Frank Mullen
Among the young business men of Grant County who have made prominent places for themselves in their various communities as enterprising and progressive operators, one may be especially mentioned in this connection, - Frank Mullen one time teacher and farmer, but since 1911 prominently identified with the real estate business in Marion. During he years when he was occupied with farming activities, he held a most prominent place in Washington Township, and was recognized as one of the more influential and successful men of his community. His record in his later business venture is none the less creditable, and he rightly enjoys the esteem and high regard of all who share in his acquaintance.
Born on June 22, 1872, on the farm home of the family in Grant County, Frank Mullen is the son of John and Cassie (Miller) Mullen. The father claims the state of Ohio as his native place and the mother is an Indianian. They are farming people who yet make their home in Franklin Township, where they have long enjoyed the comforts of quiet country life. Three children were born to them. One died at the age of thirteen, and besides the subject they have a daughter, Mrs. Lulu McFarland.
Frank Mullen was born on the home farm, as has been stated previously, and his early education was found in the public schools. His parents were people who recognized the worth of an education, and gave to their son every possible advantage along lines of training. His two years at Fairmount academy were followed by two years in the Marion Normal College, where he received an excellent preparation for the work of teaching, in which he was for four years engaged after he finished his college work. His educational work was carried on in Grant County, in Washington Township for the most part, but he began to feel the call of the soil after a few years of his pedagogic life, and consequently returned to the farm and thereafter gave is mind and muscle to the work of that enterprise, continuing successfully until November, 1911, when he engaged in the real estate business in Marion, under the firm name of Westfall & Mullen. They have since carried on a thriving business in real estate, and are reckoned with the most successful of that class of business men in Marion.
During the years when Mr. Mullen was occupied with his farm in Huntington County, he was serving much of the time as trustee of Wayne Township, and he bore the distinction in those days of being the youngest trustee in service in the entire state. He is a man who has ever displayed a generous minded interest in the civic and political affairs of his community, and his support has always been given to worthy enterprises and movements that might be promulgated in his town and county.
Progressive and energetic, his influence is one that will ever make itself felt wherever he may be found. He is a supporter of the Prohibition party and upholds its principles and doctrines on all occasions. With his wife, he has membership in the Baptist Church, and he is fraternally identified with the Independence Order of Odd Fellows.
On November 7, 1896, Mr. Mullen was married to Miss Emma Smith, the daughter of George Smith, long a resident of Washington Township, where Mrs. Mullen was reared, and to them have been born two sons, Everett and Arthur.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner