An American Family History

Frank Foltz Passes Away Tuesday Forenoon

Prominent Citizen Succumbs to a Stroke of Paralysis at His Home
Frank Foltz, for many years a prominent citizen and lawyer of this city; passed away at his home on Grace street Tuesday forenoon just a few minutes before twelve o-clock. Mr. Foltz suffered a slight attack of paralysis about the middle of the forenoon which was followed by a more severe one. He passed away before a physician could reach him.

Mr. Foltz had been in failing health for the past six years, the last three of which being such that he required constant care. Several years ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis which left him in a weakened condition and with successive strokes from time to time his decline became more rapid. A Couple of years ago a stoke partially impaired his eyesight and with the added burden in the loss of his faithful and most estimable wife he became worse and worse until the end relived his suffering Tuesday.

Although Mr. Foltz’ condition was serious for several months he was in his usual good health Sunday. Thomas Hoyes a brother-in-law, had gone to Mr. Foltz’ residence Sunday evening to assist with some of the household chores as was his habit since the death of Mrs. Foltz. Mr. Foltz, at that time seemed in high spirits and conversed with Mr. Hoyes on several subjects. However the final stoke came out of a clear sky and the aged citizen passed away as above stated.

Frank Foltz was born July 20 1859, his birth place being half a mile south of Romney, near Lafayette in Tippecanoe county. His parents were Cyrus and Mary A. (Rogers) Foltz, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana. Cyrus Foltz was a farmer in Tippecanoe county, moved from there into White county in 1868, lived on a farm south of Wolcott until the spring of 1870, and then moved to Oxford in Benton county, where he engaged in the meat market business. He died at Oxford in 1885.
Frank Foltz was about eleven years old when the family removed to Oxford, and in that village most of his early associations were formed, and under the direction of his father he learned the butcher trade. It was there too that he received the greater part of his scholastic training. While his education had been self acquired in the greater part, it has not been necessarily limited below the standards of liberal accomplishment. For the training which he had found of most value in life Mr. Foltz gives credit to B. F. Johnson ex-state statistician, and to Judge Simon P. Thompson. His practical career began in 1876, when seventeen years old, as a Benton county farmer. His father bought eight-three acres three miles north of Oxford as the testing ground for his son’s apprenticeship at agriculture, and it should be noted that this land is still part of Mr. Foltz’s extensive land holdings. He was engaged in farming there until 1881 and then came to Jasper county to become manager of Judge S. P. Thompson’s ranch near what is now Parr. A year later he returned to Oxford, and for several years continued as a farmer in the summer season and taught school during that winter term. Mr. Foltz took up the study of law in the winter of 1884-85 under the direction of Judge S. p. Thompson. His father died in April, 1885, he came with his mother to Rensselaer, where he earned his living as an employee in the office of Judge Thompson and at the same time carried on his legal studies. Admitted to the bar in the spring of 1886, he did his first practice before the courts of the justices of the peace and in the employ of Judge Thompson. When Judge Thompson was elevated to the bench in 1896, Mr. Foltz, Charles G. Spitler and Harry R. Kurrie entered into a partnership under the firm name of Foltz, Spitler & Kurrie. From this firm Mr. Kurrie retired in 1904 and as Foltz and Spitler it continued until January, 1910 when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Foltz was in an individual practice until July, 1911, at which date he leased his office and spent the next two years in closing up all his engagements and affairs as a lawyer. The last important act in his career as a member of the bar came in 1913 when he sold his law library and law fixtures. Since then he has given his undivided attention to to his extensive farming interests. Needless to say he was one of the practical and most successful managers of the resources of the soil in Jasper county.

Mr. Foltz, was a Republican, but never sought and would never accept a public office.  On Octover 20 1886, he married Miss Eva Kolb, daughter of Dr. Jonathan Kolb, who was a old time medical practitioner at Oxford, Indiana, until his death. Mrs. Foltz died September 1, 1910. On May 21, 1911, Mr. Foltz married Miss Blanche Hoyes daughter of George W. and Hester A. (Nowels) Hoyes who passed away suddenly January 9, 1926, from high blood pressure and a weak heart, from which she had suffered for about two years. No children ever came to grace their home.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock from the Christian church in charge of Rev. M. V. Foster, pastor, Interment will be made in Weston Cemetery.

Clark County, Ohio
Volume 1, page 94