Frank Frantz
Frank Frantz | |
---|---|
Governor of Oklahoma Territory | |
In office January 5, 1906 – November 16, 1907 | |
Appointed by | Theodore Roosevelt |
Preceded by | Thompson Benton Ferguson |
Succeeded by | Charles N. Haskell as state Governor[note 1] |
Personal details | |
Born | Roanoke, Illinois, U.S. | May 7, 1872
Died | March 9, 1941 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | (aged 68)
Resting place | Memorial Park Cemetery 36°05′10″N 95°52′54.8″W / 36.08611°N 95.881889°W |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Matilda Evans Frantz |
Profession | Rough Rider and politician |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | May–December, 1898 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands | Cuba |
Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
| |
Frank Frantz (May 7, 1872 – March 9, 1941) was an American
Early life
On May 7, 1872, Frank Frantz was born in
Frantz would later work in
Rough Riders
After joining the Rough Riders, Frantz was assigned to A Company and given the rank of
On June 30,
On August 12, 1898, an armistice between the United States and Spain ended the Spanish–American War. In the coming months, on December 10, 1898, with the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States and Cuba gained its independence. Although Captain Frantz would leave military service behind him, he gained an abiding friendship with Roosevelt.
Return to Oklahoma
Upon the conclusion of his military service, Captain Frantz returned to Oklahoma Territory and settled in Enid. There with his brother, Montgomery,[2] he opened a hardware and lumber business, Frantz Brothers Hardware and Tin Shop.[1] While in Enid, Frantz met Matilda Evans of Oklahoma City, and married her in March 1901.[2] Their union would produce five children.
On June 20, 1900, Frantz was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Enid Lodge No. 80. By December of that same year, he would be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. However, for reasons that are unknown, it would take a full five years since the month he was initiated to earn the degree of Master Mason (a full-fledged member of Freemasonry) on June 12, 1905. He was also a Knight Templar of the York Rite of Freemasonry, as his Templar sword is currently displayed in the Senate Lounge inside the Oklahoma Capitol building.
Public service
During this time, Roosevelt was elected vice president on the Republican ticket to serve under US President William McKinley. On September 6, 1901, President McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition. McKinley died on September 14, and Roosevelt succeeded him to the presidency.
Frantz's wartime association with now President Roosevelt became a lifelong friendship. Frantz would, on several occasions, travel to the White House to spend time with the Commander-in-Chief. On his visits to the White House, Frantz, an athlete and a boxer, engaged in several matches with Roosevelt, knocking him out on three occasions.[1]
Immediately, Frantz's friendship with the new president proved beneficial. Frantz, a fellow Republican, was named the
Governor of Oklahoma Territory
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/William_Howard_Taft.jpg/170px-William_Howard_Taft.jpg)
Governor Frantz assumed control of the Territory during a time when the citizens of the Territory were seeking statehood. Thus his Governorship immediately became routine. However, Frantz would do many beneficial things for the would-be state.
Governor Frantz made an invaluable contribution to the future of Oklahoma's educational system. Immediately upon coming into office, Governor Frantz discovered that oil companies were drilling on land reserved for public buildings after statehood in Pawnee County without obtaining permission. In response, Frantz crafted a policy requiring those companies to lease the mineral rights to the state.[1]
After the
After the proposed Oklahoma Constitution was completed in early 1907, Frantz sought, and won, the Republican nomination to serve as Oklahoma's first governor. To face Frantz, the Democrats selected Charles N. Haskell, one of the proposed Constitution's main authors. Frantz would accept Haskell's challenge to joint public discussions throughout the state, and every problem concerned with the administration of the new state came up and was debated during the campaign.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b2/Charles_Haskell.jpg/170px-Charles_Haskell.jpg)
During the course of the campaign, two nationally prominent figures spoke at various locations: Republican presidential nominee William Howard Taft and Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. Though Taft supported Frantz, Taft's disapproval of Oklahoma's proposed constitution and his advice that the people vote against it caused the voters to react in favor of the Democrats. Frantz lost the race to Haskell on September 17, 1907. On the same day, the voters approved the Oklahoma Constitution into law. Soon after, Congress accepted the Constitution and Oklahoma became the 46th State on November 16. Haskell was also inaugurated on that day, resulting in the end of Frantz's term.
Later life and death
After leaving office, Frantz moved to
Electoral history
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2023) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Charles N. Haskell | 134,162 | 53.5 | New | |
Republican | Frank Frantz | 106,507 | 42.5 | New | |
Socialist | C.C. Ross | 9,740 | 3.8 | New | |
Democratic gain from | Swing | N/A |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Everett, Dianna. "Frantz, Frank (1872–1941)". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2010-07-18. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
- ^ a b c "The Frantz Family". The Oklahoman Newspaper. U.S. GENWEB Archives. January 7, 1906.
- ^ "1907-1912 Results" (PDF). oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 23 September 2023.