STARK COUNTY OHIO - BIO: FRANTZ, Joseph (published 1881)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Anita A. Rippel
Anitarippe@aol.com
February 15, 1999
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From Perrins "History of Stark County Ohio"  1881

Joseph Frantz, farmer; P.O. Louisville.  In taking notes of the history of the Frantz family, we find that it was mainly through their influence that induced the first French settlement in Stark County, Ohio.  Joseph Frantz is a native of Lorraine, France, and was born Feb. 12, 1822. His parents were named respectively, Thiebaud and Frances (Menegay) Frantz. This couple were parents of twelve children, whose names are---Joseph, deceased; John P., Therese, Mary Ann, Margaret, Peter E., Loui Frances, Christina, Catherine, and Joseph, and one that died quite young. Mr. Frantz was an agent in the employ of the canal company there, and under Napoleon's last call, enlisted in the French army, where he served but a short time. Financially speaking, Mr. Frantz and many of his neighbors were very poor, Mr. Frantz finding very often hard work to feed so many mouths in his family.  From 1820 to 1825, all Europe was being agitated by many of its people flocking westward across the Atlantic, where poor people had equal chances with the rich; where work was plenty and wages good; and where their sons as soon as they arrived at manhood, were not pressed into the army, to be separated from friends, and finally die on the battle-field  in some distant country.  In 1825, Mr. Frantz determined on sending his two daughters, Mary Ann and Margaret, to America, in order to learn if the reports were true they heard. After a long voyage they arrived in New York, and their finding work plenty and prospects bright, wrote back home, giving glowing accounts of the country and people.  This letter had the effect of bringing Mr. Frantz and family and four other families to the United States. In the spring of 1826 these families started from Havre on board a sailing vessel, and after a perilous voyage of forty-two days, landed in New York. On their arrival at this point, the great cry of immigrants was Ohio; and Mr. Frantz with his companions determined to go there. Arriving in Cleveland, they left their families in a barn while they would go out in the country and select a suitable location. After considerable search, they came to Canton, where there was a small Catholic organization. Mr. Frantz made the remark after seeing the Catholic cross, that that was the first one he had seen since leaving the city of New York, and he should go no farther. They went back to Cleveland and brought their families down to Nimishillen  Tp. Mr. Frantz settled on a small tract of land all woods and entirely devoid of clearing. He was an honest, enterprising citizen, and was the leading spirit of all the French in Nimishillen Tp. Mr. Frantz lived a long life of usefullness, and finally died in 1851, followed by his widow in 1869.  Joseph Frantz was reared to hard labor on the old homestead. He early learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked.  
submitted by  Anita A. Rippel   e-mail --anitarippe@aol.com


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