The Carl Frederich Adam Frank Family
Neal Miller
The history of the Carl Frederich Adam Frank family, including their immigration and naturalization, their influence in pioneer settlements, their home life, and their family and church affiliation truly exemplifies the German settlers' participation in the settling of American soil. Carl Frederich Adam Frank (Franke) was born on December 26, 1826 in Lippersdorf, the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany.
On August 13, 1854, C.F. Adam Frank married Wilhelmine Arnold, the daughter of the city treasurer of Lippersdorf. Accompanied by his wife and two brothers, Rober and Carl Henry, he set forth on the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Emigrating from the Port of Bremen on September 16, 1854, and under sail for approximately seven weeks, the young Germans found that their hardships had only begun. The sailing accommodations, for example, were apparently poor because in the final days of the voyage, drinking water ran short and rations were cut to one-half cup per day per passenger. The ship arrived at Galveston, Texas, on November 4, and from there they traversed to Houston where the Franks hired an ox teamster to carry them and their supplies to Fayette County. For three weeks C.F. Adam Frank, his wife and his brothers were on the road to La Grange, intermittently walking and riding the uncomfortable, heavy-laden ox cart.
In addition to the difficulty of travel, the young European party did not know exactly in what part of the county to settle. After some deliberation, it was decided to settle in the Tries settlement, later known as Cedar. Adam Frank was recognized as being one of the earliest German settlers in that community. Shortly after the land was purchased and a homestead established, C.F. Adam Frank and his wife later decided that they would move several miles due south to a small upstart community known as Swiss Alp. Again, Adam, as he was popularly known, and his family were one of the first families in the settlement although evidently he could not persuade his brothers to join him, as they remained in the Cedar area. The move was a very strenuous one because this was a country of rolling hills, and the grass few so high that it was extremely difficult to even survey the land, despite the fact that Adam, his wife, and infant child were mounted on horseback.
Yet, even as this land proved to be a challenge for Adam Frank, his risky investment paid off in the long run. At Swiss Alp he purchased a total of approximately one hundred and thirty-one acres between the years of 1866 and 1874, the initial tract of eighty-five acres being purchased for the sum of nine hundred dollars from A. Amman, one of the founders of nearby community of Ammansville. This land proved to be a profitable investment in more ways than for merely farming. Various tracts were leased for mineral rights and even until the late 1960's, this land was still productive in oil and gas leases paid to the heirs of Adam Frank. In addition to his holdings in Swiss Alp, in 1867, Adam Frank purchased a fifty acre tract of land from W.G. Woods, for one hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, near Buckner's Creek in the Cedar area.
Along with wise investments, Adam Frank also carried with him various skills which made his life a successful one. He was equally adept as a farmer, a livestock raiser and bee-keeper. But also, like many of the German immigrants who settled in the La Grange area, he came across the Atlantic with a respected vocation. Adam Frank was a shoemaker by trade, and although he chose agriculture, he pursued his shoemaking interests as a sideline. Because of his noted skill as a cobbler he was nicknamed "Schuster" Frank by his friends and customers.
Despite his large land holdings and various sources of income, Adam Frank still had time for the needs of his large family. He could have not, however, been as effective as a provider had it not been for his devoted wife, Wilhelmine. An educated woman, she suffered many hardships which she would never have encountered in Saxony, Germany. Shortly after the family's settlement in the Cedar community, she was stricken with typhoid fever which she battled for nine weeks, spending most of the time unconscious. There were also many domestic hardships. In Swiss Alp, Wilhelmine had to keep up a rude hut with a dirt floor and be content in calling it her home. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Adam escaped actual military service by becoming an employee in a government hat factory, supposedly located in La Grange. During this trying period, Wilhelmine had to take care of the children, the farm and all other duties necessary for the welfare of a large family. All this she accepted as part of the vigorous activity needed to tame a crude and relatively unsettled territory as compared to her home in Germany. Between the years of 1857 and 1877, Wilhelmine Frank gave birth to seven children:
Born Died
Ida Helene Frank Roitsch December 28, 1857 September 16, 1911
Benardt Frank December 27, 1863 Unknown
Bertha Frank Steinman March 9, 1860 September 17, 1952
Augustinus Frank June 17, 1867 October 9, 1954
Carl Frederich Wilhelm Frank March 2, 1871 November 21, 1951
Carl Frederich August Frank March 10, 1875 May 17, 1911
Augusta Adelgunda Frank Carby August 5, 1877 November 12, 1952
Along with a good home life, the Lutheran faith also played a great part in the lives of most German immigrants. This was certainly true for the Adam Frank family. They faithfully attended services riding on sleds and later on blocked wheeled wagons drawn by oxen. Adam Frank and his wife were charter members of the Evangelical Lutheran Philadelphia Church of Swiss Alp, now known as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp. Adam also signed the church constitution and further exemplified his religious attitude by acting as sponsor to his grandchildren as well as to the children of various other relatives and close friends.
Neal Miller
The history of the Carl Frederich Adam Frank family, including their immigration and naturalization, their influence in pioneer settlements, their home life, and their family and church affiliation truly exemplifies the German settlers' participation in the settling of American soil. Carl Frederich Adam Frank (Franke) was born on December 26, 1826 in Lippersdorf, the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany.
On August 13, 1854, C.F. Adam Frank married Wilhelmine Arnold, the daughter of the city treasurer of Lippersdorf. Accompanied by his wife and two brothers, Rober and Carl Henry, he set forth on the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Emigrating from the Port of Bremen on September 16, 1854, and under sail for approximately seven weeks, the young Germans found that their hardships had only begun. The sailing accommodations, for example, were apparently poor because in the final days of the voyage, drinking water ran short and rations were cut to one-half cup per day per passenger. The ship arrived at Galveston, Texas, on November 4, and from there they traversed to Houston where the Franks hired an ox teamster to carry them and their supplies to Fayette County. For three weeks C.F. Adam Frank, his wife and his brothers were on the road to La Grange, intermittently walking and riding the uncomfortable, heavy-laden ox cart.
In addition to the difficulty of travel, the young European party did not know exactly in what part of the county to settle. After some deliberation, it was decided to settle in the Tries settlement, later known as Cedar. Adam Frank was recognized as being one of the earliest German settlers in that community. Shortly after the land was purchased and a homestead established, C.F. Adam Frank and his wife later decided that they would move several miles due south to a small upstart community known as Swiss Alp. Again, Adam, as he was popularly known, and his family were one of the first families in the settlement although evidently he could not persuade his brothers to join him, as they remained in the Cedar area. The move was a very strenuous one because this was a country of rolling hills, and the grass few so high that it was extremely difficult to even survey the land, despite the fact that Adam, his wife, and infant child were mounted on horseback.
Yet, even as this land proved to be a challenge for Adam Frank, his risky investment paid off in the long run. At Swiss Alp he purchased a total of approximately one hundred and thirty-one acres between the years of 1866 and 1874, the initial tract of eighty-five acres being purchased for the sum of nine hundred dollars from A. Amman, one of the founders of nearby community of Ammansville. This land proved to be a profitable investment in more ways than for merely farming. Various tracts were leased for mineral rights and even until the late 1960's, this land was still productive in oil and gas leases paid to the heirs of Adam Frank. In addition to his holdings in Swiss Alp, in 1867, Adam Frank purchased a fifty acre tract of land from W.G. Woods, for one hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, near Buckner's Creek in the Cedar area.
Along with wise investments, Adam Frank also carried with him various skills which made his life a successful one. He was equally adept as a farmer, a livestock raiser and bee-keeper. But also, like many of the German immigrants who settled in the La Grange area, he came across the Atlantic with a respected vocation. Adam Frank was a shoemaker by trade, and although he chose agriculture, he pursued his shoemaking interests as a sideline. Because of his noted skill as a cobbler he was nicknamed "Schuster" Frank by his friends and customers.
