Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.137

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 137

by trade, and who was a victim of the disastrous flood of May, 1889. He then was a widower, his wife having died during Christmas week of the previous year. The children of Johann Christopher and Martha (Bleiding) Franke were as follows: Ephraim Franke, a shoemaker of Johnstown; married Anna Muehlhauser, and has seven children. Frederick Franke, an officer of the police station in Johnstown; married Lizzie Ripple. Louisa Franke, married William Miller, a Kansas farmer. He died in 1904.
    Ephraim Franke, eldest of the children just mentioned, was born in the province of Saxe, in Prussia, on the 23rd day of August, 1844, and was thirteen years old when his parents came to America and settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. When a boy he was sent to country schools, but as he was the eldest son of parents in modest circumstances it was necessary that he find some employment. He learned shoemaking and worked at it several months before he came with his mother to Johnstown, in September, 1861. Then he was seventeen years old, and soon afterward was apprenticed or bound for a year and three months to Conrad Schirmer, a shoemaker, whose shop at that time was on Market street. He served his time and afterward worked for Mr. Schirmer for a year, then went to work for Wood, Morrell & Co., and was in that employ seven years. When he left Wood, Morrell & Co., Mr. Franke went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and from that place to Pittsburg, and worked at his trade in both cities. He returned to Johnstown about 1874 or 1875, and opened a shop on his own account. Since that time he has been proprietor of a shoemaking business in the city, having been located on Adams street for several years, and a fair degree of success has been the reward of his industry and perseverance. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and of Harmony Singing Society, and in politics is a conservative Democrat.
    He has been married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Wilhelm, a daughter of William Wilhelm, of Johnstown. She died in 1873, leaving one daughter, Amelia Franke, who now is the wife of Henry Lentz, of Johnstown. On the 12th of August, 1874, Mr. Franke married Anna Muehlhauser, daughter of Lenhardt and Veronica (Mutter) Muehlhauser, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Seven children have been born of this marriage, viz.: Frederick William Franke, now in the west. Edward Franke, born December 31, 1876; a business man and drug clerk of Johnstown. Louis Franke, born December 17; 1878; a druggist and pharmacist of Johnstown. August Franke, Otto Franke, Charles Franke, Annie Franke--these four living at home.

    EDWARD FRANKE. Edward Franke, second son and child of Ephraim and Anna (Muehlhauser) Franke, was born in Johnstown, on the 31st of December, 1876, and received his education in graded schools and the Bennett & Greer Commercial College of that city. At the age of about eighteen years he began work as clerk for J. A. Larkin & Co., jewelers, remained with that firm about four or five years, and became a practical jeweler and watch repairer. He then opened a jewelry repair shop on his own account and carried on business about two years. After that he went with H. B. Heffley in the drug business, and is still connected with that house.
    Mr. Franke is not married. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, of Linton Lodge No. 451, Knights of Pythias, and in politics votes independent of party affiliation. He is a member of Select Council.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	137
by trade, and who was a victim of the disastrous flood of May, 1889. He then was a widower, his wife having died during Christmas week of the previous year. The children of Johann Christopher and Martha (Bleiding) Franke were as follows: Ephraim Franke, a shoemaker of Johnstown; married Anna Muehlhauser, and has seven children. Frederick Franke, an officer of the police station in Johnstown; married Lizzie Ripple. Louisa Franke, married William Miller, a Kansas farmer. He died in 1904. Ephraim Franke, eldest of the children just mentioned, was born in the province of Saxe, in Prussia, on the 23rd day of August, 1844, and was thirteen years old when his parents came to America and settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. When a boy he was sent to country schools, but as he was the eldest son of parents in modest circumstances it was necessary that he find some employment. He learned shoemaking and worked at it several months before he came with his mother to Johnstown, in September, 1861. Then he was seventeen years old, and soon afterward was apprenticed or bound for a year and three months to Conrad Schirmer, a shoemaker, whose shop at that time was on Market street. He served his time and afterward worked for Mr. Schirmer for a year, then went to work for Wood, Morrell & Co., and was in that employ seven years. When he left Wood, Morrell & Co., Mr. Franke went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and from that place to Pittsburg, and worked at his trade in both cities. He returned to Johnstown about 1874 or 1875, and opened a shop on his own account. Since that time he has been proprietor of a shoemaking business in the city, having been located on Adams street for several years, and a fair degree of success has been the reward of his industry and perseverance. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and of Harmony Singing Society, and in politics is a conservative Democrat. He has been married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Wilhelm, a daughter of William Wilhelm, of Johnstown. She died in 1873, leaving one daughter, Amelia Franke, who now is the wife of Henry Lentz, of Johnstown. On the 12th of August, 1874, Mr. Franke married Anna Muehlhauser, daughter of Lenhardt and Veronica (Mutter) Muehlhauser, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Seven children have been born of this marriage, viz.: Frederick William Franke, now in the west. Edward Franke, born December 31, 1876; a business man and drug clerk of Johnstown. Louis Franke, born December 17; 1878; a druggist and pharmacist of Johnstown. August Franke, Otto Franke, Charles Franke, Annie Franke--these four living at home. EDWARD FRANKE. Edward Franke, second son and child of Ephraim and Anna (Muehlhauser) Franke, was born in Johnstown, on the 31st of December, 1876, and received his education in graded schools and the Bennett & Greer Commercial College of that city. At the age of about eighteen years he began work as clerk for J. A. Larkin & Co., jewelers, remained with that firm about four or five years, and became a practical jeweler and watch repairer. He then opened a jewelry repair shop on his own account and carried on business about two years. After that he went with H. B. Heffley in the drug business, and is still connected with that house. Mr. Franke is not married. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, of Linton Lodge No. 451, Knights of Pythias, and in politics votes independent of party affiliation. He is a member of Select Council.