NOTE:
Frank Gerkin is not an actual person. This LEGACY Life Story is a composite
of the stories of multiple individuals. No actual names are used.
THE LEGACY OF FRANK GERKIN -
As
Told to Ann Naegler June 2003
Frank Gerkin’s grandfather, Karl Gerkin, was born on July 25,
1838, in Weisenfels, Germany. He was the youngest of 11 children of John
and Gertrude Gerkin.
Karl left home at the age of 19 “to seek fame and fortune” in
America. After six weeks of sailing across the Atlantic, he entered the
United States at New Orleans. He traveled up the Mississippi River to
St. Louis and applied that year for “first papers of citizenship.” He
served his country under General Segal and came to Springfield, MO, in
1863. In 1866, he lost his wife and first child during childbirth.
Earnest Pope and family also came to Springfield in 1863. Anna Pope
was two years old. The family previously moved from Kentucky to Kansas
in a covered wagon. Anna had four siblings: Emma, Katie, Gertrude, and
Fred.
Karl became a butcher and purchased his own shop. He also operated
a tannery and a soap factory. Records from the Greene County Courthouse
and clippings in “The Leader” indicate that he earned respect
in the business community. He was loyal to friends and to the German
organizations of the St. John’s Evangelical Church. He was a member
of the School Board and of the choral society. He was interested in politics
and could be counted on to influence the German vote.
In 1887, he married Anna Pope. Karl was 23 years older than Anna.
Anna was large and not very pretty, but she was bright and an excellent
cook. Their first child, Fred Gerkin, was born on July 11, 1888. He was
a lively child, who brought great joy to the family.
During the Depression of the 1890’s, Karl’s business failed,
and their second child was stillborn. The brave efforts of Anna kept
him from losing all courage. A third child, Frieda, was born at the end
of this time period. She became a teacher. Anna made quilts for each
of her children and grandchildren to pass down through the family.
Karl Gerkin died on March 6, 1902, of natural causes, and Anna Gerkin
died on December 16, 1959, of old age. She was 98 years old. Anna was
born during the Civil War, traveled across the country in a covered wagon
as an infant, and lived to see a satellite in space.
Fred married Irene Dyer in about 1909. Irene was part Cherokee Indian.
Her great grandmother walked the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Fred defied
custom to marry her. There were social slights due to Irene’s ancestry,
but Fred loved her dearly. She was
a beautiful woman with long black hair and black eyes. Her nickname was “Blackie.”
She was an excellent horsewoman and talented pianist. She played the
piano, with tiny hands, for vaudeville productions. She was 5 feet tall
and wore size 4 shoes. On her 16th birthday, her father gave Irene an
oval ring made of black onyx surrounded by gold with three diamonds in
the center. She gave it to her daughter Claire on her 16th birthday.
Her granddaughter Kathy wore it, and great granddaughter Kristen wears
the ring now. Irene believed that women should have the vote, a view
that irritated the male dominated society.
Frank Gerkin was born on August 10, 1911. Peter was born on October
12, 1913, and Claire was born on March 13, 1915. Peter grew up to become
a school principal, and Claire became a teacher.
Fred drank beer once a week. He sent Frank to the bar with 10 cents
and a tin bucket to purchase it. Frank admits to “trying a few
sips” on the way home, believing that his father never missed it.
Frank loved to swim and could swim in the city pool for 2 cents. He
swam from Rockaway Beach to Cedar Point, a distance of five miles. He
once saved a child from drowning. Frank didn’t tell me this until
his son Rick insisted. He was an ardent Cardinals fan and enjoyed pitching
and playing first base. His best childhood memory was riding their pony “Buttons” when
the children were 5, 7, and 9 years old. Frank had a lifelong love of
horses. His son Rick believes Frank is a “horse-whisperer.”
Fred was a successful businessman. Irene had a maid, who wore a pinafore,
and they had a summer home in Rockaway Beach. Unfortunately, Fred died
during an influenza epidemic on July 31, 1922. He became ill one day
and was gone the next. He left Irene behind with three children, ages
11, 9, and 7. Irene was so distraught she couldn’t tell the children
he was gone. They knew something was wrong and waited daily for their
father by the gate. It was three weeks before she could bear to tell
them he would not return. This left Frank with a life long fear of loss.
Several years later, Irene married George Harman. He was a decent man,
but he was not the children’s loved father. George was a poor businessman
and, within a few years, the family’s inheritance was gone. The
family struggled to get by. Many people were poor then. When Frank’s
shoes wore out, the soles were replaced with cardboard. It was particularly
painful because Frank’s family was accustomed to having a better
life. He learned that having money meant being safe: not having money
meant not being safe. This is a belief he has carried throughout life.
