Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-01-03
, Historic Character Passes AWAY
at Kenosha at a Ripe
Age.
cl7YER OF THE FREE SCHOOLS
mani as a Maker of Laws in
Territorial Days-A Varied
Career.

rorosha. Wis, Dec. 27.-Col. Michael
rank died at his home in this city at 2
.r',.l. This morning. He was 80 years of
and WAS known to nearly every resi-
[,t If the county. He celebrated his
@rh birthday only a few days ago and
,cgrpd to be in very good health. He
,..I away peacefully and was conscious
r., tn within Il few hours of his demise.
rL Frank was born i'll the town of
who'll New York state. December s,
rSI lie was an Industrious student
,.I ALWAYS took great interest in news
.annr work When quite a young man
tT oIitrd a sheet called the Spectator.
II, ,rls also a great after-dinner speaker,
~ i,l nsrI 10 attend all the banquets in
, 1D. vicinity of his home. His parents
5,J him study law, but he soon gave it
"n and took to politics. He held numer-
"S pabc Offices when quite young.
In 1891 Col. Frank married Miss Caro-
line !. Carpenter i'll the town of Preble,
Y and in 1899 he left the East and
came to Southport, now henosha. lie
boJ M definite purpose in view when he
l%mr but he was resolved to engage in
n, venture that was of questionable
morality. His taste for education soon
.I~Trd itself. He had been in South
rnr only a few months when he organ
yrl a lycrum and arranged for Il course
of pnblir lectures. Col. Frank had writ
fen for the press before coming to the
Vest and in June, 1910. he became an
asspriate editor with G.. l.. Sholes of the
Southport Telegraph. This paper, now
mbIishld under the name of the Tele
raph-C Courier claims to be the oldest
weekly paper in the state. Col. Frank
was the first president of Southport after
lis Incorporation as Il village, and the
first mayor of I[cnosha after the incorpo-
ration as city. While he was mayor in
1870 the wheat riots occurred, but they
were put down by militia from Milwau-
krr.
COL Frank was member of the terri
hral 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
mrnt in the territorial Legislature looking
to the adoption of Il state government for
Wisconsin. He prepared Il report on this
question for the chairman of the commit
lee on state government and this report
was accepted by the house of representa-
tiyeS and printed as coming from the com
mjtlrc, while in fact he was not I the
committee He also contributed to the
historical literature of the state, having
written history of Kenosha and Il sketch
Of the life of Charles Durkec.
Ii was in connection with the free
school system that Col Frank was best
known To the people of Wisconsin. He
began to agitatc 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
WabE received. and it was not consid-
cred practical. In 1915 Il law was passed
authorizing the establishment of free
schools in the village of Southport pro-
Uied the law was accepted by major
jty OF the legal voters of the village. A
meeting was called Excitement was
high and it was impossible to vote. "A
%'oud meeting was called, when the law
was approved and accepted. The system
mus begun soon became popular. The
Tree school established here continued
until II became u part of the free school
system III accordance with state enact
Rents
lie was one Of the three commissioners
appointed to revise the laws of Wisconsin
d0o adapt the territorial laws to the state
I"N, ''H'"H lie Grew up the SclloOl laws.
Vhch are the foundation of the school
system of today. TO him more than to
anyone else is the state indebted for
"% system of free schools.
IN 1861 Col. Frank was appointed post
naSrr At kenosha by President Lincoln.
IT was also Il regent of the state univer-
my, was county treasurer, city superln-
@9&r0t of schools. justice of the peace
a"I chairman of the committee on rail
g"iM In 1850 he sold his property in
N'Io>ha and vent to Beloit, where he pur-
g@S'4 the nclot Free Press. 1t was not
paying venture and he remained there
"' quite year He next went to Wash
a ~-,on to fill L position in the treasury de-
.~lment. He lived in Washington twelve
years ana Il half His health failed and
L" came back to Kenosha.
IN NAG Col. Frank was invited by the
5,. !. zen of Virgil to deliver the one hum
"Su,R national anniversary Grafton. He
&",'EWed; Fifty years before, in 1876,
~ Mld delivered the semi-centennal ora
. GvI II was Il remarkable celebration
M~ the citizens of Virgil held in 1876.
i@' orator. the reader of the declaration,
i %r rnaptain, and the marshal of the
i va! Were those who had discharged these
% n ~ nifty years before. After his term
% @ I0e Treasury department his public
y"F'r ended, rs he never again accented