William M Frantz
*1913 AW Bowen History of Montgomery County, Indiana
William M. Frantz*
It would be hard to find a more painstaking and energetic tiller of the
soil in Montgomery Co. than *William M. Frantz*, of Clark Twp, a man who
has worked hard and never depended upon others to his work or his
planning, and the success that has come to him has been well deserved in
every respect and we are glad to give his life record space in this
volume along with other deserving citizens of this locality.
Mr. Frantz was born in Scott Twp, this County, about a mile west of
Ladoga, on June 19, 1864. He is a son of *Frank and Elizabeth (Myers)
Frantz. Matthias Frantz*, the first of the name of whom we are informed,
was born in Lancaster Co., Pa Sept 3, 1808. HIs
mother's maiden name was
*HANTS* and she was a sister of *Katherine Hants*, who married *John
MYERS, Sr.* and for a fuller account of this family the reader's
attention is respectfully directed to the sketch of *Frantz O. Myers*,
appearing in this volume. Matthias Frantz's mother died when the boy was
4 or 5 days old, and he was taken into the family circle of his aunt and
uncle, *Mr. & Mrs. John Myers, Sr.*
With them he went to Botetourt Co VA and lived there on the Myers farm
until he grew to manhood. In 1831 he came on horseback with his uncle
and his cousin, *Henry Myers* from
great importance to the new community. Later the three men returned to
the old Va. home and prepared to move here, and it was on the fall of
1833 that the Myers family, including Matthias Frantz, made the long
overland trip in wagons to Montgomery Co Indiana locating in the
vicinity of Ladoga, where they established permanent homes and took an
active part in building up the community.
*Matthias Frantz* entered land 2 mi. W. and one mi. north of Ladooga,
and this is improved and established his home thereon, and here he
married *Sally GRAYBILL*. He followed farming all his life. He took an
interest in public affairs and was a pioneer Justice of the Peace, was
also a deacon in the
His death occurred July 1, 1898 his wife having preceded him to the
grave June 23, 1894. To them the following children were born; *James P;
William H; Sarah J; Elizabeth and John Frank*. John Frank Frantz was
born on Jan 18, 1838 on the farm where his father had settled in pioneer
times, and there he grew to manhood and in 1859 married *Elizabeth
Myers*, a daughter of *William and Lydia (HARSHBARGER) Myers*. For her
ancestory the reader is directed to the sketch of
*Frantz O. Myers*,
elsewhere in this vol. She was born Nov 1, 1838, a mile west of Ladoga,
where her father, *William Myers* was a pioneer settler. *Frank
Frantz*bought a farm north of her father's farm and farmed there all his
life. Six children were born of his first marriage; the first an *infant
son*, died unnamed Dec 1, 1859. *Leona Ellen*, born Feb 27, 1861, d. Feb
17, 1864; the third and fourth, *twin boys* died unnamed in infancy
March 16, 1863; *William H* (sic) - (note the article is about this same
man but is titled "*William M. Frantz*") born June 19, 1864; *Sarah
L.*born Aug 29, 1866 was the wife of *Frank WILLIAMS*and she died July
6, 1902. The mother of the above mentioned children died July 6, 1878,
when William M, of this sketch was 14 years old.
After the death of his first wife, Frank Frantz married *Emma TAPP*, a
daughter of *John and Amanda Tapp*. She was born and
reared in Scott
Twp, this County, 3 miles W. of Ladoga. Two children were born of this
union, *May and Gaynelle*.
In 1897 Matthias Frantz, being feeble from advanced age his family moved
in with him to care for him. His death occurred July 1, 1898, and his
son, Frank died about 5 weeks later Aug 9, 1898. His widow lives in
and he attended the public schools in his native locality. He continued
to work on the home place until his married on Sept 13, 1888 to *Valetta
CORN*, daughter of *George W. Corn* and wife of Clark Twp. a complete
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. For a year after his
marriage he continued on his father's farm, then moved
to where he now
lives in the NW part of Clark Twp on the farm owned by Mrs. Frantz's
father and he has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock
raising in partnership with Mr. Corn. To Mr. & Mrs. Frantz one son
has been born, *George F*, whose birth occurred on Oct 13, 1894. He is
now in his Jr. year in Ladoga HS. Fraternally, Mr.
Frantz is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Ladoga. He is a quiet, home man,
obliging in disposition and fair in all his dealings.
--
Jeffery G. Scism, IBSSG