Ida Laura Frank (Luthy) was born on Nov. 11, 1884 in Harvard, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Charles Frank II and Minnie Casselman. She attended the University of Illinois at Normal, Illinois. She married William Samuel Luthy on Jan. 23, 1907, in Harvard, Nebraska. In Nebraska, she was a member of the Mennonite Church.
In Nebraska, Ida and Will were farmers. Ida is said to have been a great gardener, who was able to keep flowers alive, even during the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. However, by the mid-1930's, the drought got the best of them and they moved to Sea-Tac, WA at about the same time as their son, Frank and his family. Their son, Clark, later joined them. Donald and Ialeen remained in Nebraska. In Sea-Tac, Ida and Will lived in a house on a large property. Frank and his family lived in a separate house on the property, as did Clark and his family. Here, she became a member of the "Church by the Side of the Road." In later years, their grandchildren remember Ida and Will as being consummate card players, playing pinochle together a lot. Saturday nights were reserved for cards and watching the Masked Marvel and wrestling on t.v. (Ida's choice). Ida and Will had four children:
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Charles Frank II was born in Jarmen, Demmin, Germany on November 15, 1854. This is near the Polish border in the north of Germany. His parents were Charles Frank I and Marie Ebhardt. When he was approximately 15 years old (though family stories age him at 10), the family immigrated to America (1869). Just five years after the end of the Civil War.
Charles grew up in Bloomington, Illinois where his parents were farmers. He married Minnie Casselman on July 1, 1880. The two moved to Harvard, Nebraska around the time of their marriage and were some of the area's earliest residents. Their move would have made them part of the Westward Expansion, although nearer towards the end of this era. Their move was about 20 years after the Homestead Act was passed and about 10 years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Charles and Minnie had 10 children:
The Frank side of the family originated in Jarmen, Demmin, Germany (which is in the North of the country, very close to the Polish border). After arriving in New York harbor, they traveled to Illinois, where they settled for some time. After marrying, Charles Frank, Jr. and Minnie Casselman moved to Harvard, Nebraska, where they farmed. In the 1930's, our portion of the family moved to Seattle, WA Jarmen, Demmin, Germany
The Franks originally settled in Bloomington, Illinois. Charles Frank Sr. and his wife, Marie Ebrhardt Frank are buried in the Bloomington City Cemetary. Charles Jr. married Minnie Casselman in Bloomington before moving to Nebraska where they farmed.
According to family records, they rented a farm for about six years and in 1890, they bought 120 acres of land six miles Northeast of Harvard for $12.50 per acre. It is said that the first house on this farm was a little cabin made of logs and sod mortar. Soon afterwards though, they built a frame house. Later, their children would play in the old log cabin. Charles Frank, our first Frank ancestor to arrive in America, came with his family from Germany and arrived in New York Harbor on Dec. 8, 1869. They sailed aboard the ship Nevada, which departed originally from Liverpool, England, then Queenstown, Ireland before arriving in New York. Charles Frank was 15 years old at the time of his voyage.
According to family lore, Charles often remarked later in life how much he enjoyed the ocean voyage -- although he was apparently one of the few passengers who did. While most people were seasick, he is said to have really enjoyed eating on the ship. |
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