Frank M. Thrane Biography


	This biography appears on pages 839-840 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FRANK M. THRANE. 

	Frank M. Thrane, the efficient cashier of the Wakonda State Bank 
of Wakonda, was born in Racine, Wisconsin, January 31, 1870, a son of 
Lars Jacob and Mary Anna (Jensen) Thrane, both of whom were born in 
Denmark and came to America in 1867. They settled in Wisconsin and 
resided there until 1884, in which year they removed to Centerville, 
South Dakota. The father purchased land six miles southeast of the site 
of Wakonda and devoted his energies to general farming. While a 
resident of Wisconsin he engaged in the dairy business. He died in 1890 
and his widow passed away in 1911. They were the parents of ten 
children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: James, a 
retired farmer of Volin, South Dakota; Inger J., deceased; Frank M., of 
this review; Mary J., the deceased wife of L. N. Aistrup, of 
Vermillion; Lewis C., deceased; Clara C., the wife of Dr. C. E. Hanson, 
a dentist of Wakonda; and William Henry and Henrietta, deceased. 

	Frank M. Thrane lived in Wisconsin until he was fourteen years of 
age and there attended the public schools. Following the removal of the 
family to this state he pursued his education in the public schools 
here and when nineteen years old entered the preparatory department of 
the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, remaining a student in 
that institution for a year and a half. He then returned home and 
worked for his father upon the farm until he attained his majority. At 
that time he accepted a position as clerk in a store of Wakonda, where 
he was employed for sixteen years, although in that time the ownership 
of the store changed several times. After leaving that place he became 
a partner in a merchandise business in Wakonda, with which he was 
connected for two years. After selling his interest he again clerked 
until he, with others, organized the Wakonda State Bank with a capital 
of twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Thrane was made cashier of the hank, 
which was organized January 11, 1913, and has since held that position, 
proving efficient and obliging. The finances of the institution are in 
excellent condition and its business has grown steadily since its 
establishment. Mr. Thrane owns one hundred and sixty acres of farming 
land two and a half miles northeast of Wakonda, which he rents and 
which is all under cultivation. It is well improved and produces 
excellent crops. He takes a great interest in his farm and gives 
considerable personal attention to its development. 

	Mr. Thrane was married September 20, 1897, to Miss Frances Mabel 
Cantrall, a native of Illinois and a daughter of S. M. and Hannah O. 
Cantrall. Her mother was born in Ohio and her father in Illinois. The 
latter was a farmer in his native state and continued to follow that 
occupation after removing to Iowa. In 1887 he came with his family to 
South Dakota and settled in Wakonda, but removed to Tyndall, where he 
resided for a time, though he eventually returned to Wakonda, which 
remained his home until his death, May 24, 1902. His wife died in 
March, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Thrane have been born two children: Olivia 
M., now fourteen years of age; and Harold F., ten years old. 

	Mr. Thrane is a republican and is serving upon the town board. 
For two years he was president of the board of trustees, for fourteen 
years has been town clerk and for one year was town assessor. He holds 
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and is financial secretary 
of the local organization. He is quite prominent in the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, having held all of the chairs in the local lodge, 
of which he is now secretary. He likewise is affiliated with the 
American Yeomen and the Knights of Pythias but is not active in the 
latter order. He is a constant and discriminating reader and is well 
informed upon all subjects of general interest. He also finds great 
pleasure in travel and thus further broadens his knowledge and 
experience. The growth of the Wakonda State Bank is assured under his 
able direction and he is ranked as one of the leading business men of 
Wakonda.