Nathan Frank

Frank, Nathan, lawyer and ex-member of Congress, was born at Peoria, Illinois, February 23, 1852. His parents were Abraham and Branette Frank, natives of Germany, where they were married, and whence they emigrated, in 1849, to Hopkinsville, Kentucky. After two years' residence in Hopkinsville his father removed to Peoria, which he helped to lay out and build up. There the son attended the public schools. He came to St. Louis in 1867 and graduated at the St. Louis high school in June, 1869. He afterward attended Washington University one year, and then entered the law department of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received the degree of bachelor of laws in 1871, but continued his studies for a year afterward at Harvard. Returning home, Mr. Frank was admitted to the bar and devoted the first years of his practice to commercial and bankruptcy law, with which he had thoroughly familiarized himself. He compiled and edited Frank's Bankruptcy Law, published in 1874, which work "became an authority and ran through four editions. For three years he was associated with Honorable John M. Krum, exmayor, and at one time judge of the circuit court. Subsequently he formed the firm of Patrick & Frank, afterward that of Frank, Dawson & Garvin, and more recently the firm of Nathan Frank & Seymour D. Thompson. He was a member of the Fiftyfirst Congress, elected as a Republican from the Central District of St. Louis, serving on important committees. Perhaps the chief incidents in Mr. Frank's congressional career were connected with his opposition to his party in seeking to enact a national election law, and also to pass what was known as the National gerrymander bill, restricting or limiting the State Legislatures in apportioning the congressional districts. He was a member of the committee on the Columbian World's Fair, to which subject he had devoted much attention while co-operating with the leading citizens of St. Louis in the effort to locate the fair near that city. He had been one of the earliest movers in that project, in recognition of which he was appointed by Governor Francis a member of the World Fair Commission. When the movement was set on foot to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase by holding a World's Fair in St.

Louis, Mr. Frank at once became one of the most active promoters of the enterprise, and has rendered especially valuable services in this connection, in aiding to procure needed legislation from Congress. Notwithstanding the fact that marked independence of political dictation has always characterized his action in public life, he has occupied a commanding position in the councils of his party in Missouri, and is recognized throughout the State as one of the ablest exponents of genuine Republicanism and clean politics. Since his retirement from Congress he has repeatedly declined to accept a renomination, or to become a candidate for any other public office, preferring to devote himself unreservedly to the profession of which he is an able and accomplished member. He is the principal owner of the "Star" newspaper of St. Louis, which, under his direction of its affairs, has become one of the leading newspapers of the West and a journal of wide circulation and influence.

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ATHAN FRANK, attorney at law, with a large clientage indicative of his professional ability and the confidence reposed therein by the general public, has also been connected with the framing of the laws of the land, as a member of the fiftieth and fifty-first congresses. His parents, Abraham and Branette Frank, were natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married, becoming residents of the United States in 1849. For two years they maintained their home at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and then removed to Peoria, Illinois, where Nathan Frank was born, February 23, 1852. The son became a student in the public schools and remained in his native city until 1867, when he removed to St. Louis with his parents. Here he entered the high school, from which he was graduated in 1869, and after acquiring his more specifically literary education in Washington University, he qualified for a professional career as a law student in Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He won the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1871, but ambitious to enter upon his profession thoroughly equipped for its onerous duties, he remained a student at Harvard for another year. Following his return home in 1872, Mr. Frank was admitted to the Missouri bar and for a few years devoted himself to commercial and bankruptcy law, with which he had become thoroughly familiar. He compiled and edited Frank’s Bankruptcy Law, which was published in 1874 and became a recognized authority. Four editions were placed upon the market and were followed in 1898 by a compilation of the bankrupt act of that year.

In his practice Mr. Frank was associated for three years with ex-Mayor John M. Krum, a former judge of the circuit court. He afterward became junior partner of the firm of Patrick & Frank, upon Mr. Patrick’s retirement from the position of United States district attorney and afterward practiced as senior partner of the firm of Frank, Dawson & Garvin and later Frank & Thompson, his associate in the latter partnership being Seymour D. Thompson

That Mr. Frank attained distinction and won success in his profession was indicated by the fact that political honors were conferred upon him. Had he remained in obscurity professionally, he would never have won political distinction. Becoming a worker in the ranks of the republican party, he was honored by election to the fiftieth congress from the central district of St. Louis and received endorsement of his first term in reelection to the fifty-first congress. In both of these he served on several important committees and was active in securing the passage of some notable legislation. He gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and stood fearlessly by the course which he believed to be right and for the best interests of the people at large. In this way he took his stand in opposition to his party in seeking to enact a i86

J{5atf)an Jfranfe national election law, and to pass what was known as the anti-gerrymander bill, restricting or limiting the state legislature in apportioning congressional districts in the several states. He could easily have won further congressional honors had he so desired. but since his retirement at the close of his second term he has refused a nomination and has also declined to become a candidate for any other public office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his professional interests and the supervision of the affairs of the St. Louis Star, which he founded and of which ho is the owner.

Mr. Frank has ever been interested in progressive measures relative to the city’s * welfare and was a member of the congressional committee on the World’s Columbian Exposition, to which he gave much attention while co-operating with the leading citizens of St. Louis in an attempt to locate the fair near this city. In recognition of the fact that he was one of the earnest movers in that project, Governor Francis appointed him a member of the world’s fair commission. He took a very active part in the preliminary work for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was a member of the board of directors from the beginning and was one of the most regular attendants at committee meetings. He was also a member of the executive committee, the most important committee in connection with the great fair, and also of the press and publicity committee in connection with which he did most active and effective work in exploiting the interests of the exposition and bringing to the people of the country a knowledge of the attractions it had to offer. He was also chairman of the entertainment committee of the Business Men’s league, which entertained many distinguished visitors, and in this connection he presided at many banquets which were held. He proved a most capable and efficient presiding officer, possessing the utmost tact as well as readiness of resource and adaptability, and thus as the presiding genius of many important social functions he was highly complimented by his friends. His admirable social qualities and unfeigned cordiality render him a most popular member of the University, Columbian and Aero and Westwood Country Clubs. He is a member of the Jewish church but does not devote any time to sectarian matters and while a recognized leader among the people of his own race he is altogether too broad in his interests and associations, his thoughts and his purposes, to confine his attention to any one people or belief.

As printed in St. Louis, the fourth city : pictorial and biographical (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK, Nathan, lawyer; born, Peoria, Bl., Feb. 23, 1852; son of Abraham and Branette (Weil) Frank; educated in St. Louis High School, Washington University and Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1872; unmarried. Admitted to bar at St. Louis in 1874 and ever since engaged in practice in this city, making a specialty of corporation law. Republican; member of Congress from St. Louis in Fiftieth and Pifty-first Congresses, 1887-91; during first HcKinley campaign, ISOQ, was chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee. Member Executive Committee of Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1904. Clubs: University, Columbian, Westwood, Aero. Office: 1025 Century Bldg. Besidence: 4404 W. Pine Bool.

As printed in The book of St. Louisans; a biographical dictionary of leading living men of the city of St. Louis and vicinity (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.