William Frantz

WILLIAM FRANTZ. The family represented in Monessen by William Frantz was brought to this side of the Atlantic by an emigrant from Germany who founded the Frantz settlement near Leechburg, Pennsylvania. Peter Frantz was a resident of this settlement, but whether the founder or not does not appear.

Henry Lewis Frantz, son of Peter Frantz, spent his boyhood in his native place and subsequently went to Pittsburg where he engaged in boating. Later he had charge of a wharf and also of the coal shipments, and some time after purchased a large tract of land five miles above McKeesport, where he engaged in farming. A number of years later he divided this property into different farms which he sold, and then retired to McKeesport where he is still living. He is a man of the highest moral rectitude and his always been a Republican in politics. He was for many years a member of the Presbyterian church, but latterly connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. Frantz married Sarah McCain, and they were the parents of two sons: William Shirwell, mentioned hereafter; and James, who lives in the west. After the death of his wife Mr. Frantz married Elizabeth Actor, and by this marriage is the father of another son, Ulysses Grant, who is a resident of Dakota.

William Shirwell Frantz, son of Henry Lewis and Sarah J. (McCain) Frantz, was born June 27, 1849, and has spent the greater part of his life in McKeesport where he is engaged in the insurance business. He married Sarah Ann Snyder, and the following children have been born to them: William, mentioned hereafter; Laura, died in childhood; Robert, superintendent of the Metropolitan Insurance Company at Tarentum, Pennsylvania; Jennie, resides at home; George, a clerk in the auditor's office of the United States Steel Company, of Pittsburg; Edward, a mercantile clerk; and Harry, a clerk in the shipping department of the Seamless Tube Works, McKeesport. The two last named reside at home.

William Frantz, son of William Shirwell and Sarah Ann (Snyder) Frantz, was born May 14, 1870. He attended the public schools and then entered the service of Samuel Goldman, clothier. Later he was employed by Max Bachman, who was in the same line of business, and with whom he remained until coming to Monessen to engage in business on his own account. August I, 1903, in partnership with James K. Boyd, he established the firm of Frantz & Boyd, clothiers, furnishers and hatters, starting with about eight thousand dollars worth of stock which has since been increased to fifteen thousand. Their stock and accommodations would do credit to a city much larger than Monessen. Mr. Frantz is master of his calling in each and every department, and is thoroughly equipped for the successful handling of the business in any field in which he might be placed. He was one of the founders of the five and ten cent store at Donora and is now one of the firm, which is known as that of Jack & Company, and is under the management of Frank Jack. Mr. Frantz is a member of Monessen Lodge, No. 638, Free and Accepted Masons, and McKeesport Chapter. No. 285. He also belongs to Monessen Aerie, No. 492, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Frantz married. October 27, 1891, Ida May, daughter of Moses and Felicia Dias. of Webster, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of one child, William Byron Frantz.  

Source: Page(s) 235-236, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed August 2008 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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