James Frank, a citizen of Montmorency Township, on section 28, has lived in Whiteside COunty since 1856. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Dill) Frank, were natives of Bucks Co PA and were born of German ancestors. They came in 1856 to Whiteside County, but not finding themselves contented they returned to PA after a stay of about six weeks. Their deaths occurred respectively in 1870 and 1879. Their children were Sophia, James, Abner and Noah.

Mr. Frank was born March 12, 1825, in Montgomery Co PA. He was educated in German, which was the language of his parents and which was the prevailing tongue of hisnative township. At the age of 22 years he went to an English settlement and engaged as a laborer for about three years. During the winter seasons he went to school and acquired a practical knowledge of the the English language. After that he spent five years as a farm laborer, hiring by the year. He then left PA to seek a home in the West. He prospected at vairous points and spent three months in Ohio, a similar period in Indiana, and in the fall of 1854 came to Whiteside County. He returned to the State of his nativity two months later, with the intention of settling permanently in Whiteside County in the following spring, but he postponed his return until the spring of 1856. On arrival he engaged a year as a farm laborer, when he rented a farm in Sterling Township, which he managed three years. He then rented a farm west of Sterling, which he occupied seven years. He bought 200 acres of land on section 28, in Montmorency Township, on which he settled and where he has since lived. He is at present the possessor of 480 acres of land in the same township, about half of it being under culture. The buildings on the estate are of excellent character and rank among the best and most valuable in the twp. Mr. Frank herds about 70 head of cattle on an average, owns nine horses and colts, and fattens annually a considerable number of hogs.

Politically Mr. Frank is a Democrat. He has been collector two years, Schol Trustee for three years and Commissioner of Highways ten years, and has held the office of Assessor two years.

He was first married in Sugar Grove, Lee Co. IL. May 12, 1857 to Fanny Lingenfelter, a native of Lancaster Co. PA. She became the mother of three children - Theodore, Jacob and Mary A. The youngest child is deceased. The mother died of consumption June 3, 1864 in Sterling Twp. Nov. 8, 1866 Mr. Frank was again married, in Sterling to Anna W. Shuler. She was born March 10, 1841 in Germany. They have four children - Anna, James, Lizzie and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Frank are members of the German Lutheran Church.

Mr. Frank, being a representative and prominent citizen of Whiteside County, and an exemplary and honorable gentleman is represented among the portraits of this Album.

Portrait and Biographical Whiteside Co IL 1885 Pg 493

Illinois - "Our Way"