-------------------------------
biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
ISAIAH FRANICEL is the senior member of the firm of Frankel, Bach & Co. bankers, on the north side of the Square in Oskaloosa, also a member of the firm of I. Frankel & Co., clothiers, immediately adjoining the bank on the east. He is a native of Southern Germany, and was born Oct. 14, 1832. He received a common-school education in the old country, and when fourteen years of age apprenticed himself for two years and learned the trade of cigar-making. At the age of sixteen he was engaged as clerk in a mercantile house, where he remained until he reached his maturity, when he came to the United States and opened a dry-goods and clothing house at New Washington, Clark Co., Ind., continuing business in that place for three years, thence removing to Marion, and to Macon County, Mo., where he opened a general store, in company with Immanuel Bach. Four years later they came to Iowa, and in the spring of 1861 opened a small clothing store on the east side of the Public Square of this city, in a frame building occupying a portion of the present site of the court-house. Some time afterward they moved their location to the north side of the Square and two doors east of the present elegant building occupied by this firm, and in 1869 moved to the west side of the Square, having purchased the building and ground immediately north of the alley, now occupied by the Singer Sewing Machine Company and other parties. In 1873 Mr. Frankel established a private bank, under the firm name and style of Frankel, Bach & Co., at his location on the west side, continuing in business there until 1876, when they removed to their present elegant quarters in Centennial Block, having a floorage of 20x70 feet on the ground floor, with the upper story fitted up for offices. In two respects Mr. Frankel and his active partner, Mr. Bach, are pioneers in business. Their clothing establishment is the oldest in the city, carries a large and well-selected stock, and makes a specialty of fine clothing; they also carry a full line of gents' furnishing goods, hats and caps. As bankers theirs is the oldest established bank in the county, and is possessed of ample capital to supply the wants of their patrons. For twenty years they have been the leading wool-buyers of this section of the State, their annual purchases of this product averaging 160,000 pounds. The firm have also had a branch clothing-house for the last fourteen years at Mason City, Iowa, managed by Mr. P. P. Himmelreich. The firm have been continuously associated in business for the past twenty-seven years, and from a small beginning, with limited means, have built up a large business and established a business standing second to no other house in the county. Isaiah Frankel was married in Davenport, Iowa, Jan 20, 1864, to Babetta Sheurman, a native of Germany. Mrs. Frankel was born in 1840, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of six children, all living: Anselm, born Dec. 7, 1864, is cashier in his father's bank; Manasseh, born Sept, 22, 1866, is salesman in the dry-goods department of Baldauf Bros., of Oskaloosa; Nathan, born Oct. 18, 1868, is salesman with I. Frankel & Co.; Henrietta, born Nov. 6, 1870; Rosa, Dec. 18, 1873, and Henry, May 29, 1881. Politically Mr. Frankel is a Democrat, a leading member of the party, and takes an active interest in city, county and State elections. He is the oldest member of the City Council, and has been elected four successive terms from the Second Ward, being a leading and valued member of that body. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow societies. Mr. Frankel owns about 146 acres of land six miles northwest of the city, which is known as Catalpa Ridge Fine Stock Farm, upon which he has a herd of twenty-five thoroughbred Short-horn cattle, and several head of high grade. He also raises Norman and Clydesdale horses, and is making this business as much a success as he has any and all the other enterprises in which he is engaged. Mr. Frankel has been very successful in life, and that because he possesses the elements that have contributed to that end in an unusual degree. He has been a student of the problems of finance and trade, and a close observer of events for many years, and evinces unusual sagacity and foresight in the management of his business affairs. As a banker he is conservative and absolutely safe and reliable. As a business man he never makes or permits a misrepresentation in any particular. Among the many private banks of the State none are rated higher in commercial reports than the one of which he is the managing head, and as an able financier he has established a reputation second to none. He is a very public-spirited citizen, and always contributes by his influence and means to any and all enterprises tending to advance the interests of his city and county, and enjoys the full confidence and highest esteem or his fellow-citizens.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy