BIO: George S. FRANK, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  G. S. FRANK, M.D., of Millheim, one of the leading physicians of 
Penn's Valley, has gained by force of merit an enviable rank in his 
profession, and this success is more notable when one considers the 
high average of ability and attainment which is found in the fraternity 
in this section.  In giving an account of the life of Dr. Frank it will 
be well to review the history of the family, and see the sturdy, 
progressive stock from which he has descended.
  Christopher Frank, his great-great-grandfather, came from Germany to 
America at an early period.  Philip Frank, the great-grandfather, was 
for some time a resident of Hagerstown, Md., but in 1795 came to Centre 
county, and located near Aaronsburg, upon a farm now owned by Jacob 
Reed, the first farm to the north of the pike on the west side of the 
town.  He was in comfortable circumstances, and being a man of 
intellect and enterprise was highly respected by all.  In political 
faith he was a Democrat.  His wife, Catherine Harper, was a sister of 
Adam Harper, who in 1802, became one of the first associate judges of 
Centre county.  This worthy couple were among the early members of the 
Lutheran Church at Aaronsburg, where both were buried, the wife dying 
in 1831, and the husband in 1832.  Their children were George, who is 
mentioned more fully below; Philip and John, who died at Aaronsburg; 
Eve, who married Judge John Shaeffer, and died in Miles township, 
Centre county; Elizabeth, who died in Lebanon county, Penn., unmarried; 
and Catherine, who married a Mr. Shade, and died in the West.
  George Frank, the grandfather of our subject, was born near 
Hagerstown, Md., in 1779, and from the age of sixteen made his home in 
this section, engaging in farming as an occupation.  He was of ordinary 
height and compactly built, and a most industrious worker, although he 
never accumulated much.  His schooling was limited, but he possessed 
much native intelligence.  He always took an interest in public 
affairs, and in politics was a Democrat.  He was married in Aaronsburg, 
to Christina Kramer, who was born in Jonestown, Lebanon Co., Penn., in 
1780, the daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Haine) Kramer.  Her father 
died in Lebanon county, and her mother removed to Haines township, 
Centre county, where the young people first met.  For some time after 
his marriage our subject's grandfather lived at Aaronsburg, but in 1809 
he leased a tract of land in Sugar Valley, where he remained until 
1814.  He then removed to Brush Valley, and later returned to 
Aaronsburg, where he died in 1837, his interment taking place there.  
His widow survived him many years, passing away in 1863, at the home of 
her son Samuel (father of our subject) in Rebersburg, where her remains 
now rest.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  172  

