Representative Oliver H. Frink View All Years

HON. OLIVER H. FRINK.

Oliver H. Frink was born in Elkhart, Indiana, May 26th, 1848. Soon after his birth, his parents moved into a log house in the country, where six months later, his father died. Before he was five years old, his mother also died, and he was taken to Lafayette, Illinois, to live with a sister. Soon after this, a family in Indiana “took him to raise,” and his home was with these foster parents for some years. Here he attended his first school in the typical log school house of pioneer days. After his oldest sister married, she sent for him, and from that time until he entered the army, his home was with her at Kewanee, Illinois. Here for four years he worked on a farm in summer for $7.00 per month, and attended the town school in winter, reaching about the eighth grade. In 1864, at the age of sixteen years, he enlisted with the 124th Regiment Illinois Infantry, and served for nearly a year in this regiment, when he was transferred to the 33d Illinois Infantry. He was with his regiment at the engagements at Spanish Fort and at Movile. After the war, he was kept in the service quelling the guerillas in upper Mississippi; and after his time had expired, he returned to Kewanee, where in April, 1870, he was married to Miss Ellen Minnick.

When a boy he decided to cast his lot with those who believed in the Bible and its teachings, and he joined the Baptist church, of which he was a devoted member during his entire lifetime, having many official positions.

In 1871, he moved to Page County, Iowa, where he settled near Shenandoah, building for himself and his bride the usual 14x16 one room house, and breaking up his land. He went through all the trails and hardships of our pioneer settlers; at one time breaking sod for one farmer to get a cow, and then having to work for another one to get feed. Here in this pioneer home, seven of his eight children were born. Around this home the lights and shadows of life played. Love and work, joy and sorrow, hope and happiness filled the years.

He was a man who always took an interest in the better things of life, and very soon after moving to Page County, he started in the school house, a Sunday school of which he was the superintendent as long as he remained on the farm. He was always prominent in all the local activities of the community. Leaving the farm, he opened a general store in Bingham, Iowa, which he continued for two years, when he was elected Treasurer of Page County, a position which he held with honor for six years.

Immediately after leaving the Treasurer’s office, he was elected Representative from Page County, to the 26th general assembly, and served through that session, the 26th extra session, and the 27th general assemblies.

He was a man of careful thought, conscientious to a great degree in all his decisions, and was always found on the right side of all questions looking to the good of the state of Iowa.

A few years later, he moved to Shenandoah, where he was elected mayor, and served for several terms. Here he engaged in business again, and during the last few years of his life, he acted as Deputy County Treasurer at Shenandoah.

In the fall of 1915, he had an attack of paralysis, which gradually grew worse, until his death which occurred July 25th, 1916. Every business house and office in the city closed during the time of the funeral of this man who had done so much for the betterment of not only his own county, but of the State of Iowa.

In the passing of Oliver H. Frink, Iowa has lost one of her most useful citizens. His public service was a notable one, and he will pass into Iowa history as a man of forceful character, strong in his convictions, devoted to his country and state,—a man whose life was distinguished as consecrated to the highest ideals of American citizenship. To the honor of his memory, it is therefore,

Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public service, and at this time extend to his widow, Mrs. Ellen Frink, his daughters, Mrs. Nettie Baker, of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Willis F. Stotler, Mrs. Frank Stotler, and Miss Irene Frink of Shenandoah, and his sons Mr. Warren Frink and Mr. Harvel Frink of Shenandoah, Iowa, its sincere sympathy in their sorrow; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of the resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the widow of the deceased.

ALFRED WENSTRAND,

JAS. F. JOHNSTON,

DOUGLAS ROGERS,

Committee.

Adopted April 4, 1917.