Frank, as Antoine called his son, was a superior student, stood second in his class in high school, and near the top of his law classes at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, although he earned much of his way through college. Earlier he toyed with the idea of studying dentistry but his high school principal, V. F. Hendricks, urged him to study law and arranged for him to work in the law office of F. J. Campbell, Savanna attorney.
After college, Frank bowed to his ailing mother's wish and returned to Savanna to practice law. He joined local and state organizations, became active politically as a Republican, became assistant state's attorney with W. S. Markley and later ran for the prosecutor's office and was elected, serving for 15 years. Franklin Stransky acquired a reputation for preparing his cases thoroughly; he was seldom on the losing side. He disposed of 1200 criminal cases getting convictions on all but four. He never had an indictment quashed nor a conviction reversed. He was elected a judge of the Circuit Court in 1920.
Franklin Stransky married Clara Shepard Upson Jan. 1, 1903, daughter of a Milwaukee railroad conductor who lived in Savanna. She was a graduate of the Dubuque Academy of Music, active in the Episcopal church, and local organizations. The two Stransky sons were Franklin U. born Oct. 9, 1903 and Jason, Jan. 21, 1907. Franklin U. attended the University of Dubuque for two years, transferred to Texas A & M college for one year, and got his bachelor's. degree from Beloit College in 1925. A law degree at the University of Michigan followed three years later. He was elected state's attorney of Carroll county in 1932 serving one four-year term after which he ran for the Illinois House of Representatives where he helped write the laws of the state for 20 years from the 60th through the 69th sessions. He was Republican floor leader in the 1953 session. He married Margaret Graham of Sterling, Colo. June 25, 1937. A son, Franklin G. was born Feb. 10, 1940. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Wisconsin, was graduated from Southern Illinois University, serving thereafter in the Air Force. He is employed in Colorado.
Margaret Graham Stransky attended the University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska, acquiring a bachelor of arts degree. She is a civic leader, served as president of the Savanna hospital board and state president of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
Franklin J. Stransky's superior ability as a lawyer attracted wide attention and brought him lucrative offers from leading law firms in Chicago. He left the bench to join the firm of Sims, Welch, Godman and DeYoung on LaSalle street, also with offices in New York City. Earlier he had been Republican state chairman, a close friend of Gov. Len Small of Kankakee whom he defended in the interest suits in the Lake county courts. While state treasurer, Small had deposited state funds in a bank in which he was interested at Grant Park, Ill. which money was loaned at rates up to six per cent and more. The interest was retained by the bank; this apparently had been a practice of state treasurers to raise campaign funds and enrich themselves with earnings of public money rather than turn them into the state treasury. Small was exonerated under criminal charges but had to pay back some $500,000 which reportedly was largely raised by contributions of state employees. The interest prosecutions led to Small's defeat in his try for a third term.
Judge Stransky kept his home in Savanna and commuted to Chicago each week to handle important cases. Among his clients were the old Illinois Life Insurance Company on north Michigan avenue and the Stevens Hotel which went through bankruptcy. He practiced mostly before the Appellate and Supreme Courts. He acquired large land holdings in Carroll county also investments in other property including the local utility plant, the Savanna-Sabula bridge and the county telephone company. His membership in clubs is too numerous to mention. He died in Mayo Brothers hospital Rochester, Minn. in 1960 at 82 years of age.
Jason Stransky, F. J.'s second son, was educated at Morgan Park Military Academy where he distinguished himself as an athlete specializing in the high jump; he also attended Beloit College, Dubuque University and Texas A. & M. College. While in Texas he met and married Lucile Rosprim in April 1931 in the rectory of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Shortly thereafter he acquired a nose infection which caused a heart ailment from which he succumbed in a Marlin, Tex. hospital, May 4, 1931. Lucile came to Savanna shortly thereafter for a visit and was invited to make her home with her parents-in-law which she did, taking over management of the Stransdale Dairy with expanded retail outlets for dairy products. She also successfully operated a farm machinery and farm supply dealership.
She has been active in a large number of business and social women's clubs as well as her church. She now owns and operates a farm in Wysox township.
Franklin U. Stransky was appointed chairman of the State Pardon and Parole board by Gov. Stratton, which office he held until he died July 5, 1959, at 55 years of age.
From the Goodly Heritage 1968
