Charles Frankel

Charles Frankel's father Joseph (Iosel/Josel) Frankel was from Ratnycia, Trakai, (currentday) Lithuania, part of the Merkine, Lithuania Jewish community and now absorbed into Druskininkai. His great grandfather was Tsalko Frankel, who Calko (Charles) appears to be named for. I don't have a death date for Tsalko, but he was born c. 1796 so it makes sense that he would be deceased by 1860 when Charles was born.

Notice that Charles' death record gives his father's place of birth as Rothnici (Rotnica / Ratnycia), which I had figured out with the help of Karen Franklin and her husband, Stephen, who turned out to be a Frankel cousin.

• Name: Charles Frankel
• Birth Date: 15 Sep 1860
• Birth Place: Psheroshly, Poland
• Death Date: 15 Dec 1923
• Death Place: Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
• Burial Date: 16 Dec 1923
• Burial Place: Peoria, IL
• Cemetery Name: Hebrew Cemetery
• Death Age: 63
• Occupation: ...Merchant Grocer
• Race: White
• Marital Status: D
• Gender: Male
• Residence: Peoria, Peoria, IL
• Father Name: Joseph Frankel
• Father Birth Place: Rothnici, Lithuania
• Mother Name: Margolis Eva
• Mother Birth Place: Psheroshly, Poland
• Spouse Name: Rosa Frankel
• FHL Film Number: 1452339

Charles was divorced by 1910 and living with lodgers, James and Ethel Carey.

Charles, known as Calko (which is the Polish transliteration for the Hebrew/Yiddish nickname for the given name Bezalel), transliterated Tsalko more often in the Lithuanian records. Born in Przerosl on Sept 15, 1860. The Peoria Star records (on his death) that he was the first of his family to arrive there in 1880. "Brothers and sisters followed him and he provided and cared for them until they were able to care for themselves."

About 1893 he opend a crockery and notions business. "His straight business dealings and square handling of patrons soon won him a large patronage, and ... for many years he conducted a general merchandise building. About 1903 he lived two years in Kewanee, engaged in mercantile business, but returned to Peoria as city sealer of weights and measures. After his tenure of office he opened a grocery store, Frankel's Market, which he operated until shortly before his death.

Immigrated from "Russia" in 1880.

Listed in Peoria as "peddlar" 208 State Street.

Harry Frankel worked for him after arriving in Peoria.

Born Chalko. Recorded as born in 1860 in Przerosl. U.S. Census says born 1862. Gravestone says born 1880 but that may be a mistake.