Frank Dale facts for kids

Frank Dale (born November 26, 1849 – died February 10, 1930) was an important judge in the early days of Oklahoma Territory. He served as the second Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Territorial Supreme Court from 1893 to 1898.

Born in Somonauk, Illinois, Frank Dale was a pioneer who helped settle new lands in both Kansas and Oklahoma. He became a well-known attorney in both states. Two towns, Andale, Kansas, and Dale, Oklahoma, are even named after him! In 1893, he moved to Guthrie, which was the capital of Oklahoma Territory. Although he started as a Republican, he later became a Democrat after moving to Oklahoma. He lived in Guthrie until he passed away in 1930.

Frank Dale's Early Life

Frank Dale was born on a farm in Somonauk, Illinois, on November 26, 1849. He went to public school and graduated from high school in Leland, Illinois. His parents had moved to America from England. His father was a farmer, a grain dealer, and also a part-time Methodist minister.

When Frank Jr. was only 14, he joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. However, his father quickly arranged for him to be discharged because he was too young to serve.

Life in Kansas

In 1871, Frank Dale left Illinois and moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas. There, he started a homestead, which means he claimed and settled on a piece of land. For several years, he worked as a teacher and studied law.

In 1880, he passed his exams and was allowed to practice law. From 1881 to 1885, he worked as an Assistant County Attorney for Sedgwick County. He then moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he continued his law practice. In 1885, President Grover Cleveland appointed him as the Registrar of the Wichita Land Office. He left this job when Oklahoma Territory was opened for settlement in 1889.

On April 10, 1885, Frank Dale married Martha Wood.

Moving to Oklahoma

Frank Dale arrived in Guthrie, Oklahoma, by train on April 22, 1889. He quickly started a law practice with another lawyer named W. W. Thomas. People in Guthrie soon knew him as a skilled lawyer. He later started his own solo law practice. Some people even called him the "first citizen of Guthrie" because he was so important to the town.

When Guthrie was first established, it didn't have a way to collect taxes. So, the city charged fees to people who practiced professions, like lawyers, to help pay for city services. In 1889, Frank Dale was briefly put in jail because he hadn't paid his fee. He was released quickly and it didn't cause him any problems later on.

One of Frank Dale's first clients in Guthrie was a man accused of "Soonerism." This meant the man was accused of entering the territory before it was legally opened for settlement. To pay for his legal help, the client gave Frank Dale half of the land he had claimed.

While living in Kansas, Frank Dale was a strong Republican. However, when he moved to Guthrie, he changed his political party and became a Democrat. This change happened around the time Democratic President Grover Cleveland appointed him as an Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Territory Supreme Court on May 20, 1893. Later that year, President Cleveland appointed him as the Chief Justice, a position he held until 1898.

A Fair and Firm Judge

Many stories show that Frank Dale was a kind person who cared about people who had been wronged. He also knew the law very well and didn't like it when people tried to escape punishment using small legal details.

In one case, a person who lent money was charging very high interest rates to railroad workers. When the workers couldn't pay, the lender sued them in Dale's court. Judge Dale listened to the details and told the lender's lawyer that this was an unfair practice. The lawyer argued there was no specific law against it in Oklahoma. Judge Dale replied, "There may not be any unfair lending law in Oklahoma, but this is like highway robbery, and there is a law against that. You will not get a judgment in this court." He made sure justice was served.

Judge Dale also had to deal with dangerous groups of outlaws who caused trouble in the territory. These groups sometimes even threatened judges. One famous outlaw, Arkansas Tom Jones, a member of the Doolin Gang, was to be tried for a serious crime in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Knowing the danger, Judge Dale made sure he had bodyguards and armed officers on the rooftops around the courthouse during the trial. After the trial was successfully finished, Judge Dale reportedly told one of his officers that it was important to deal firmly with outlaws to keep the territory safe.

Death and Legacy

Frank Dale passed away in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on February 10, 1930. He was buried in the Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, where many other important Oklahoma pioneers are laid to rest. His wife, Martha, died a few months later in June 1930 and is buried beside him. They did not have any children.

During World War II, a ship named "SS Frank Dale" was part of the US Merchant Marine, honoring his name and contributions.