Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-01-02
COL. FRANK IS DEAD.
A Historic Character Passes Away
at Kenosha at Ripe
Age.
FATHER OF THE FREE SCHOOLS
Prominent as a Maker of Laws in
Territorial Oays-A Varied
Career.

Kenosha, Wis, Dec. 27.-Col. Michael
Frank died at his home in this city at 2
O'Clock this morning He was 80 years of
age and was known to nearly every resi-
dent of the county. He celebrated his
Goth birthday only few days ago and
appeared to be in very good health. He
passed away peacefully and was conscious
up to within few hours of his demise.
Col. Frank was born in the town of
Virgil, New York state, December s,
1904. He was an Industrious student
and always took great interest in news
paper work. When quite a young man
he edited a sheet called the Spectator.
He was also a great after-dinner speaker,
and used to attend all the banQuetS IN
the vicinity of his home. His parents
had him study law, but he soon gave it
up and took to politics. He held numer-
Gus public offices when quite young.
In 1887 Col. Frank married Miss Caro-
line ]. Carpenter in the town of Preble,
n. Y. and in 1889 he left the East and
came to Southport, now kenosha. He
had no definite purpose in view when ne
came. but he was resolved to engage III
no venture that was of questionable
morality. His taste for education soon
showed itself. He had been in South
port only a few months when he organ
lied a lyceum and arranged for course
ten for the press before coming to the
West. and in June 1910, he became an
associate editor with G. l.. ShOles of the
Southport Telegraph. This paper, now
published under the name of the Tele-
graph-Courier claims to be the oldest
weekly paper in the state. Col. Frank
was the first president of Southport after
It's Incorporation as village, and the
first mayor of KenOsha after the incorpo
ration as a city. While he was mayor in
1880 the wheat riots occurred, but they
were put down by militia from Milwau-
kee.
Col. Frank was member of the terri
torial council corresponding to the state
Senate, from 1913 to 1916, and of the
Assembly in 1861. The most important
measures he tried to further were those
for state government and free schools
He was the first to make an official move
ment in the territorial Legislature looking
to the adoption of a state government for
Wisconsin. He prepared a report on this
question for the chairman of the commit
tee on state government and this report
was accepted by the house of representa-
tives and printed as coming from the COM
mittee, while III fact he was not on the
committee. He also contributed to the
historical literature of the state, having
written a history of Kenosha and a sketch
of the life of Charles Durkee.
It was in connection with the free
school system that Col. Frank was best
known TO the people of Wisconsin. He
began to agitate the question in 1910
through the columns of the Telegraph.
In 1913 he introduced the first bill in the
Legislature on the subject of free schools
for Wisconsin. 1t was by no means IA
yorably received, and it was not cOnsid-
cred practical. In 1915 a law was passed
authorizing the adjustment Of free
schools in the village of Southport pro-
yided the law was accepted by major
ity Of the legal voters of the village. A
meeting was called Excitement was
high and it was impossible to vote. A
second meeting was called, when the law
was approved and accepted. The system
thus begun soon became popular. The
free school established here continued
until it became d part of the free school
system in accordance with state enact
ments
He was one of the three commissioners
appointed to revise the laws of Wisconsin
and adapt the territorial laws to the state
constitution. He drew up the school laws,
which are the foundation of the school
system of today. To him more than to
anyone else is the state indebted for
its system of free schools
In 1861 Col. Frank was appointed post
master at Kenosha by President Lincoln.
He was also a regent of the state univer-
sIty. was county treasurer, city superin-
tendent of schools, justice of the peace
and chairman of the committee on rail-
roads. In 1869 he sold his property in
Kenosha and went to Beloit, where he pur-
chased the Beloit Free Press. It was not
q paying venture and he remained there
not quite year He next went to Wash
ington to fill position in the treasury de-
partment. He lived in Washington twelve
years and a half. His health failed and
he came back to Kenosha.
In 1876 Col Frank was invited by the
citizens Of Virgil to deliver the one hum
dredth national anniversary Grafton. He
accepted. Fifty years before, in 1926,
he had delivered the semi-centennial ora
ton. 1t was a remarkable celebration
that the citizens of Virgil held in 1875
The orator, the reader of the declaration,
the chaplain, and the marshal of the
day were those who had discharged these
duties fifty years before. After his term
in the treasury department >his public
career ended, as he never again accepted