Frank, John

FRANK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 00:12:09

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.942

JOHN FRANK
John Frank, who is practically living retired on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 11, Liberty Township, was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1836, a son of George and Mary (Snyder) Frank. The latter was a native of Maryland but removed to Pennsylvania, in which state she gave her hand in marriage to George Frank. In the year 1850 they went to Illinois, residing in Peoria County until the spring of 1876, when they came to Warren County, Iowa, where the father purchased a farm, making his home thereon until the time of his death in February 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican Party, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Lutheran Church. His wife, who was also identified with the Lutheran denomination, and later joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, passed away at the home of her son, John, in 1892, when more than eighty-one years of age.
Unto this worthy couple were born six sons and six daughters, namely: Sarah, whose demise occurred when she was twenty-four years of age; Mrs. Elizabeth Kemple, who died December 31, 1907, at her home in Hastings, Nebraska; Mrs. Salina Harvey, who passed away in Illinois twenty-five years ago; Mrs. Matilda Keller, who died in Liberty Township in 1905; John, of this review ; Josiah, whose death occurred April 7, 1907, in western Kansas; Mrs. Mary Morninger, a resident of Marion county, Kansas; Mrs. Nancy J. Miller, of Lacona, Iowa; Jesse, an agriculturist residing in Illinois; Henry, who died in White Breast Township about twenty years ago; George M., of Canton, Illinois, and Andrew, who for a number of years resided near In­dianola, but now makes his home in the west.
John Frank was thirteen years of age when he left his native state and removed to Peoria County, Illinois. At that place he owned and operated a farm of one hundred and six acres until he came to Warren County, Iowa, in March, 1878. At the time of his arrival here he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 11, Liberty Township, and later bought forty more, where he has since made his home and where he has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has placed many fine improvements on the property, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the enterprise and progressive spirit of its owner. In addition to the home farm he also owns some timber land and is widely recognized as one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the community, his well directed labor in former years now enabling him to live practically retired.
Mr. Frank was united in marriage, in Peoria County, Illinois, to Miss Mary L. Proctor, who was born in that county, November 17, 1842, her parents being Joseph and Jane (Matthews) Proctor, who were originally from Virginia. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frank have been born five children. Albert Andrew, a native of Peoria County, Illinois, now makes his home at Indianola, although he owns a farm in Liberty Township. He wedded Miss Walton, by whom he has two children, Mary Olive and John W. Florence Josephine is the wife of R. T. Savin and resides in Nebraska. She became the mother of four children, but one son, John, is living, the others are deceased. William Frank passed away in Nebraska in 1903. Mrs. Jennie Parker lives in North Dakota and has one son, Carl. She also lost a son, Freddie, who died at the age of two and a half years. Everett L., who follows farming in Liberty Township, wedded Carrie Musselman.
In his political views Mr. Frank is a Republican, casting his first presi­dential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community, having won the friendship and regard of all with.whom they have come in contact during the long period of their residence here.