Michael Frank facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Frank
1st Mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin
In office April 5, 1850 – April 1851
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	David C. Gaskill
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kenosha 1st district
In office January 1, 1861 – January 1, 1862
Preceded by	Meredith Howland
Succeeded by	Reuben L. Bassett
1st Village President of Southport, Wisconsin
In office February 9, 1841 – April 1842
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	William Bullen
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory from Racine County
In office December 4, 1843 – January 4, 1847 Serving with Marshall Strong
Preceded by	Consider Heath Peter D. Hugunin
Succeeded by	Frederick S. Lovell
Personal details
Born	Michael Frank (1804-12-12)December 12, 1804 Virgil, New York
Died	December 26, 1894(1894-12-26) (aged 90) Kenosha, Wisconsin
Resting place	Green Ridge Cemetery Kenosha, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican Free Soil (before 1855)
Spouses	Caroline J. Carpenter (m. 1837)
Parent	John M. Frank (father)
Occupation	newspaperman, politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Wisconsin Territory militia
Years of service	1840–1842
Rank	Colonel
Commands	4th Reg. Wis. Militia
Battles/wars	none

Michael Frank (born December 12, 1804, died December 26, 1894) was an important pioneer, newspaper editor, and politician. He was the very first Mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Many people know him as the "father of Wisconsin public schools" because he worked hard to create free public education.

Michael Frank: A Wisconsin Pioneer

Early Life and Big Ideas

Michael Frank was born in Virgil, New York. His father, John Frank, came from a place called Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in what is now western Germany. John came to America looking for new chances. He even joined the American side during the American Revolutionary War.

After the war, John received some land. He worked hard to turn this wild land into a farm, where Michael grew up. From a young age, Michael loved to read and learn. He read many books and newspapers. He also enjoyed talking about important public matters.

As a young man, Michael became interested in social reform. He supported movements like temperance and abolitionism. The temperance movement aimed to reduce alcohol use. The abolitionist movement worked to end slavery. At that time, abolitionism was not a popular idea. Most major newspapers and political parties did not support it.

Even so, Frank subscribed to an abolitionist newspaper called The Emancipator. His postmaster, however, refused to deliver it. The postmaster only delivered it after Frank promised not to share it with others.

Moving to Wisconsin

In October 1839, Michael Frank and his wife, Caroline, moved to Southport, Wisconsin Territory. Today, Southport is known as Kenosha, Wisconsin. Frank wanted to continue his work for social causes there.

A few months after arriving, he started a lyceum. A lyceum was a group that held public lectures and discussions. This group became very important in the new settlement. He also continued his interest in the Temperance movement. He took part in the first temperance meeting in the territory. He even wrote an article for the Wisconsin Enquirer to promote temperance.

In January 1840, Frank met Christopher Latham Sholes. In June of that year, they started a partnership. They published and edited a newspaper called the Southport Telegraph. This newspaper was published for many years. It supported temperance, the free soil movement, and the anti-slavery movement. In 1843, Frank also started The Garland of the West. This was the first literary magazine in Wisconsin.

Frank encouraged people in Kenosha to read and attend lectures. In 1860, he hosted famous speakers. These included Horace Greeley, Frederick Douglass, and John P. Hale.

In 1840, Governor Henry Dodge made Frank a Colonel in the 4th regiment of the Wisconsin militia. People called him "Colonel Frank" for the rest of his life. However, he did not do much actual work with the militia.

Helping Shape Wisconsin

When Southport became an organized village, Michael Frank was elected its first Village President in 1840. He was also chosen to represent Racine County in the Wisconsin Territorial Council. At that time, Kenosha County was part of Racine County.

In the Council, Frank pushed for Wisconsin to become a state. He wrote the first report that suggested a plan for statehood. Some people did not want Wisconsin to become a state. They worried about the costs, as the federal government was paying for many things.

One of Frank's most famous achievements was a law he helped pass in 1845. This law created a free public school in Southport. He had been arguing for this idea in his newspaper, the Telegraph, since 1840. At first, some Southport residents without children thought it was unfair to tax them for schools. But the village eventually approved the idea.

Frank explained that education was important for everyone. He said it was like public property and necessary for good government. His idea became popular. Other free school systems started in the territory. Eventually, the idea of public schools paid for by taxes became part of Article X of the Wisconsin Constitution.

After Wisconsin became a state, Frank was chosen as one of three people to update the territorial laws for the new state government. Frank was in charge of creating the public school code. This code was adopted in 1849. That same year, he also helped put together the revised laws of Wisconsin, which were published in the fall of 1849.

First Mayor of Kenosha

In 1850, Kenosha became a city, and Michael Frank was chosen as its first mayor. Two big events happened during his time as Mayor.

The first was the "Wheat Revolt." Farmers had stored their crops in warehouses in Kenosha. A rumor spread that wheat was being stolen. Mayor Frank worked to keep the peace. He calmed people down during days of threats and anger. Finally, a group of militia arrived from Milwaukee to help keep order. This helped people trust the marketplace again.

The second major event was a Cholera outbreak. This serious illness caused many deaths in the city.

Later, Frank joined the Republican Party when it was formed. He was elected as a Republican to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1861. He also worked as the Postmaster of Kenosha. From 1861 to 1866, he was a Regent for the University of Wisconsin.

From 1870 to 1882, he worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. After his federal service, he returned to Kenosha. He retired from public life and passed away in Kenosha in 1894.