The
Biographies section of the Ripley County INGenWeb site is an index of biographies of Ripley County's people. If you would like to contribute any biography information to the Ripley County INGenWeb site please send
me an email.
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The source of this article is found on pages 69 and 70, of the book "GIBSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE ILLUSTRATED" by W.P. Greene
Published by Gospel Advocate Publishing Company, Nashville, Tennessee - Year 1901
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One of the remaining copies is owned by Eddie Clark and Jere Cox
- The book has been transcribed and placed on the Gibson County , Tennessee Website
- Permission, given to place a copy on this website by Eddy Clark
Frank X. Foltz, proprietor of the Humboldt Spoke Factory, is a native of Indiana, and was born on a farm near Madison, in Ripley County. After the death of his father and division of his estate, Mr. Foltz concluded he would change his business, and went to work in a livery stable; where he learned the spoke business, and moved with Weis & Sons to Union City, Tenn. After leaving Union City he camewith Beck & Gardner to Humboldt and worked with them until they sold their factory to the American Wheel Company. He then acted as foreman for this company until their plant was burned down in 1891. Mr. Foltz then started a factory of his own, which he has successfully operated since. The Capacity of his factory is 7,000 spokes per day. Material is obtained along the Louisville and Nashville and Mobile and Ohio Railroads and by wagon transportation. The products of this factory are marketed in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Canada, and in fact, all over the world. He manufactures all kinds and sizes of oak and hickory spokes, plain wood hub, Sarven patent and shell hand, finished and complete.
Mr. Foltz is a prominent and highoy esteemed citizen. He is a man of push and enterprise, and is always for everything that would advance the interests of his town.
