Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in 1921 & 1922 Ode Franklin Fryer

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, December 22, 1921
Page SIX

NO. 41 (sic - should be 43)

*ODE FRANKLIN FRYER

This week another son of the soil graces the "Who's Who," one who enjoys also the proud distinction of being a native son of Old Jefferson. With pleasure we present to you one Ode Franklin Fryer, a gentleman with whom you may have had some business dealings if you find yourself a bit short of money; also, if you have been a bit remiss in meeting your note when due it is possible you may have talked with him. For Ode Franklin occupies the first chair over at the Iowa State Savings bank.

As there were already some ten other children Ode Franklin didn't create any particular excitement when he arrived at the home on the farm up there near Packwood. In fact, there wasn't anything particularly exciting happening on the old farm but our hero stuck until he became of age, then got a job as a clerk in a store. O. F. didn't stick long at that. He found that the store owner was doing a lot less work than he was and was making a blamed sight more money, so he determined to try that end of the merchandising game by going back to Packwood and opening a store. Doing pretty well there until the Big Fire about destroyed the town, so he went to Hedrick and opened a store, afterward returning to Packwood and opening another store. Store did pretty well but it seemed to Ode Franklin that the local bank got all the profits.

After studying this problem over for a while O. F. decided to break into the bank where the big money was. Always was a great fellow to like to be around where the money was most plentiful. He told the bank directors there at Packwood that he had an idea he would make a first rate cashier at their bank, and told it in such a way that he convinced them and he got the job. After that 'twas pretty easy for him to break into the Iowa State here at Fairfield.

Outtalking the other fellow was always a strong point with Ode Franklin. Used to be the same way with handling the stock out on the farm. Never used force at all, just persuasion and diplomacy. One day he came upon his father trying to drive a shoat out of the garden into the hog lot. Father was about worn out and had trampled down more garden than the hog could have damaged in a week.

"Ode," his father called, "I can't do a blamed thing with this contrary critter--see if you can drive it into the hog lot."

Ode went up to the pig. The pig snorted defiance. Ode sat down and began talking to the pig, explaining the advantages that a hungry, mud-loving swine might expect to find over in the hog lot. Then he got up and sauntered into the hog lot and the shote (sic) came shasing after him, grunting and squealing.

Lot of people will climb over an obstacle; others will work hard and push it to one side. Ode Franklin doesn't do either. He merely exercises a bit of diplomacy and gets the obstacle to get out of the way. That's the way he put over one of the Liberty loan drives in this county.

Ode Franklin was made chairman of the Liberty loan committee for the county and told to get the money--made everybody come through with their allotment. Looked like 'twas going to be quite a chore to get some of those wealthy tight-wads and some of the kaiser-loving ones to buy bonds. Ode Franklin got a Big Stick, figuratively speaking, of course; this he wrapped carefully with nice, soft cotton, leaving just enough of the stick showing that anyone seeing it would know what it was but would infer that, because it was wrapped up so carefully, there was no intention or thought of using it. Then he opened a jar of moral suasion honey and placed it on his desk. Delinquent Liberty loan buyers were then asked to call at the bank and talk over the matter of the loan in just a little friendly chat. When the came Ode Franklin fed them up on his honey. They nearly all liked it and made haste to sign on the dotted line while they smacked their lips. Once in a while there'd be a chap who didn't care for that particular brand of honey very much. In such cases Ode would absent-mindedly toy with the wrappings on the Big Stock (sic) and the tight-wad would suddenly acquire a taste for honey. Jefferson county stood pretty nearly one hundred percent in that drive.

You will see from this that Ode Franklin Fryer is something of a diplomat. Like Bangs, over at the First National, Ode is terribly pained when he has to deny a man a loan. It is no unusual sight to see an unsuccessful borrower and Ode Franklin weeping on each others shoulders, and the aforesaud u. b. going out declaring that if all bankers had the humanitarian instincts of Ode Fryer there'd be no poverty in the world. It's really touching to see some poor risk trying to touch O. F.

The Fairfield Gospel Team is an organization you've probably heard about. Ode Franklin made that organization famous by his singing. He likes to lift up his voice in song, and his little girl says they don't mind it at home "so very much" so long as he stays out in the yard. Naturally, with a voice like his he is a member of the Rotarians. Yet that should not be held against him, for he is a democrat and that ought to atone even for being a Rotarian.

But even those who hear him sing, and those who have been denied loans will swear by Ode Franklin because he is a pretty straight kind of a chap, will stick by his friends, does his duty by God and man and boosts and hustles always for his community. Only case known where he has gone back on his friends is to give up horses for an automobile. Ode was always fond of horses and he always hangs his head when he meets an old equine friend while driving in his car. They say he always parks his car down the road a piece when he goes out to the farm rather than hurt the feelings of the horses there by having them see him in a car. This may be an exaggerated statement. However, there's no denying that Ode Franklin Fryer is a great fellow to pour oil on troubled waters; he's fond of smoothing down the rough places in life. And that helps all of us a lot.
    *(Editor's Note)--Rotarian No. 1. R-r-r-revenge.