EDWARD S. FRANK, for many years a prominent resident of Brown county, and identified with the business interests there, was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, May 23, 1848. His father, William Frank, was born in the same county, and his grandfather, Peter, was born in Pennsylvania of German ancestors. He emigrated to North Carolina and was an early settler of Davidson county. He bought a tract of land on the Yadkin river and engaged in farming there, where he spent the rest of his days. William Frank was reared and married in North Carolina, and came from there to Illinois in 1852. The removal was made overland by teams. He located at Buckhorn and there established the post office of which he was the efficient Postmaster. It was kept in his house at that time. His house was in section 33, of what is now Lee township. He followed his trade of gunsmith and resided there eight years, and then removed to the locality known as Mt. Pleasant and still lives there. His wife's name was Sarah, daughter of Godfrey and Martha (Merrill) Winkler.

Edward S. Frank was four years of age when his parents brought him to Illinois. He was reared and educated in Lee township, and at the early age of fourteen he began to assist his father in the shop, being a natural mechanic, he soon developed into a first-class workman. He finally established himself in the blacksmith business at Mt. Pleasant and continued there nine years, then closed out that branch of the business. In it he lost less than one hundred dollars on account of bad bills, and never sued a customer. He was married in 1878, to Martha J. Morehead of Butler county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James and Margaret (Monks) Morehead. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and they are the parents of two children, Nona Ruth and Jama E.

He saw the need in that section of a regular undertaking business, and he opened a business of that nature and continued in it successfully for thirteen years. In 1891, failing health compelled him to change his occupation and he sold out this business and bought the farm where he now resides, one mile southeast of Clayton, where he is now engaged in raising sheep, breeding recorded Shropshire sheep. Sheep-raising is not a new business to him. While he was in the blacksmith business he bought a tract of rough land and in clearing it up he stocked it with sheep, so that he has been in the sheep business for upward of twenty years. While in the undertaking business he found it necessary to divert his mind in some way. In this way he began in his leisure hours to make a study of sheep, and he is now thoroughly acquainted with the subject of sheep farming and breeding for vitality. He has raised different breeds, including Merinos, Cotswold, Southdown, Oxforddown and Leicester, and has proven that the Shropshire are by far the superior all-around sheep.

Mr. Frank is a Republican in politics. He has one of the most beautiful homes in the east side of Adams county. It is located on an eminence and is partially surrounded by a beautiful glade. From the natural scenery his home takes the name of the Crescent Glade. Mr. Frank is one of the most prominent men of this section. He is a thorough business man and all his enterprises, which have been many, and has been entirely successful. It would be well if all the men in the county were as well informed, honest and reliable as is Mr. Edward S. Frank.