  Fourteen children were born of this union, of whom eleven lived to 
adult age.  Ten were living at the time of their father's death.  
Jacob, a miller by trade, died in Sugar Valley at the age of ninety; 
David, a millwright, died in Pickaway county, Ohio; John, a carpenter, 
died in Miles township, Centre county; George, a farmer, is living in 
Mercer county Ohio, at the age of eighty-nine years; Michael, a farmer 
and carpenter, died in Mercer county, Ohio, aged seventy-four; Samuel 
is mentioned below; Mary (Mrs. Solomon Confer) died at Millheim; Sally 
(Mrs. Andrew Stover) died in Haines township, Centre county; Elizabeth 
(twin to Sally) married John Hetzler, and died in Illinois;, Catherine 
(deceased) never married; and Eve (Mrs. Jacob Minich) died in 
Aaronsburg.
  Samuel Frank, our subject's father, was born April 25, 1821, in Miles 
township, Centre county, one and one-half miles south of Rebersburg, 
near the mountain, in a one-story cabin built of logs.  When he was 
four years old his parents moved to Aaronsburg, where he attended the 
subscription schools of the day, his first teacher being Andrew 
Ebraght, who taught his classes in his own home.  As his parents were 
very poor, the young student, who lived near the school, made the fires 
to pay for his tuition during the winter.  One of his later teachers, 
Mr. Kerr, would hire his brightest and most advanced pupils to teach 
the primary class, and this work falling to Samuel Frank, he was 
enabled to secure free tuition for some time.  The death of his father 
caused the separation of the family, and February 5, 1838, he left 
Aaronsburg to go to Rebersburg.  He had nothing in the world but the 
few belongings he carried upon his person, and on arriving at 
Rebersburg he was bound out by the overseer of the poor, John Moyer, to 
learn the tailor's trade under Daniel Winters.  Four years, two months 
and twenty days were spent in this service without a cent of pay or a 
day's schooling, his clothing only, and that of the poorest sort, being 
given him.  During the last year he ran a shop at Wolfs Store for Mr. 
Winters, and at the end of his term he continued business there on his 
own account.
  On February 28, 1843, Samuel Frank was married in Miles township, 
Centre county, to Miss Sarah Brungart, a native of that locality, born 
April 22, 1825, the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, George Brungart, 
and his wife, Sarah (Kahl).  This marriage was a most fortunate one, 
Mr. Frank gaining an excellent wife who helped him in every way.  He 
remained at Wolfs Store until 1854, and in the meantime was for three 
years in partnership with Thomas Wolfe in a general mercantile 
business.  Wishing to try a farmer's life, Mr. Frank then spent four 
years upon a farm at Spring Bank, in the same township, but in 1858 he 
sold out and removed to Rebersburg, where he purchased a general store 
from William Hosterman.  He continued this business successfully for 
some time, Dr. J. H. Hilbish being his partner for two years, but in 
1865 he sold his store and residence and bought a mill property and a 
small farm in the same township.  Two years later he sold them and, 
returning to Rebersburg, purchased a residence which he still owns and 
a store adjoining, and also a small farm in the vicinity.  He was 
engaged in mercantile business until 1879, when he sold out to Gramley 
Brothers, and for some years he has lived a retired life, although 
still enjoying excellent health.  All things considered, his career is 
a remarkable one.  Could he have had a thorough education in his youth, 
so that his intellectual abilities would have had free scope, his life 
might have been spent in other lines, but he could have won no 
stronger, truer friends and admirers than he now has among the people 
of Centre county.
  Any political position in the gift of his circle of acquaintances was 
his: he was associate judge of Centre county for five years (1877-
1881); county auditor three years (1871-1874); and he held almost every 
township office, including that of justice of the peace, in which he 
served five years.  In 1843, at the age of twenty-two, he was chosen 
overseer of the poor.  For a quarter of a century he was regarded as 
one of the most influential Democrats of Miles township, and he was no 
less active in other movements of his time.  In 1841 he and his wife 
united with the Lutheran Church in Rebersburg, and he has been among 
its chief supporters, holding every office except that of preacher, and 
contributing liberally, especially to the building of the new church.  
As a recreation he has always been fond of hunting, and he has tramped 
hundreds of miles over the mountains in search of game.
  On September 1, 1886, his faithful helpmeet passed from earth, and 
her mortal remains lie buried at Rebersburg.  Since her death he has 
made his home with his son James.  Four children survive: James P., a 
farmer near Rebersburg; Luther B., a clerk in the same town; George S., 
our subject; and Paulina, now Mrs. R. D. Bierly, of Rebersburg.
  We will now return to the subject proper of this sketch.  Dr. Frank 
was born October 22, 1859, in Rebersburg, where he received an 
elementary education in the district schools, Hon. Henry Meyer being 
his first teacher.  Later he

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  173

attended the normal schools of the locality and, with private 
instruction in science and the languages, he prepared for teaching.  At 
eighteen he took charge of a school, and after three years as a 
successful teacher in his native township he began the study of 
medicine with Dr. Daniel J. Hilbish, a noted practitioner of 
Rebersburg.  His preliminary reading finished, he took a course in the 
Jefferson Medical College, graduating in 1883.  His first professional 
work was at Spring Mills, but after a short time he located at 
Rebersburg, where he remained until 1886.  He then settled permanently 
in Millheim, and now enjoys a large and constantly increasing practice, 
the territory covered being probably as large as that of any 
practitioner in the county and not excepting the oldest.  He keeps well 
informed on the various lines of professional progress and is 
identified with leading medical associations, being a member of the 
Centre County Medical Society; Pennsylvania Medical Society; West 
Branch Medical Society; and the American Medical Association.
  In 1885, the Doctor was married in Rebersburg to Miss Melissa G. 
Miller, daughter of J. A. and Mary (Esterline) Miller, and they have an 
elegant home at Millheim, a model of convenience and comfort.  
Agreeable in manners and in conversation, he easily gains friends, whom 
his sterling qualities of character bind firmly to him.  As a 
progressive citizen he manifests a keen interest in all local affairs, 
serving on the village council and the school board.  At present he is 
coroner of Centre county; but while he is an enthusiastic supporter of 
the Democratic party, he does not aim at political distinction.  He is 
a charter member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle at Millheim, and he 
and his accomplished wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church, 
to which they contribute liberally, not only in money but in time and 
in strength, the Doctor being an elder in the Church and superintendent 
of the Sunday-school.

Note: Geo. S. (40, physician), Melissa G. (39) and Randall Miller (7, 
nephew) are listed in the 1900 Milheim, Centre County census.