Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 15-16

MAJOR GEORGE ROBINSON FRANK (deceased) was one of the distinguished war veterans of Muscoda, Grant county, and a gentleman who enjoyed to the full the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born at Gray, Cumberland Co., Maine. May 2, 1824, a son of Alpheus and Naomi (STIMPSON) FRANK.

James FRANK, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and a very worthy man. Alpheus FRANK and his wife resided in Maine until their deaths. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom our subject was the eldest son and second child. One of our subject's brothers, John W. FRANK, served his country in a Maine Regiment during the war of the Rebellion, and is still a resident of Maine. Another brother, Gen. Royal T. FRANK, graduated from West Point in 1854, and during the Civil war served his country with distinction, being brevetted major, July 6, 1862, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Peninsular campaign. In December of the same year he was further honored by being brevetted lieutenant-colonel for bravery at Fredericksburg. During December, 1870, Gen. FRANK was transferred to the 1st Artillery, and Nov. 25, 1888, was made commandant of the Artillery School at Fortress Monroe. When Gen. Merritt was sent to the Philippines, during the war with Spain, Gen. FRANK succeeded him as commander of the East, with headquarters at Governor's Island. During his long and active career General FRANK served his country with marked bravery, and his honors are but the just reward of his faithfulness and devotion. Another brother of Major FRANK and Gen. FRANK is Malvin P. FRANK, one of the distinguished attorneys of Portland, Maine.

George R. FRANK grew to manhood in his native State, receiving a good academic education, and reaching school himself for four winters, beginning when but seventeen. However, wishing to see something more of the world, the young man, in March, 1845, left home and went to Boston; thence to Buffalo, and in September of the same year to Chicago, which was then a small village. From Chicago he proceeded to Galena, and thence to Benton, Lafayette Co., Wis., where he taught school the following winter. In the spring of 1846 Major FRANK removed to Grant country and engaged in farming and teaching, his last term of teaching being at Boscobel, in the winter of 1861-62. Fired with patriotism, when the war of the Rebellion broke out Major FRANK applied for a recruiting commission, and while waiting for it sought to stir up his fellow citizens by speeches and enthusiastic talking. As a result of his efforts, when the commission arrived, he enrolled his full company in a single day, and it became Company B, of the 33d Wis. V.I. our subject being its captain, in which capacity he served until the spring of 1865, when he was promoted to the rank of major. Except for a furlough of sixty days, Major FRANK was with his regiment continuously, and participated in the twenty-four battles in which it was engaged. The 33d Wisconsin Regiment has a most honorable record. Its first commander was Col. Jonathan B. MOORE, formerly sheriff of Grant county, Wisconsin, a very able officer. The regiment took part in the siege of Vicksburg, Meridian expedition, Red River expedition, battle of Tupelo, and other engagements of equal importance. After the surrender at Mobile the regiment was ordered to Montgomery, Ala., and moved thence to Vicksburg, where it was mustered out.

In 1875 Major FRANK purchased a large stock farm, just across the line in Grant county, and became one of the largest stock raisers in that locality. He held various county and town offices, having been town superintendent of schools, justice of the peace, member of the county board, deputy United States marshal, deputy United States collector, assistant assessor Internal Revenue, etc.

The first marriage of Major FRANK occurred in 1848 to Miss Matilda PRICE, a native of Indiana, daughter of Zachariah and Elizabeth PRICE, who was brought to Grant county, Wisconsin, when but six years old, in 1836. The children born of this marriage were seven in number, and those now (1901) living are: Alpheus E., Charles E., Naomi E., William E., George E. and Fred J. The other child, Florence C., wife of Charles J. McKITTRICK, died July 10, 1897. On Aug. 4, 1891, Mrs. FRANK died while on a visit to her daughter Naomi, at Fremont, Ohio. On Dec. 2, 1897, Major FRANK was again married, this time to Miss Mary L. OWENS, daughter of Thomas and Mary M. OWENS. Mrs. FRANK was born in Jo Daviess county, Ill., May 25, 1863; her mother is still living. Mr. OWENS died in Richland county, Wis., in 1899.

Major FRANK enjoyed the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, and was one of the leading factors in the social and political life of Muscoda. Genial, public-spirited, enterprising, he was a pleasant companion, as well as a good business man and faithful public official, and his sudden death, on May 20, 1900, at his home in Muscoda, was deeply and sincerely mourned. After the funeral services, which were conducted by the A.R.& A.M., and the G.A.R., six of his old company acting as pall-bearers, the remains were taken to Fremont, Ohio, and buried beside those of his first wife, in Oakwood cemetery. The Major is survived by a wife and six children.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck