social interests.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.