|
Frank Orvis was the second youngest son of Samuel & Levina Sanborn Orvis and perhaps the most interesting of the siblings, a hard feat as we have learned they were all remarkable in their own way. Franklin Benjamin was born in 1876, and was probably named after his uncle, Benjamin Franklin Sanborn. Frank was diligent and industrious, but never quite found the success he hoped for.
In 1899, at age 23, Frank was a first attendant at a “hospital for the insane” in Elgin. He was severely bitten on the hand by one of the patients and was ill for several days. At the same time, he was the Burton Township Tax Collector.
In 1902, he was hired as a teacher at English Prairie School and lived with his aging parents at the Sanborn family homestead. A 1903 school schedule shows he taught 21 pupils ages 6 to 13. Some familiar names on the attendance list are Richardson, Harm, Madden and Siedschlag. In April of that year, he closed the school for a week’s vacation as he was now the Township Assessor and needed to fulfill those duties.
In 1904, Frank and Edward S. French purchased the Darby Drug Store, which was located on Main Street, and made large additions to the stock, looking forward to new customers. Edward started a weekly paper called the North-Eastern Journal in Spring Grove and was the editor and publisher. That year Frank was elected as the bank officer for the Spring Grove camp of the Modern Woodman of America (M.W.A), a fraternal benefit society. Frank was also a Republican delegate.
By 1905, Frank was now the elected Town Clerk and Edward left to take a position with Rand, McNally & Co., in Chicago. In 1906, Frank moved the drug store to 8016 Blivin Street where he also had an ice cream parlor. That year, Edward sold the N.E. Journal to “Orvis & Orvis” with Frank becoming the new editor. Then some business men in town created a new company called “The Spring Grove Journal Company” with John Wagner as President. They signed a contract with Frank to remain the editor of the Journal. In those years, newspapers were published once a week and Frank ran the paper out of a small building at 7709 Blivin Street (which was later added onto and is now a house). In 1907 he added Police Magistrate to his list of duties.
In 1909, with Frank’s contract up with the Spring Grove Journal Company, and revenues not what they hoped, the publication was ceased. Frank continued his job as a printer at 7709 Blivin Street and sold insurance, probably through the M.W.A.
A few months later Frank also took a job with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as a carpenter with the bridge construction gang. He was there just a couple of months when they were working by the station at “Shermerville” (today’s Northbrook). He was riding on a work train and when the train slowed up, he jumped off and stepped onto the next track, not noticing the approach of the regular milk train. Before realizing his predicament, he was struck by the fast-running train and thrown high in the air. The other members of the bridge gang ran to his aid and summoned a doctor, but his death was almost instantaneous.
His brother, Waukegan Attorney E.V. Orvis, left for the scene as soon as news of his death reached Spring Grove and he brought the body back to the Sanborn family home. The inquest and funeral were held, and he was buried in the family cemetery.
Frank never married and always lived with his aged parents, being their support. It was feared his tragic death would affect his mother seriously on account of her age and infirmities, but she lived another nine years. His sister, Rose, had to take on Frank’s role now. But Frank left her an inheritance and she was able to add a kitchen to her house at 217 James Road and had a new well dug.
Headstones tell stories and Frank’s large and beautiful monument shows just how cherished he was for his hard work and dedication to his family. Carved in the granite along with intricate leaves and vines are these words:
In loving Remembrance of
Frank B
Beloved Son Of
S.L. and L.S. Orvis
June 1, 1876
July 27, 1909
He Rests from His Labors
Story by Laura Frumet
| 
