Martin Frantz

As printed in 1908

MARTIN FRANTZ, who is engaged in general farming on a fine farm of 336 located about ten miles west of Springfield, in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, was born October 2, 1857, near his present farm, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Leedy) Frantz.

Daniel Frantz, great-grandfather of our subject, came from Virginia to Ohio at a very early period and settled west of Spring-field, where his death occurred some years later. His son, Benjamin Frantz, Sr., came to Ohio at the same time, but settled in the wilds of Bethel Township, on a large tract of land, residing in that locality for over fifty years, and passing out of this life at the age of seventy-seven.

Benjamin Frantz, Jr., father of the subject of this sketch, with the exception of two years spent on a farm in Wabash, Indiana, has passed his entire life up to this time in Bethel Township on the old homestead, to which he has at times added more land, having acquired about 600 acres. He was first married to Mary Ann Leedy, of Wabash County, Ohio, who died in 1897, aged fifty-seven years. Eight children were born of this union, namely: Martin, whose name appears at the head of this article; Joseph; Elizabeth, wife of A. Detrick; Emma, who died aged seventeen years; Charles, and three children, who died in infancy. He subsequently married Mattie Binkley and they are at present spending the winter in California.

Martin Frantz was born in the old stone house on the farm where his brother Charles now lives, and there grew to manhood, occupying his time with farm duties and attending the district schools of the township. Being the eldest son, a large part of the work fell to him, and he cleared about thirty acres of land, remaining at home until after his marriage. He then bought the John Garver farm, which he carried on for two years, when he returned to his present farm, buying the land from his father. Here he has since been engaged in general agriculture, and has spent consider'able time and money in improving the land, remodeling the old brick house and other buildings on the f ann.

Mr. Frantz was married October 14. 1879, to Dora Markey, of Preble County, Ohio, and thirteen children have been born of this union, namely: Verna, wife of J. Aukerman, who has one child — Forest; Benjamin A., who married Dora.Brubaker; Edith, who married James Shoup; Maude, wife of E. Onkst; Markey, Anna, Emma, Evelyn, Martin, Pauline, and three others who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Frantz are members of the old Grerman Baptist Brethren Church, in which IMr. Frantz 's father is an elder and preaches in the Honey Creek Church.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.