Biography:

Dr. William Henry Franks was born in Ontario around 1850.  He was the eldest child of Joseph and Amanda Franks.  According to the 1861 census, the Franks family farmed in Dorchester Twp, (Oxford County). According to the 1871 census, Dr. Franks lived with his parents in Dorchester Township and his occupation was listed as a “medical student”.  His siblings were; Joseph Walter Franks, Alfred Franks, Catherine Amanda Franks and Christine Franks.

Dr. Franks married Marian A. Clark on the 11th of September, 1873 in Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario.  On the marriage record, Dr. Franks’ occupation was listed as “physician”.  Mrs. Franks was born on the 5th of October, 1855 in New Brunswick.  Her parents were Thomas Clark and the former Margaret Miller.  By 1861 the Clark family was living in the Village of Norwich in Oxford County and her father was a tailor.  Mrs. Franks was the 7th of 8 children and her siblings were; William Clark, James Clark, Charles Clark, Henry Loder Clark, Amelia Jane Clark, Ann Clark and Edwin Clark.

Dr. Franks’ formal medical training was not listed on the 1892 Ontario Medical Register, but it records that he joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 8th of May, 1877.

At the time of his marriage, Dr. Franks was living in Thamesford, but he was known to be living and practicing medicine in Merlin in 1878 and 1879.

According to the 1882 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Franks was listed as practicing medicine in Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ontario.  However Dr. Franks’ name appears on the death record of his brother Alfred Franks, who died of malaria on the 16th of December, 1882 in Middlesex County.  His brother was just 25 years of age.

Dr. Franks advertised his medical practice in Norwich in the 1889 Farmers and Business Directory for Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford Counties.  According to the 1891 census, Dr. Franks and his wife Marion were living in Norwich with her youngest sibling, Edwin Clark and his 2 children, Edna Clark who was 4 and Percy Clark who was 2 years old.

Dr. Franks died in Norwich on the 30th of August, 1892. He was 42 years old.

After the death of Dr. Franks, his widow lived with her brother Edwin and his children, Edna and Percy in Norwich, the same brother that lived with her and Dr. Franks in 1891.  In 1901 Edwin Clark and Mrs. Franks still lived in Norwich.  Her brother was a tailor.