John J. Fronk

Male 1865 - 1936  (~ 71 years)


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  • Name John J. Fronk 
    Birth Jan 1865  Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 25 Oct 1936  Ossian, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Greenmount Cemetery, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • STATE POLICE PROBE POSSIBILITY IN DEATH OF RECLUSE

      John Fronk May Have Sustained Fractured Neck In Fall, But Shack In Disorder Hints At Foul Play.

      State police are the investigating possibility of murder in the death of John Fronk, 71, recluse, found dead late yesterday in the rear room of a two-room shack he occupied 1 1/2 miles south of West View, eight miles southwest of Danaville.

      Coroner Frederick R. Driesbach said today after a postmortem conducted by himself and Dr. Gustav Selbach, director of the Livingston County Health Laboratory here, that the injuries Mr. Fronk received, including a fractured neck brain hemorrhage, severe bruises of the right side and arms and a black eye, might have been received in a fall. The possibility of murder was suggested by disorder of the shack, where Frank had lived since his home there burned two years ago. A former employee of a local lumber company, Fronk had become a hermit since the death of his wife several years ago.

      Though he lived a mile from his nearest neighbor, in a wooded area, grocery trucks passed by his shack daily and yesterday his body was found by Frank Wampole, a quest in the home of William Jaggard, who went to Fronk's to grind an axe. Fronk said to have been dead but a short time, was prone on his back. Adjacent to him was a glass jug and an earthenware jug. No especial significance was attached to the jugs as Fronk was said by acquaintances to have indulged little if any in the use of alcoholic beverages.

      However a draw from his kitchen table was overturned on the floor, a smashed was on the floor, while particles of glass from its globe, cluttered the table, stove lids on his small wood-burner were turned in and his watch lay on the corner of the stove. The entrance door had been blocked with a chair, indicating that the intruder, if there had bean one, had made his exit through a window.

      Fronk's finances were meager as far as is known, discounting any motive for robbery, unless he had been molested by someone assuming he had hidden wealth. Most of his friends say he was friendly, though one acquaintance described him as having a turbulent temper, which if true, may have precipitated a scuffle.

      Surviving are one nephew, Joseph Fronk, one niece, Mrs. Walter Mertz, his stepmother, Mrs. Lizzie Fronk of Kennedy Hill, three half-brothers, Samuel, George and Edward Fronk of Sparta and one half-sister, Mrs. Lloyd Moose.

      Funeral is planed for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Wilson-Altmeyer's parlors.
      (Dansville Express, Dansville, Livingston County, New York, Thursday, October 27, 1936)

    • Livingston County Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Fred Fries of West View

      Farmer Charged With Second Degree Manslaughter In Death of John Fronk, Whose Lifeless Body Was Found In His Home On October 26.

      Dansville. — A Livingston county Grand Jury has placed an indictment of second degree manslaughter against Fred Fries, 58, West View farmer, in the death of John Fronk, 71, on October 25. Fronk was found dead at his home near West View on Monday, October 26, by Frank Wampole, who gone to the house to grind an axe. Unable to account for his actions several hours on the afternoon October 25, Fries was taken into custody by officials of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, State Police, of Batavia. A confession was made to the officials in which it is claimed that Fries said that under the influence of hard cider he went to Fronks home, and when the latter urged him to leave a scuffle took place, in which Fronk fell, striking his head against a door. Coroner F. R. Driesbach, who conducted a postmortem examination, said that Fronk had died of a broken neck.
      (Dansville Express, Dansville, Livingston County, New York,
      Thursday, November 12, 1936)

    Person ID I10003  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 1 Mar 2023 

    Father Samuel William Fronk,   b. 6 Jun 1833, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Jan 1915, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years) 
    Mother Rebecca Steffy,   b. May 1829, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Feb 1877, Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 47 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1850 
    Family ID F2468  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Jennie Bailey,   b. Jul 1860, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Apr 1908, Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 47 years) 
    Marriage 30 Apr 1896  Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F2478  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Mar 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Jan 1865 - Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 30 Apr 1896 - Dansville, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Oct 1936 - Ossian, Livingston Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Greenmount Cemetery, North Dansville, Livingston Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
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