Cumberland County, Maine - John W. Frank
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Biography
John W. Frank
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 379-380


John W. Frank, one of the leading farmers of Gray, was born in West Gray, June
12, 1833, son of Alpheus and Naomi (Stimson) Frank.

Alpheus Frank, who was also a native of Gray, born August 31, 1794, died in
Portland, October 7, 1876. His wife, Naomi, whose birth occurred May 29, 1798,
reared him nine children, namely: Maria L., born November 13, 1822; George R.,
born May 2, 1824; Mary E., born May 5, 1826; Julia A., born March 28, 1828;
Charles W., born April 2, 1830; John W., the subject of this sketch; Royal F.,
born May 6, 1836; Francis E., born May 14, 1838; and Melvin P., born December
26, 1841. Maria L. was married on July 1, 1849, to Captain Ezra Haskell, who
died on September 3, 1879; and she now resides in Portland, Me. George R., who
removed to Boscobel, Wis., aided in organizing a company of soldiers for the
Civil War, was appointed Captain and afterward Major, and served for three years
in the war, taking part in various battles and skirmishes. In 1883, while in
Chicago, Ill., he met with an accident whereby he lost a foot. He married Miss
Matilda Price, who subsequently died, leaving seven children. Mary E. married
Albion White, by whom she had six children, and died June 12, 1893. Julia A.
married Alma Small, now deceased, and died September 23, 1853. Charles W. died
June 28, 1853, at West Point. Royal F., who is a graduate of West Point Academy,
served in the Civil War, was taken prisoner, and was confined for a year in
Libby Prison. Since the close of the war he has been in the regular army, where
he holds the rank of Colonel and is very popular. He married Miss Emma Knight,
of Brooklyn, N.Y., and died some time ago. Melvin P., who is one of the leading
lawyers of Portland, Me., married Miss Susan Humphrey, and is the father of two
children. He and his wife attend the Universalist church, in which they are very
active workers.

John W. Frank, in 1853, when twenty years of age, taking his fortunes into his
own hands, went to California. He spent five years in that State and Nevada,
where he carried on a successful business in lumber. In 1858 he sold out and
returned to Gray, Me. Soon after he went to Lewiston, where, in company with a
Mr. White, he engaged in the shoe business under the firm name of White & Frank.
A year later he sold his interest in the firm and returned to Gray to take
charge of his father's farm. He lived here until 1890, when he traded the place
for the farm on which he is now living, then known as the Stimson place. He and
his son are successfully engaged in general farming, and conduct an agency for
the sale of the Walter A. Wood harvesters and other farm machinery.  On
September 29, 1862, Mr. Frank enlisted in Company C of the Twenty-fifth Maine
Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, being the first man from the town of Gray to
join that company. With his regiment he left Portland on October 16, 1862, for
Washington, D.C., where they went into camp on East Capitol Hill. After
remaining in that position until October 23 of the same year, they were ordered
to Chantilly, at which place they were employed in picket duty until June 26. He
was mustered out of service July 15, 1863, having taken part in no engagement.

On June 18, 1868, he was joined in marriage with Miss Augusta Thayer, who was
born December 25, 1842, a daughter of Captain Edward and Eunice (Fernald)
Thayer. Her father, who was a native of Gray and a Captain in the State militia,
had three children, namely: Augusta, the wife of Mr. Frank; Abbie, born January
5, 1845, who was married on November 29, 1868, to Francis Cragin, of Groton,
Mass.; and Henry G., born October 15, 1847, who married Miss Emma Oxnard. Mr.
and Mrs. Frank have two children, namely: Edward, born June 10, 1869, a
travelling salesman for a Boston firm, and also an agent for farm implements;
and Julia Lillian, born December 19, 1871, a teacher in the public schools of
Everett, Mass., who also taught a number of terms in Gray. Both are graduates of
Pennell Institute, of Gray, Me. Mr. Frank is a stanch Democrat. From 1867 to
1869 and from 1882 to 1885 he served as Selectman of Gray. He has also held the
office of Overseer of the Poor six years. He is a member of Cumberland Lodge,
No. 12; A. F. & A. M., of New Gloucester; a charter member of the Grange of that
town; and he is a comrade of the George F. Shipley Post, No. 78, Grand Army of
the Republic.