W. D. Frank, a prominent businessman of Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, disappeared without a trace on March 10, 1899. The story told was that he left his home on foot early in the day to go buy a horse which was being sold at a “country sale” somewhere in the vicinity of Killinger, Dauphin County, but he never arrived at the auction. Instead, he was seen buying a ticket to Sunbury at the train station in Georgetown [Dalmatia], Northumberland County, and then seen boarding the northbound train. He had about $85 in his pocket.
Speculation as to what happened to him hit the newspapers within a week after he disappeared. Did he have a stroke and fall into the Wiconisco Creek and drown? Was he the victim of highway robbery? Did he go to the gold fields in Alaska? Did he take his own life? Was he the victim of foul play? Did he and Mrs. Frank have marital difficulties?
Everyone assumed that Frank’s finances were in order, but on March 23, 1899, the Dauphin County Sheriff announced that Frank’s personal property was being put up for sale. And, on March 30, 1899, the Elizabethville Echo noted that Mrs. W. D. Frank had purchased the shoe store stock and her husband’s personal effects at the Sheriff’s Sale! Mrs. Frank continued to sell shoes in Elizabethville, which were then rightfully hers to sell, through the year.
No one has ever determined what happened to W. D. Frank. He was never seen or heard from again.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, March 16, 1899:
W. D. FRANK DISAPPEARS
Whither He Has Gone No One Can Tell
A PROMINENT BUSINESS MAN
The Whole Affair Shrouded in Mystery. — Is He Alive or Dead? — Traced to Georgetown where he Purchased a ticket for Sunbury
Where is W. D. Frank? If the question has been asked once it has been asked a thousand times.
We do know that he left home last Friday morning, was seen at a country “sale,” and later in the day bought a ticket at Georgetown for Sunbury, was even seen boarding the train, — but there the story ends.
He had attend a number of public sales, which are almost daily occurrences in the country districts at the present time, with the evident intention of purchasing a horse, and when he left his home at about 8:15 in the morning, he took a direct route across the fields toward Curtin, telling his family he was going to Hoy’s sale, near Killinger.
Along this route he passed the John Hartman farm, several miles north of town, where a sale was also being held. He took a look at the horses, here, and with the remark that he would return later in the day he went on his way. But the Hoy sale he positively never reached and the only clue that is left is the story given by Henry Zeigler of Georgetown. Mr. Zeigler worked in one of the factories at this place about eight years since, and he feels reasonably certain that he saw Mr. Frank, – whom he at that time learned to know, — pass by his residence about nook, Friday, and also saw him board the 12:24, p. m. train north, learning from the ticket agent that he had purchased a ticket for Sunbury.
There can be but two theories as to the cause of his disappearance, either he was dealt with foully, or left intentionally.
If the first be true, then we believe that Mr. Zeigler is mistaken. But even admitting that he did go to Sunbury, his motives might still have been pure, as it is known that he had been in communication with a firm at that place regarding the purchase of a gasoline engine, and he could easily have spent several hours in that town and still returned home on the evening train, — providing he did not meet his fate there.
If the second theory be true then the mystery deepens. Mrs. Frank insists that their domestic relations were congenial, which no one can knowingly gainsay, and her assertion in this respect would certainly seem to be supported by the fact that he took but about $85 in money with him whereas there were several hundred dollars in available cash at his command. Neither could his financial circumstances have prompted him to leave, for in this respect all was in excellent condition. Look at is as we may, the affair is entirely enshrouded in mystery,
Socially, Mr. Frank was always very popular; in business successful, and in his habits he was a man worthy of emulation.
For a number of years he has been president of the Lykens Valley Telephone Company, Secretary of the Elizabethville Water Company, a Director of the Maple Grove cemetery, proprietor of the Glass Front shoe store, and a wholesale manufacturer of ice cream. He was a member in good standing of the Reformed Church.
His family is almost distracted with grief, and it is hoped that some information as to his whereabouts may soon be forth-coming.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 13, 1899:
MISSING FROM HOME
W. D. Frank, a well-known shoe dealer of Elizabethville, left home on Friday morning to attend a public sale near Millersburg, and has not been heard of since. He never reached the sale, and people of Elizabethville are at a loss to know whether he met with foul play or while walking along the Wiconisco Creek was stricken with apoplexy and fell into the water an drowned. Search has been made for the missing man, but all to no avail. He was a man of good habits and when leaving home for a day always returned home in the evening. People of Elizabethville are greatly exercised over his disappearance and will leave nothing undone to recover his body.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 14, 1899:
It is reported that W. D. Frank, one of our prominent business men, has suddenly disappeared. The last seen of him was on Friday, when he left home presumably to attend, a sale near Killinger. It is thought by some he has gone to visit his brother, A. J. Frank, at Curwensville, Pennsylvania.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, March 23, 1899:
TO SELL PERSONAL PROPERTY
The personal property of W. D. Frank, of Elizabethville, who disappeared from home several days ago, has been advertised for sale on March 29, by Sheriff Sellers.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 28, 1899:
As yet there have been no developments in the W. D. Frank mystery. It is, however, confidently believed that he is alive and well. His finances were not quite in the condition they were supposed to be and a sale of the personal property will take place next week.
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From the Northumberland County Democrat, March 30 1899:
WANDERED FROM HOME
W. D. FRANK, OF ELIZABETHVILLE, MISSING SINCE MARCH 10th
THOUGHT TO BE IN THIS SECTION
He Left Home at Eight O’clock in the Morning to Go toa Horse Sale — Later in the Day Purchased a Ticket at Georgetown for Sunbury, and Has Not Been Seen Since.