Frank worked from an early age. He sold newspaper for 3 cents, earning
12 cents a week. He sold watermelons and cantaloupes from the family
garden. He took tourists on donkey rides from Rockaway Beach to Cedar
Point. He prided himself on working hard and was up before daylight.
He broke horses for a black
family, earning $5 a head. He liked this family, and their color meant
nothing to him, unfortunately a sentiment not shared by many others.
Several individuals had a positive influence on Frank’s life.
His Aunt Frieda was a teacher, who did testing for school systems. Another
positive role model was Mr.
Lund. He was the richest man in Springfield and owned property from Sunshine
to Battlefield and Fremont to Campbell. Because of the financial loss
suffered by his family, Frank was always trying to figure out a way to
earn money. He identified Mr. Lund as being a man of success. Frank worked
for him and earned $3 for clearing timber. One job was so large that
Frank had to hire others to help complete the task on time; thus, earning
nothing
for his own huge amount of work.
Mr. Lund often said, “A man is no better then his ability to pay.” He
encouraged Frank to read “The Mechanics of Money,” which
became his favorite book.
Frank graduated from high school in 1929. It was the beginning of the
Depression, a historical event having a dramatic impact on Frank and
the entire country. When Frank couldn’t find work, he joined the
Navy. Many tried to join the Navy, but only 10 out of 200 were accepted.
Frank was one of the 10. He was stationed in San Diego, California, for
four years. He fell on the ship and injured his back. He had back surgery
and was in a Naval Hospital when released from the Navy. Frank received
an unexpected $800 to make a new start. He spent $140 on a Model A Ford,
which he drove across the country.
Good work was still hard to find. Franklin Roosevelt had established “The
New Deal” to counter the Depression. Frank spent six months in
a Civilian Conservation Camp. He re-injured his back and was unable to
work for almost a year. He couldn’t stand not being able to work.
He spent this forced leisure time being productive. He read history and
the Dictionary. He studied the origin of words and the cultures of ancient
Egypt and Greece. Frank received a Naval pension of $13 a month. He spent
$13 to repair an old piano and took lessons from an elderly lady. Since
he couldn’t work, he seriously studied the piano and learned to
play music written by Bach. His mother, Irene, was delighted. A second
surgery, combined with rest, returned him to health.
Once recovered, Frank found employment for two years through the Rural
Electric Association and “turned the lights on” throughout
a rural area. His dream was to return to Springfield, own a business,
and get rich.
Frank met Charlotte Meyers at a party in 1938. Frank’s friend
told him he would meet the “cutest little woman he ever saw.” The
friend was correct. They danced, played croquet, pulled taffy, and ate
homemade ice cream. Charlotte was pretty, smart, a wonderful dancer and,
Frank adds, she had a lovely shape. On their third date, he said, “If
you’ll marry me, I’ll make a million
dollars.” She accepted. However, she had to loan him $3 when they
were married in Ozark thirty days later on April 14, 1938. After the
wedding, since they did not yet have a home, he had to watch her be driven
off to her parent’s home. He wondered, “What have I done!” Charlotte’s
parents were not particularly impressed with Frank at that point. Her
father operated a grocery store. Her mother was a nurse, who wrote beautiful
poetry. Frank made $10 a week and claimed his bride 30 days later. Sexual
pleasures were as yet unknown, but Frank rose to the occasion. “Stardust” was
their favorite song. They enjoyed dancing at Half-A-Hill.
Irene Gerkin had routine surgery in 1940 and died from complications.
Frank and Charlotte were married for 62 years, and he made two million
dollars. Her parents liked him a little better after he became successful.
Charlotte’s mother, Evelyn, lived with them after her husband’s
death. Frank later built Evelyn a home of her own.
The family lived on Weller Street. Frank is proud that he never had
to make a house or car payment. He paid cash. The only time he borrowed
money was $120 from his mother-in-law to buy his first business. Evelyn
reminded him twenty years later that it was time to repay the loan.
Frank owned four businesses and was an excellent salesman. He didn’t
lie, never stole, and tried to make the customers laugh. He prides
himself on being inventive. An airplane scattered handbills advertising
a free car wash with a $1 purchase of gas. The family moved to Tucson,
Arizona, and Frank was a salesman for O’Reilly Chevrolet. Although
new in town, he was top salesman by the second month. He looked in the
telephone book for multiple name listings, such as Smith. He then called
to inquire if this was the Smith looking for a car. The person often
knew someone who was, and Frank received many referrals. He offered $20,000
in cash for a home with a swimming pool in Palm Springs, but refused
to pay the $21,000 asking price. After the family returned to Springfield,
he purchased land, which multiplied many times in value. Charlotte was
a bright woman, who kept the books for Frank’s businesses.