Despite his large land holdings and various sources of income, Adam Frank still had time for the needs of his large family. He could have not, however, been as effective as a provider had it not been for his devoted wife, Wilhelmine. An educated woman, she suffered many hardships which she would never have encountered in Saxony, Germany. Shortly after the family's settlement in the Cedar community, she was stricken with typhoid fever which she battled for nine weeks, spending most of the time unconscious. There were also many domestic hardships. In Swiss Alp, Wilhelmine had to keep up a rude hut with a dirt floor and be content in calling it her home. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Adam escaped actual military service by becoming an employee in a government hat factory, supposedly located in La Grange. During this trying period, Wilhelmine had to take care of the children, the farm and all other duties necessary for the welfare of a large family. All this she accepted as part of the vigorous activity needed to tame a crude and relatively unsettled territory as compared to her home in Germany. Between the years of 1857 and 1877, Wilhelmine Frank gave birth to seven children:
Born Died
Ida Helene Frank Roitsch December 28, 1857 September 16, 1911
Benardt Frank December 27, 1863 Unknown
Bertha Frank Steinman March 9, 1860 September 17, 1952
Augustinus Frank June 17, 1867 October 9, 1954
Carl Frederich Wilhelm Frank March 2, 1871 November 21, 1951
Carl Frederich August Frank March 10, 1875 May 17, 1911
Augusta Adelgunda Frank Carby August 5, 1877 November 12, 1952
Along with a good home life, the Lutheran faith also played a great part in the lives of most German immigrants. This was certainly true for the Adam Frank family. They faithfully attended services riding on sleds and later on blocked wheeled wagons drawn by oxen. Adam Frank and his wife were charter members of the Evangelical Lutheran Philadelphia Church of Swiss Alp, now known as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp. Adam also signed the church constitution and further exemplified his religious attitude by acting as sponsor to his grandchildren as well as to the children of various other relatives and close friends.
The Carl Frederich Adam Frank Family
Neal Miller
The history of the Carl Frederich Adam Frank family, including their immigration and naturalization, their influence in pioneer settlements, their home life, and their family and church affiliation truly exemplifies the German settlers' participation in the settling of American soil. Carl Frederich Adam Frank (Franke) was born on December 26, 1826 in Lippersdorf, the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany.
On August 13, 1854, C.F. Adam Frank married Wilhelmine Arnold, the daughter of the city treasurer of Lippersdorf. Accompanied by his wife and two brothers, Rober and Carl Henry, he set forth on the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Emigrating from the Port of Bremen on September 16, 1854, and under sail for approximately seven weeks, the young Germans found that their hardships had only begun. The sailing accommodations, for example, were apparently poor because in the final days of the voyage, drinking water ran short and rations were cut to one-half cup per day per passenger. The ship arrived at Galveston, Texas, on November 4, and from there they traversed to Houston where the Franks hired an ox teamster to carry them and their supplies to Fayette County. For three weeks C.F. Adam Frank, his wife and his brothers were on the road to La Grange, intermittently walking and riding the uncomfortable, heavy-laden ox cart.
In addition to the difficulty of travel, the young European party did not know exactly in what part of the county to settle. After some deliberation, it was decided to settle in the Tries settlement, later known as Cedar. Adam Frank was recognized as being one of the earliest German settlers in that community. Shortly after the land was purchased and a homestead established, C.F. Adam Frank and his wife later decided that they would move several miles due south to a small upstart community known as Swiss Alp. Again, Adam, as he was popularly known, and his family were one of the first families in the settlement although evidently he could not persuade his brothers to join him, as they remained in the Cedar area. The move was a very strenuous one because this was a country of rolling hills, and the grass few so high that it was extremely difficult to even survey the land, despite the fact that Adam, his wife, and infant child were mounted on horseback.
Yet, even as this land proved to be a challenge for Adam Frank, his risky investment paid off in the long run. At Swiss Alp he purchased a total of approximately one hundred and thirty-one acres between the years of 1866 and 1874, the initial tract of eighty-five acres being purchased for the sum of nine hundred dollars from A. Amman, one of the founders of nearby community of Ammansville. This land proved to be a profitable investment in more ways than for merely farming. Various tracts were leased for mineral rights and even until the late 1960's, this land was still productive in oil and gas leases paid to the heirs of Adam Frank. In addition to his holdings in Swiss Alp, in 1867, Adam Frank purchased a fifty acre tract of land from W.G. Woods, for one hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, near Buckner's Creek in the Cedar area.
Along with wise investments, Adam Frank also carried with him various skills which made his life a successful one. He was equally adept as a farmer, a livestock raiser and bee-keeper. But also, like many of the German immigrants who settled in the La Grange area, he came across the Atlantic with a respected vocation. Adam Frank was a shoemaker by trade, and although he chose agriculture, he pursued his shoemaking interests as a sideline. Because of his noted skill as a cobbler he was nicknamed "Schuster" Frank by his friends and customers.
Despite his large land holdings and various sources of income, Adam Frank still had time for the needs of his large family. He could have not, however, been as effective as a provider had it not been for his devoted wife, Wilhelmine. An educated woman, she suffered many hardships which she would never have encountered in Saxony, Germany. Shortly after the family's settlement in the Cedar community, she was stricken with typhoid fever which she battled for nine weeks, spending most of the time unconscious. There were also many domestic hardships. In Swiss Alp, Wilhelmine had to keep up a rude hut with a dirt floor and be content in calling it her home. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Adam escaped actual military service by becoming an employee in a government hat factory, supposedly located in La Grange. During this trying period, Wilhelmine had to take care of the children, the farm and all other duties necessary for the welfare of a large family. All this she accepted as part of the vigorous activity needed to tame a crude and relatively unsettled territory as compared to her home in Germany. Between the years of 1857 and 1877, Wilhelmine Frank gave birth to seven children:
Born Died
Ida Helene Frank Roitsch December 28, 1857 September 16, 1911
Benardt Frank December 27, 1863 Unknown
Bertha Frank Steinman March 9, 1860 September 17, 1952
Augustinus Frank June 17, 1867 October 9, 1954
Carl Frederich Wilhelm Frank March 2, 1871 November 21, 1951
Carl Frederich August Frank March 10, 1875 May 17, 1911
Augusta Adelgunda Frank Carby August 5, 1877 November 12, 1952
Along with a good home life, the Lutheran faith also played a great part in the lives of most German immigrants. This was certainly true for the Adam Frank family. They faithfully attended services riding on sleds and later on blocked wheeled wagons drawn by oxen. Adam Frank and his wife were charter members of the Evangelical Lutheran Philadelphia Church of Swiss Alp, now known as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp. Adam also signed the church constitution and further exemplified his religious attitude by acting as sponsor to his grandchildren as well as to the children of various other relatives and close friends.
Neal Miller
The history of the Carl Frederich Adam Frank family, including their immigration and naturalization, their influence in pioneer settlements, their home life, and their family and church affiliation truly exemplifies the German settlers' participation in the settling of American soil. Carl Frederich Adam Frank (Franke) was born on December 26, 1826 in Lippersdorf, the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany.
On August 13, 1854, C.F. Adam Frank married Wilhelmine Arnold, the daughter of the city treasurer of Lippersdorf. Accompanied by his wife and two brothers, Rober and Carl Henry, he set forth on the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Emigrating from the Port of Bremen on September 16, 1854, and under sail for approximately seven weeks, the young Germans found that their hardships had only begun. The sailing accommodations, for example, were apparently poor because in the final days of the voyage, drinking water ran short and rations were cut to one-half cup per day per passenger. The ship arrived at Galveston, Texas, on November 4, and from there they traversed to Houston where the Franks hired an ox teamster to carry them and their supplies to Fayette County. For three weeks C.F. Adam Frank, his wife and his brothers were on the road to La Grange, intermittently walking and riding the uncomfortable, heavy-laden ox cart.
