Smith County Pioneer
Obituary of Henry Franzmathes

Henry A Franzmathes, 94, a man who came to Kansas with his pioneer parents, Mr. And Mrs. Charles Franzmathes in 1873, a true old timer, passed away at his home in Smith Center last Thursday, Jan. 11.

Mr. Franzmathes was ever a man of action, a man who did the unusual. His was almost a storybook life. He was a man of many talents and of unusual abilities. He conducted dancing schools in several cities, including Kansas City and he was probably the first man to teach dancing by mail. Among his papers are some showing the steps and other procedures of his course very similar to the method now used by a nationally famous dancing instructor.

He went into vaudeville with a shooting act that won him a big headline and almost a column of praise in the May 17, 1903, Kansas City Star. With this act he traveled and played in most of the big cities of the United States. He was a headliner.

During this period of dancing instruction and vaudeville, he also developed musical talent. He could play several instruments, even play several at one time and at his death several valuable instruments were in his possession.

After traveling about and living in various cities for years he and Mrs. Franzmathes came to Smith Center in 1931 and started their White Elephant Store. There he developed an unusual business, one that gave him an opportunity to meet many people and at one that gave him time to devote more of his time to music. He played and sang for customers, he repaired musical instruments, he composed several songs, he bought and sold used furniture, appliances and other articles. He enjoyed life to the fullest.

Mr. Franzmathes was a man who was intensely loyal to Smith Center and especially to his part of the city. He wanted to see the section south of the railroad tracks develop and he did everything in his power to help in the process.

Until a few months ago Mr. Franzmathes was as active and agile as a man many years younger, then his health began to fail. But unlike many people of advanced age, his mind remained active and alert to the very last. He became very ill last Thursday and passed away at his home. He was joking with his doctor and protesting against going to the hospital, when the end came suddenly and peacefully.

Mr. Franzmathes was born in Eurich, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 1867. In 1873, his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Charles Franzmathes came to Smith County and took a preemption claim on what later became the Hummer community. In 1884 the family moved to Kansas City where Henry helped his father in a furniture store. When his parents returned to Smith County, Henry remained and went into the dance and show business previously mentioned. In 1900 he was married to Frances McGinley, who died when a daughter was born in 1902. In 1921, he was married to Thora Enger at Sioux Falls, S. Dakota. They lived in Lincoln, Neb, until they moved here in 1931 and Smith Center was their home until his death. He is survived by his wife of the home, his daughter, Francis Catherine, now Mrs. Chas. Chandler of rural Smith Center, by three sisters, Mrs. Ida Stoops and Mrs. Elizabeth Breon, both of Smith Center, and Mrs. Bertha Neff of Osawatomie, and by many other relatives. He has numberless friends who will miss him.

Memorial services were conducted from Simmons chapel last Saturday at 2:00 PM. Jan 13, by Fr. John Moeder. Vocalists were Francis Knight, Duane Jacobs, Art Tucker and Lee Smith. Ralph Henkins, Ralph Hays, Robert Thorup, Lee Pennington, Junior Chase, Joe Pilcher and Floyd Rorabaugh were pallbearers. Rachel Jenkins, Dorothy Pennington, Merle Elwood, Alpha May and Theodosia Rorabaugh were in charge of the flowers. Interment was in Crystal Plains cemetery.