W. G. Hoke, who at present is employed in this city [Sunbury], is making a diligent search for his nephew, W. D. Frank, who has been missing from his home in Elizabethville, near Halifax, since the morning of Friday, March 10th.
Frank, who was the proprietor of a shoe store, and one of the most prominent business men in that section, left home that morning at eight o’clock to go toa horse sale about three miles distant, but found no horse to suit him there, and left saying that he would go and see another ma about a horse and if he had none to suit him he would return. Later in the day he was seen at the Pennsylvania [Railroad] station at Georgetown, where he purchased a ticket for Sunbury. He was in a very excited condition and appeared to be greatly agitated. Since that time he has not been seen, and no traces as to his whereabouts can be learned.
The following Monday, J. F. Gilbert, of this city, who is well acquainted with the missing man, thinks he saw him on Third Street, but as he did not know of his strange disappearance at the time paid no attention to him, and could not say positive whether it was him or not. This, with several other minor facts, leads Mr. Hoke to believe that Frank is in this locality.
The description of the man by the name of Miller, who tried to commit suicide by jumping from the bridge at Williamsport last week answers that of Frank, and Mr. Hoke will visit that place to see if the man, who is still held by the authorities, is his nephew. Frank was about 40 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 155 pounds, and had a thin light moustache. He was a temperate man and was not subject to an disarrangements of the mind or body, and his disappearance can not be counted for in any way. He was connected with a number of enterprises, and was always held in high command.
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From the Mount Carmel Daily News, March 30, 1899:
A MISSING MAN
W. G. Hoke, who at present is employed in Sunbury, is making a diligent search for his nephew, W. D. Frank, who has been missing from home in Elizabethville, near Halifax, since the morning of Friday, March 10th.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, March 30, 1899:
Mrs. W. D. Frank purchased the shoe stock, and all the personal effects of W. D. Frank, at Sheriff’s sale, yesterday afternoon.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, April 13, 1899:
W. D. FRANK
OFFERS A REWARD
Mrs. W. D. Frank has issued a circular offering a reward for information which will lead to the recovery of the body of her husband, either dead or alive.
The circular sets forth, as follows:
Mr. Frank left his home and family at Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, on Friday, March 10, 1899. The same day he bought a railroad ticket at Georgetown, Pennsylvania, for Sunbury, Pennsylvania. but has not since been heard from. His age is 39 years, his height about five feet, six inches, and his weight about 168 lbs. Has dark eyes, hair and mustache. Uses two plates of artificial teeth, although only a few teeth on each plate. He is usually quick in his movements and when alone his walk is faster than the ordinary gai. When he left home he wore a soft black hat, black corkscrew overcoat, white shirt, lay-down collar and black tie. His coat, vest and pants were grey in color, and were all alike in texture. Upon one of his eyelids is a wart, and another on the back part of his head, which, however is almost concealed by his hair.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, April 13, 1899:
But ‘Twas Not Frank
A letter received by ‘Squire Miller, from Thompsontown, on Tuesday, stated that the body of a man had been found floating in the river at that place, and that possibly it might be that of W. D. Frank. S. E. Blyler, formerly of this place, but at present residing in Juniata County, was telephoned to and requested to go promptly and see the corpse. His reply was substantially as follows:
“The Man was probably about 50 years of age. Could not say whether he had any whiskers in this face, as he was so badly decomposed. A pair of spectacles was found upon his person. By all appearances it was not Mr. Frank.”
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From the Lykens Register, April 20, 1899:
Mrs. W. D. Frank has issued a circular offering a reward for information which will lead to the recovery of the body of her husband, either dead or alive. He left his home and family Friday, March 10th, 1899. The same day he bought a ticket at Georgetown, Pennsylvania, for Sunbury, Pennsylvania, but has not since been heard from. He is 39 years of age, his height about five feet six inches and weighs about 168 pounds. Has dark eyes, hair and moustache, uses two plates of artifical teeth, although only a few teeth in each plate. He is usually quick in his movements, and when alone his walk is faster than the ordinary gait. When he left home he wore a soft black hat, black cork-screw overcoat, white shirt, laydown collar and black tie. His coat, vest and pants were grey in color, and were all alike in texture. Upon his eyelids is a wart, and another on the back part of his head, which is almost concealed by his hair.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, July 13, 1899:
Inquiry is frequently made of our citizens by those from other towns regarding W. D. Frank, who left his home on March tenth last. Not the slightest clue as to his whereabouts has been obtained and the matter is enshrouded in as much mystery as ever. Upon several occasions his family heard him express a desire to go to the Alaskan gold fields, and while it is possible he has gone to that place, yet it is just as possible or probable that he is dead — so far at least as his family or the community are able to judge.
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An advertisement from the Elizabethville Echo, September 21, 1899:
TRY OUR SHOES
I have a most complete stock for men, women and children, and my prices are such as will make you a regular customer at my store when one you have dealt here.
We have a ladies’ shoe which has been reduced from $1.25 to 50 cents. It’s a great bargain.
Men’s $8.00 shoes are now going at $1.50, as long as this particular line last.
A line of baby shoes reduced from 50 cents to 30 cents.
We have in stock a certain line of good-wear that must go away below the regular price to make room for new goods. Ask to see them.
MRS. W. D. FRANK
Having purchased the book accounts of W. D. Frank, all persons knowing themselves indebted will please pay same at once.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, December 7, 1899:
Mrs. W. D. Frank has cut prices on shoes, and is offering some splendid holiday bargains. A new line of winter goods has just been received. Look for her announcement in the Echo, next week.
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