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Note: Francis was known as Frank Fee.
Time line: Frank was born in Niles, Trumbull Co., Ohio in 1850. The 1870 census shows Frank living with his parents in Venango Co., PA where he met and married Margaret Irwin. Frank and Margaret continued to live in PA for awhile, and Frank supplemented his education at the Franklin Academy in Franklin, PA. Their first child, William Irwin Fee, was born there. Frank served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Militia for seven years. While living there, he and his father, William, speculated for oil. [The East Coast of Florida by Nance]
But by 1880, Frank and Margaret had moved to Lindsborg, McPherson Co., Kansas where he was engaged in the hardware business in both Lindsborg and Bridgeport. He then returned to Franklin, PA to re-engage in the oil speculation business prior to moving to Florida in 1887.
He opened a hardware store in Melbourne soon after arriving in 1887. It was housed in a building built by a Mr. McQuaig on Front Street just south of the Melbourne Pier. Frank owned the business in partnership with a Mr. Heasley. He also was an undertaker. The hardware firm of Fee and Heasley became Fee and Newbitt. Then Mr. Stewart turned over the drug business to C. J. F. Campbell and took Mr. Nesbitt�s place in the hardware store thus beginning a long business relationship between the Fees and the Stewarts. In 1893, Fee & Stewart built a new brick building for the hardware business at 1002 New Haven next to the Railway station. It was first shared with the Ed Nelson Furniture store. It later became the Huggins Supply Co. and now houses the Christmas Gift Shoppe.
Frank Fee became the third postmaster of Melbourne serving from 17 Oct 1887 to 2 Dec 1887. He served two terms on the Melbourne City Council and was the Mayor of Melbourne for two terms.
E. P. Branch had the idea for starting a bank in Melbourne. He contacted J. H. Philips and they went down the river all the way to Stuart securing accounts for the new bank. A Board of Directors was formed including: John H. Phillips, President; E. P. Branch, Cashier; and Directors: Charles T. McCarty, Frank H. Fee, George R. Lyon, and A. J. Heins. It was located in the Metcalf building on Front Street and a second�hand bank outfit was brought from Palatka. The doors opened on Saturday, July 1, 1893. On Sunday, the first service was held in the new Congregational Church and on Monday, the East Coast Railway train on the newly laid railway made its first regular run from Melbourne north. Quite a weekend for Melbourne. When it opened, the Melbourne State Bank was the southern�most bank on the East Coast. Frank became its president in 1901.
Around this time, the county was split up and St. Lucie County was formed. Since most of the investors in the bank were the pineapple farmers in the new St. Lucie County, Frank renamed the bank The Bank of Fort Pierce, and moved it to Fort Pierce. He was also the president of the banking firm of Fee and Stewart of Melbourne which was organized in 1905.
Frank moved to Fort Pierce in 1901 when he became president of the Fort Pierce Bank. Frank also established a branch of his hardware and undertaking business in Fort Pierce under the name of the Fee Hardware Company and the Fee Undertaking Co. Frank Fee took over the Fort Pierce business and Mr. Stewart the hardware and undertaking business in Melbourne.
After the move of the bank to Fort Pierce, E. P. Branch bought a safe and some books and opened a private banking facility in Melbourne. He again retained the First National Bank of Florida as his depository. Unfortunately, the First National Bank of Florida closed its doors and E. P. Branch received only half of his depositor�s money back. He had to make up the difference. Some time afterward, he turned his banking department over to Fee & Stewart.
Frank became a member of the Fort Pierce City Council and later became an early mayor of Fort Pierce. He retired from the bank in 1924, and died in Fort Pierce. He was buried in the Melbourne Cemetery with his parents.
Census Sources:
1880 Census for Lindsburg [now Lindsborg], McPherson Co., KS, p. 415: F. H. Fee, W, M, 30, Keep Hardware Store, OH; Margaret, W, F, 29, Wife, Keep House, PA; Wm I., W, M, 7, Son, PA; Chas., W, M, 3/12 (Feb), Son, KS. Note that the child named Chas. was later called Fred throughout his life. Perhaps Charles was his middle name?
1900 Census for Precinct 6, Melbourne, Brevard Co., FL, p. 186a: Frank H., W, M, Mar 1850, 50, M, 28, OH; Margaret J., Wife, W, F, Jun 1849, 51, M, 27, 6, 3, PA; Fred, Son, W, M, Feb 1880, 20, S, KS; Francis, Son, W, M, July 1888, 11, S, FL.
1910 Census for Fort Pierce - Precinct 2, St. Lucie Co., FL: F.H. Fee, Head, M, W, 60, M, 38, OH, Banker, Margaret Jane, Wife, F, W, 61, M, 38, 6, 2, PA, Home; W. I., Son, M, W, 37, S, PA, Hardware where he works "on his own account".
1920 Census for Magnolia Street, Fort Pierce City, St. Lucie Co., FL: Frank H. Fee, Head, Owner/Mortgaged, M, W, 69, M, OH, Banker; Margaret J., Wife, F, W, 70, M, PA, None.
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