Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 451-486) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.
Contributed to this site by Kelly Mullins
Ernst Franckenberg received his early education in the common schools of the place of his birth, and then pursued a course of study in the high school of Goettingen, Hanover. After completing his education, he served an apprenticeship of five years at the mercantile business in the city of Nordheim, province of Hanover, and then six years as clerk in St. Andresberg and Cellerfeld in the Hartz and Noerten province of Hanover. In the fall of 1853 he came to America with a brother and sister, making his home in Milwaukee, where he was employed for two years in the hardware store of Arnold & Suelflohn. During this time, he, in company with his brother Emil, established a general country store at Thiensville, Ozaukee county, which was continued about a year and a half when it was moved to Horn's Corner, in the same county. Mr. Franckenberg was instrumental in procuring the establishment of the Horn's Corner postoffice, of which he was appointed postmaster, which position he held so long as he was a resident of the place. After a year and a half, the business was moved to Newburg, Washington county, and continued by Ernst, after buying his brother's interest. Mr Franckenberg was appointed Postmaster there, in place of Lucius Frisby, deceased, and he was then, in turn, succeeded by Miss Anna E. Salisbury, who held the office until her marriage to Dr. Hunt, when Mr. Fanckenberg was reappointed, and held the office during the remainder of his stay in the place. While at Newburg he was also interest in a store at Waubeka and another at Fillmore. At the same time he was half owner of the Newburg mill property an of the store opposite; and, in company with Charles Keller, built a large brick store in 1862. He was a member of the legislature in 1865, was justice of the peace for one term, and held the office of notary public all the time of his residence in Newburg. In 1866 his brother Emil, who was in the mercantile business in West Bend, died, and Ernst Franchenberg purchased the stock of goods and continued the business. He retained the business in Newburg for a year after moving to West Bend, and then closed it out. He continued business in West Bend until the fall of 1873, when he sold it to Franckenberg & Karsten, and moved to St. Paul, where he invested $15,000 in the dry goods business, under the firm name of Cathcart & Co. This business proving unsatisfactory, he sold out after one year's experience; and, returning to West Bend, in 1875, bought out M. Hirsch, who conducted the Bank of West Bend, which was established in 1867 by a stock company, with a capital of $25,000. He also bought from Mr. Hirsch the office of The West Bend Democrat, a half interest of which he sold to William, M. Walters a year later, and the other half interest to John Murtha in November, 1879.
Mr. Franckenberg owns a fine residence in West Bend, and other real estate there. He is also interested in the Enger-Kress Pocketbook company and the Washington County Publishing company. He has been a member of the West Bend board of education for seventeen years, an still holds that position.
Mr. Franckenberg was married July 15th, 1857, to Miss Mary Dangers of Horn's Corner, daughter of Louis and Christine Dangers. Five children were born to them, of whom only one is now living--Arthur F., who is a stockholder and manager of the Washington County Publishing company. Mrs. Franckenburg died July 27th, 1868; an on January 6th 1869, Mr. Franckenberg was married to Emma Reisse, daughter of John Reisse of West Bend.
Mr. Franckenberg's full name was Ernst Theodore von Franckenberg Ludwigsdorff. Since coming to America, he has shortened it, for business convenience , to E. Franckenberg.
Source:The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Compiled and Published under the direction of Wm. H. Froehlich, Secretary of State 1901. page 726.
Contributed to the site by Tina Vickery
STATE OFFICERS. Terms end first Monday in January, 1903.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
WILLIAM H. FROEHLICH (Rep.), of Jackson, Washington county, was born at Jackson, his present home, June 22, 1857. His education was received In the public, private and parochial schools of the town of Jackson, and be Is a graduate of the Spencer Business college, of Milwaukee. He was employed as clerk and bookkeeper in Milwaukee from 1874 to 1877; he entered into business for himself as a dealer in general merchandise and grain at Jackson, June 1, 1880; was postmaster at Jackson from 1881 to 1893; was justice of the peace from 1887 to 1898, and a member of the school board from 1891 to 1899; was first elected town clerk In 1893, and re-elected without opposition until he became secretary of state. He was nominated for the assembly in 1892, but was defeated by the democratic candidate; he was again nominated for the assembly in 1894, and elected. He was re-elected to the assembly In 1896, elected secretary of state In 1898 and again In 1900, receiving 264,249 votes against 159,643 for Joseph H. Wooduorth (Dem.), 9,887 for Edwin Kerswell (Pro.), 6,688 for Charles C. Meier (Soc.-Dem.), and 498 for Rochus Balmik (Soc.-Lab.).