In addition to the difficulty of travel, the young European party did not know exactly in what part of the county to settle. After some deliberation, it was decided to settle in the Tries settlement, later known as Cedar. Adam Frank was recognized as being one of the earliest German settlers in that community. Shortly after the land was purchased and a homestead established, C.F. Adam Frank and his wife later decided that they would move several miles due south to a small upstart community known as Swiss Alp. Again, Adam, as he was popularly known, and his family were one of the first families in the settlement although evidently he could not persuade his brothers to join him, as they remained in the Cedar area. The move was a very strenuous one because this was a country of rolling hills, and the grass few so high that it was extremely difficult to even survey the land, despite the fact that Adam, his wife, and infant child were mounted on horseback.
Yet, even as this land proved to be a challenge for Adam Frank, his risky investment paid off in the long run. At Swiss Alp he purchased a total of approximately one hundred and thirty-one acres between the years of 1866 and 1874, the initial tract of eighty-five acres being purchased for the sum of nine hundred dollars from A. Amman, one of the founders of nearby community of Ammansville. This land proved to be a profitable investment in more ways than for merely farming. Various tracts were leased for mineral rights and even until the late 1960's, this land was still productive in oil and gas leases paid to the heirs of Adam Frank. In addition to his holdings in Swiss Alp, in 1867, Adam Frank purchased a fifty acre tract of land from W.G. Woods, for one hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, near Buckner's Creek in the Cedar area.
Along with wise investments, Adam Frank also carried with him various skills which made his life a successful one. He was equally adept as a farmer, a livestock raiser and bee-keeper. But also, like many of the German immigrants who settled in the La Grange area, he came across the Atlantic with a respected vocation. Adam Frank was a shoemaker by trade, and although he chose agriculture, he pursued his shoemaking interests as a sideline. Because of his noted skill as a cobbler he was nicknamed "Schuster" Frank by his friends and customers.
Despite his large land holdings and various sources of income, Adam Frank still had time for the needs of his large family. He could have not, however, been as effective as a provider had it not been for his devoted wife, Wilhelmine. An educated woman, she suffered many hardships which she would never have encountered in Saxony, Germany. Shortly after the family's settlement in the Cedar community, she was stricken with typhoid fever which she battled for nine weeks, spending most of the time unconscious. There were also many domestic hardships. In Swiss Alp, Wilhelmine had to keep up a rude hut with a dirt floor and be content in calling it her home. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Adam escaped actual military service by becoming an employee in a government hat factory, supposedly located in La Grange. During this trying period, Wilhelmine had to take care of the children, the farm and all other duties necessary for the welfare of a large family. All this she accepted as part of the vigorous activity needed to tame a crude and relatively unsettled territory as compared to her home in Germany. Between the years of 1857 and 1877, Wilhelmine Frank gave birth to seven children:
Born Died
Ida Helene Frank Roitsch December 28, 1857 September 16, 1911
Benardt Frank December 27, 1863 Unknown
Bertha Frank Steinman March 9, 1860 September 17, 1952
Augustinus Frank June 17, 1867 October 9, 1954
Carl Frederich Wilhelm Frank March 2, 1871 November 21, 1951
Carl Frederich August Frank March 10, 1875 May 17, 1911
Augusta Adelgunda Frank Carby August 5, 1877 November 12, 1952
Along with a good home life, the Lutheran faith also played a great part in the lives of most German immigrants. This was certainly true for the Adam Frank family. They faithfully attended services riding on sleds and later on blocked wheeled wagons drawn by oxen. Adam Frank and his wife were charter members of the Evangelical Lutheran Philadelphia Church of Swiss Alp, now known as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp. Adam also signed the church constitution and further exemplified his religious attitude by acting as sponsor to his grandchildren as well as to the children of various other relatives and close friends.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
