John W. Frankelberger

FRANKELBERGER, BENNET, YATES

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/30/2006 at 16:14:04

Winterset Madisonian - July 1925

John W. Frankelberger was born in Lewisberry, York county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1851. He was the son of John and Rebecca Arthur Frankelberger and there were nine children in the family, of whom four sisters and two brothers are still living.

When he was 21 years of age he left home and sought his fortune in the west. For a time he was in Illinois and then came to Des Moines. By chance, as it seems, he heard the call for the Winterset train and took the train, not knowing whither he went. Upon his arrival at Winterset, he was employed for time on the Hawkins farm east of town and also worked for W. W. McKnight. After this he was a clerk in the store of S. B. Wheelock, where he was associated with J. E. Smith and later he and Mr. Smith entered into a partnership and bought the Wheelock grocery. They were successfully associated in busines for many years. He also served as a clerk in the pension office at Washington, D. C.

June 29, 1887 he was united in marriage with Mintie Bennet. She passed away May 8, 1896. Feb. 23, 1915, he was united in marriage with Annis D. Yates, to whom we express our deepest sympathy in this great bereavement she has been called upon to suffer.

He was a member of Evening Star lodge No. 43, A.F. & A.M. From 1902 to 1911, a period of nine years, he served as master of the lodge and also from 1913 to 1915, which is the longest record of any presiding officer in the Winterset lodge. He was also a member of Lebanan Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was the moving spirit in the building of the new Masonic temple, which was erected in 1914. He was past grand junior deacon of the grand lodge of Iowa. He attended many schools of instruction and grand lodges, and was proficient in the work.

He loved the trees and flowers and for many years devoted much time to the beautification of the Winterset cemetery, doing much work himself, for which he asked no financial compensation. The cemetery itself is in part a monument to his public spirit and generosity. He was president of the cemetery association at the time of his entering into his rest.

August 9, 1906 he united with the First Presbyterian church on confession of his faith in Jesus Christ. He read the Bible through seven times and of recent years he read the New Testament and as he said,. "from that I got my religion." He attended the summer communion service in his church July 5th, and was faithful in the faith until the end.

Mr. Frankelberger was a man who did not cherish a grudge and would not recognize one on the part of anyone else, but with kindly greetings lived as a friend to man. He will be greatly missed. The end came quickly at the last and he entered into his eternal reward Wednesday, July 22, 1925, at a quarter to five o'clock.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon with a sermon by his pastor, LeRoy C. cooley, D.D. Interment was in Rock City cemetery, for which he had done so much to make it so beautiful. The ritual service of the Masonic order, led by Leo Percival, gave the last rites at the grave.

Gravestone Photo
 

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