The six Frank siblings (including Harry, Bailey, and Edythe) were raised by their mother Lena “Lizza/Lizzie” Kudlick Frank (1876-1951). After her husband George Frank deserted Lena and her children in ca. 1909, Lena did sewing to make ends meet. But eventually, she borrowed a movie projector, created a makeshift movie house in a wooden building that George had constructed in Wayland, Michigan, and earned income through that venture.
Lizzie was born in Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Province, Russia. She came to New York City in 1889 with most of her siblings and her mother, Sarah (Sofia) Straszelski Kudlick. Lizzie’s father, Elihu (Elias) Kudlick, had arrived in New York City in ca. 1887. In Russia, Elias had been a master tailor who made dress uniforms for Russian Army officers. Lizzie was ca. 14 years old when she ran off with George Frank, a tailor, who was ca. 23 years old. Neither her parents nor her eight brothers and sisters (including my grandfather Ruben Kudlick [1877-1959]) saw Lizzie again. By March 1895 had Lizzie changed her given name to Lena (although her name was recorded as “Lizzie Franks” on Harry Frank’s birth certificate in December 1893 at Lake Odessa, Michigan, and in several early 1890s land documents that she and George signed).
In 1989, I was contacted by Lena’s son David Eli Frank; the two long-separated branches of the Kudlick extended family were finally reunited.
The six Frank siblings (including Harry, Bailey, and Edythe) were raised by their mother Lena “Lizza/Lizzie” Kudlick Frank (1876-1951). After her husband George Frank deserted Lena and her children in ca. 1909, Lena did sewing to make ends meet. But eventually, she borrowed a movie projector, created a makeshift movie house in a wooden building that George had constructed in Wayland, Michigan, and earned income through that venture. Lizzie was born in Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Province, Russia. She came to New York City in 1889 with most of her siblings and her mother, Sarah (Sofia) Straszelski Kudlick. Lizzie’s father, Elihu (Elias) Kudlick, had arrived in New York City in ca. 1887. In Russia, Elias had been a master tailor who made dress uniforms for Russian Army officers. Lizzie was ca. 14 years old when she ran off with George Frank, a tailor, who was ca. 23 years old. Neither her parents nor her eight brothers and sisters (including my grandfather Ruben Kudlick [1877-1959]) saw Lizzie again. By March 1895 had Lizzie changed her given name to Lena (although her name was recorded as “Lizzie Franks” on Harry Frank’s birth certificate in December 1893 at Lake Odessa, Michigan, and in several early 1890s land documents that she and George signed). In 1989, I was contacted by Lena’s son David Eli Frank; the two long-separated branches of the Kudlick extended family were finally reunited.