|
a.
|
Note: From "A History of Texas and Texans" by Frank W. Johnson, Published 1916, pages 1458 and 1459:
Rudolph D. Franke - One of the pioneer families of Austin County is that of Franke, represented by Rudolph D. Franke, who for a number of years has been known as a farmer and business man in Industry, and whose career is especially commendable for the efforts and enterprise which have enabled hin to climb from a humble position to one of comparative affluence.
Rudolph D. Franke was born on the old homestead farm at Industry September 7, 1866. His training for life was a practical combination of books with hard work. He attended the village schools, and at the age of nineteen, started out for himself as a dealer in cattle. He soon afterwards took up butchering, and that industry he followed in this vicinity for twenty-six years. He started without capital, and at first, had a small shop 12x14 feet. He did all the work both of killing and cutting the meat on the block and selling it. He paid close attention to his work and with increasing means expanded the scope of his operations. Eventually he became a large dealer and shipped extensively to the markets of Houston and Fort Worth. He also dealt in horses and bought land which he farmed to the extent of growing his own feed. During his career, Mr. Franke improved two farms near Industry and has made one of the most attractive residences in the village. He is a stockholder of the First Guaranty Bank of Industry. He owns land in the Ernst and Pettes leagues, having 427 acres at Industry and 160 acres in Fort Bend County. Mr. Franke is a member of the Sons of Hermann and carried a policy issued by the ??? Life Insurance Company.
He married at Industry in December 1894 to Miss Ida Buenger, a daughter of Andrew and Anna Buenger and a sister of William A. Buenger of Industry. To their marriage have been born the following children: Lee, who graduated from the Bellville High School and subsequently from the Sam Houston Normal School, and is now a junior in the University of Texas, being a young man of great promise and no little ability; Lena, who is a student in the Sam Houston Normal School at Huntsville; Nora, a student in the public schools at Industry; and Walter and Edwin, both young children at home.
When Mr. and Mrs. Franke started in life after their marriage, their possessions comprised a few old ponies and some household goods given to Mrs. Franke by her people. Their first housekeeping was on his father's farm, where he built a small house and then, with the savings from his business, invested in two acres of land, situated on the main road in Industry. He moved his first home to the village lot and around that nucleus has developed the commodious home and substantial property which he now owns.
The following is from "Historical Accounts of Industry, Texas, 1831-1986", by the Industry-West End Historical Society, copyright 1986:
Rudolph D. Franke was born September 7, 1866 on the Franke homestead at Industry, Texas. He was educated in the village school and at age 19 he went into cattle trading business. Franke took up butchering in a small shop, 12' by 14'. He did all the work, killing, cutting and selling for some 26 years. In December, 1894, Franke married Ida Buenger, daughter of Andrew Buenger. Franke's business grew to include a large network, buying and selling cattle and horses as far away as Ft. Worth and Houston. During his career, Franke expanded his property and holdings to include 2 farms of over 630 acres of land. He became a stockholder of the First Guaranty Bank in Industry and also served on the school board. The Frankes had the following children: Lee, Lena, Nora, Walter and Edwin.
|