Throughout Frank’s life, if he could help someone in need, he
would as long as they were willing to work. He didn’t want anyone
to be alone at Christmas, and there were often guests at Christmas dinner.
Frank and Charlotte have four children. John was born in 1939. He was
President of his senior class in high school. He graduated from the University
of Missouri Law School in the top 10% of his class. Peter was born in
1942. Frank proudly speaks of 15-year-old Peter swimming from Branson
to Roackaway Beach. Rick was born in 1945. Frank describes Rick as being
a fat, happy little boy who loved his mother. Rick’s teacher called
Charlotte to school fearing he was seriously depressed because he colored
most things brown. Charlotte informed the teacher that Rick was the happiest
child she knew. He was simply colorblind and thought brown was blue.
When Frank feared Rick was becoming a sissy, he put him to work at age
10. Rick was also President of his senior class. Kathy was born in 1950
and was a talented dancer. When Kathy was embarrassed about the family
car, Frank bought a new one. He also embarrassed her by bringing a prize
bass to the Presbyterian Church, knowing his church-going buddies would
be envious.
Frank remembers having a happy life with “Mom” and the
children. He was able to give them a nice life. He is proud that he was
always able to take care of them, something he lost as a child. The boys
had cars. Kathy shopped at Heer’s, and Charlotte favored Rubenstein’s.
Charlotte owned one of the first dishwashers in town. They took family
vacations to Florida, which are the best memories. They usually went
to Key West and stayed in a motel by the ocean. They went the day after
Christmas, and the children returned to school with tans. The children
had a brown cocker spaniel named Buster. The family listened to the Cardinal
games on the radio and thrilled to the sounds of Harry Carey shouting, “It
might be. It could be. It IS a HOMERUN!!!” They got their first
Philco television set in 1955. They family slept on a sleeping porch
during hot summer nights and fell asleep to the sound of crickets. One
Fourth of July, the children all got hula-hoops. Each morning, Charlotte
started the day by reading “The Daily Word.” She studied
Spanish, which helped when she and Kathy took a trip to Spain. Frank
and Charlotte enjoyed special evenings dining at the Grove or Shady Inn.
Frank’s favorite time was the Fourth of July. He loved to drive
fast cars, fast motorcycles, and fast boats. He liked big Cadillacs.
He admits to being a bit wild at times. He slipped off every chance he
got to go to his farm and ride his beloved horses. His favorite was a
splendid black horse named Dan. He was active in the Shrine and assisted
with the Shrine Circus every spring. The family attended the annual Shrine
picnic at Doling Park. One night, Buster didn’t recognize Frank
in his Shrine Fez and wouldn’t let him in the house until he took
it off. A favorite memory is being able to buy his farm for $1800 and
a handshake. He studied the Dale Carnegie course, which taught him “not
to condemn, criticize, or complain.” He didn’t take off from
work to see movies, but admits to liking westerns written by Henry Altshellar.
Frank talks about lining all four children up in front of the fireplace
and instructing them to always be honest and not to smoke. The talk must
have worked. He is proud that all of his children are intelligent, responsible,
productive adults. John is an attorney and married to Pat. Peter and
Rick own successful businesses. Peter is married to Pamela, and Rick
is married
to Kate. Kathy is a retired
teacher. Frank has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. John
has a daughter, Kristen, born in 1965. She is a dentist and has a daughter.
Peter has a daughter, Candace, who was born in 1967. Rick has a daughter,
Erin, who was born in 1967, and a son, Eric, who was born in 1969. Eric
has a son. Kathy has two children. Ryan was born in 1970 and is a high
school coach. He has three daughters. Rachael, born in 1974, is a Registered
Nurse.
At age 89, George lost his sweetheart of 62 years. She had a stroke and
her heart stopped beating. He looks forward to being with her again in
Heaven. They lived in their farm home until the end. Rick, the “happy
eater,” supplied them with good food. Kathy was an enormous help.
At 90, Frank describes himself as being “a fugitive from a nursing
home.” He is no longer able to have a horse. He lives at home,
mows his lawn, grows a large garden, and walks a mile daily with his
dog Sonny. He feeds five stray cats. Frank attributes his good health
to eating garlic, drinking red wine, and staying away from doctors.
Frank cites Shakespeare, “All the world is a stage and we are
but actors.” The lessons Frank learned and would like to pass on
are:
Sweet are the lessons of adversity.
Make a negative into a positive.
Don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
Make friends.
Be true to your word. Your word is your bond.
If you tell someone you’ll do something, do it.
Be kind and help someone if you can.
He wants people to laugh and have a good time. He leaves a legacy of
hard work, nurtured by loss and the Great Depression. Frank admits that
his family probably thought he worked too much and wants them to know
that he always loved them. This is Frank Gerkin’s LEGACY.
Told to Ann Naegler
June 2003
