Typed by: Jan Shelfer
FRANK, GEORGE
Surnames: FRANK, GLADSTONE, KLAYF, LIPMAN, LEVY, NUSSBAUM, SCHWARTZ
George Frank, b. July 15, 1848 in Suwalki, Latvia, Russia, d. May 9, 1931 in
Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried there in Calvary Cemetery-was a son of
Bernard W. Frank, native of Russia, who died in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1866,
and his wife, Sarah (Gladstone) Frank, native of Russia who was alive there in
1892. In 18590, Bernard W. Frank immigrated to America-arriving in New York,
thence to Charleston, South Carolina, and subsequently settled in New Orleans,
Louisiana. During the Civil War, Mr. Frank was in the service of General Banks
as a gunsmith for the Union Army.
George Frank left Russia when only twelve years old-also landing first in New
York, and then joining his father in New Orleans. He later moved to Akron, Ohio,
where he was employed as a clerk in a store-returning to New Orleans in 1865,
and moving to Alexandria, Louisiana for a time, where he was engaged as a clerk
for Wile Brothers. From there, he resettled in Marlin, Falls County, Texas. By
1868, George Frank was engaged in the general merchandising business in Marlin,
and continued in that enterprise the rest of his life.
On August 25, 1879 in New York City, New York, George Frank was married to Anna
Bell Klayf, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York-daughter of B. and Lotta (Lipman)
Klayf, natives of Russia, who immigrated in 1859 to New York, settled in
Poughkeepsie, where the father was engaged in the watchmaker and jewelry
business. Anna Bell had a kindly nature, and was known for her hospitality and
charitable work for the welfare of the community.
Politically, Mr. Frank affiliated with the Republican Party, and always took an
active interest in the affairs of the county and state. He served as a City
Alderman in Marlin for sixteen years. Although he was always an ardent member of
the Reformed Jewish faith, Mr. Frank was so interested in all religions that he
made the rounds of Protestant churches of Marlin. He would attend services on
Sunday mornings in one denomination, Sunday evening services of a second
denomination, and Wednesday evening prayer meetings in a third denomination-with
Saturdays devoted to attending his own Temple in Waco. The protestant ministers
in Marlin became familiar with him, and always recognized him when he attended
services in their churches. He was a member of Marlin Lodge No 152, A.F. and
A.M.; of Marlin Lodge, No. 16, Knights of Pythias; and also a member of the
Seven Wise Men, of New Orleans, of the Independent Order of Good Fellows, at
Marlin. Mrs. Frank was a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, and of the Eastern
Star.
George and Anna Bell (Klayf) Frank were the parents of three children:
Rachel Lily Frank, who married Mose Levy, and was a life-long resident of
Marlin, Texas.
Amelia Mildred Frank, who married Herman Nussbaum, of Galveston, Texas, died in
1971.
Bernadine Bertha Frank, who died in 1942-residing in Marlin, Texas during her
lifetime.
The Franks had two grandchildren: Frank B. Nussbaum, of Galveston, Texas, and
Jean N. Schwartz (Mrs. Armand G. Schwartz), of Hallettsville, Texas.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing these bio of these
Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County," compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 163, column 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission