History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

DR. WILLIAM J. FRANK, one of the leading dentists of Clark County, located at Thorp, was born at Pepin, Pepin County, Wis., March 15, 1879, son of William and Johannah B. (Elk) Frank. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood and the High School at St. Paul, and was graduated from the dental department of the Northwestern University at Chicago with the class of 1901. Thus prepared he directly opened an office in Thorp, and has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession, having a constantly increasing patronage. He also has a branch office where he goes once a week. He is the only dentist in this immediate vicinity, and has built up a considerable clientele in village and country, having won a reputation for skilful and conscientious work. His professional standing is shown by his membership in the dental societies of Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, and in the Wisconsin State Dental Association. His fraternal relations are with the local Masonic lodge, of which he was Master three times, and is now secretary. When he filled the chair of Master he was the youngest to hold that office in the State of Wisconsin.

In 1907 he was elected as director of the Thorp board of education, and is still serving. Dr. Frank was united in marriage June 24, 1903, to Grace Boardman, of Thorp, Wis., daughter of Ephraim A. and Savilla (Fults) Boardman, and, they have four children-Maxine, Kathro, Jane and William J., Jr. William Frank was born in Germany, and came to America at the age of 27 years, shortly afterward marrying Johannah B. Elk, who had come to America before her future husband, at the age of 25 years. For seven years after their marriage they lived in New York City, where he was connected with the gas business. Then they came to Pepin County, this state, and purchased a farm. They soon became numbered among the substantial and. leading people of their neighborhood.

After a long and useful life they passed away, he in 1907 and she in 1916. They were the parents of five children-Emma, who is now Mrs. Jacob Franck, of Pepin, Wis. Herman, who resides on the old homestead in Pepin County William J., a dentist of Thorp Leona, now Mrs. Frank Sherman, of Grand Rapids, Wis. and Jennie, a trained nurse, residing in Minneapolis, Minn. Ephraim A. and James S. Boardman are appropriately mentioned elsewhere in this work, as pioneers and leading citizens of Thorp, which they founded. Ephraim A. and Savilla (Fults) Boardman had eight children, of whom there are living Anson, Grace and Melvin.