Frank Carmony Wallower (1882-1970)

Frank Carmony Wallower came from a prominent Harrisburg, Pennsylvania family and moved to Missouri to oversee his family’s mining interests. His father was Elias Zollinger Wallower (b. Oct 4, 1854-d. Sep. 10, 1941 in Harrisburg, Pa.). Frank and Juanita were a prominent couple in Missouri. Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri, was built on land donated by the Wallowers. Several papers and photographs owned by Frank are in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri (http://web.mst.edu/~whmcinfo/shelf3/r057/photo.html). Juanita is mentioned in the book Personalities of the West and Midwest 1972 by American Biographical Institute.

Frank Carmony Wallower

1. Married (1) Marie Russert (b. Jul 11, 1882-d. Dec. 21, 1920)
2. Married (2) Marie Elizabeth Lambert (d. Mar 14, 1929)
3. Married (3) Juanita Hammons (b. Dec. 22, 1905-d. Jul 17, 1980)

FRANK C. (born August 23, 1882). Frank was graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1899 and from Princeton in 1903, with a degree in Civil Engineering. Interested in mining, he took a graduate course at the Columbia School of Mines, and finished in 1905 with degrees of Engineer of Mines and Master of Arts in Metallurgy. After a brief employment at the Harrisburg Pipe and Pipe Bending Company, he decided to give up his work in the metallurgy of steel, in which he showed great promise, and engaged in mining in the Joplin district. He was immediately placed in charge of a mine which had just been purchased, the Bradford Kansas City. The open pit operations of this property were interesting, and promised an opportunity for the use of his technical training. His management was efficient and successful as evidenced by the earnings of the property. It was at this time that he suffered an accident, which resulting in the loss of his left hand and the small finger of his right hand. The accident occurred in the handling of explosives during the installation of mining machinery. While serious at the time, we were thankful it was no worse, as he might have lost his life. In a remarkably short time he overcame this physical handicap, nor did he allow it to discourage or deter him in his career. In addition to his varied mining activities, he was manager of the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company and later its receiver and trustee in liquidation. He also managed the Keystone Hotel property, and has been a prominent citizen in Joplin, participating in all civic interests. His chief activity was as general manager of the Golden Rod Mines, which were among the largest producers in the Picher District. During this time he was a Director of the American Zinc Institute, and its president in 1923. In 1932 when he withdrew from active management of the Evans Wallower Lead Company, he organized the Tri-State Casualty Insurance Company. This company, while perhaps small in capital structure is strong and very favorably considered through the state of Oklahoma.

Married to Marie Russert, of New Brunswick, N. J., in 1907, Frank’s three sons were twelve, eight and four years of age when their mother passed away just before Christmas in 1919. She was admired by her friends, a student of history, capable and devoted to her home and family. After acting as both mother and father for six years Frank married Marie Lambert, of Webb City in 1926. Marie was devoted to her home, an able business woman and a violinist of ability. Her sudden death of pneumonia in 1929, while Frank was in the east for a Directors Meeting, was a shock to the community and a loss to all who knew her.

On the occasion of my eighty-third birthday, October 4, 1937, here at Front and Maclay streets, I served as best man to Frank at his marriage to Juanita Hammonds. Born at Fairview, Missouri, Juanita entered business after her graduation from the Webb City High School in 1924. She became superintendent of the Freeman Hospital in Joplin, and later took the positions of auditor and manager of the Keystone Hotel. Juanita is of great assistance to Frank in the management of the Tri-State Casualty Insurance Company, and they now reside in their beautiful home, Mission Hills, near Joplin. The farm consists of 640 acres, equipped with barns, stables, and a complete dairy for the supply of high grade milk to the city. A beautiful swimming pool, spring and fine planting add to the attractiveness of the place. Frank’s children:

Frank, Jr. (born November 21, 1907). After attending Lawrenceville School and Cornell University, Frank spent several years in electro-chemical work, and then became interested in flying. After a complete course at Park’s Air College in St. Louis, he received his license as Transport Pilot. He returned to the Air College as an instructor, giving up this activity for a few years when he served as Superintendent of Transportation with the Southwest Missouri Railroad until its liquidation in 1939. He returned to flying, instructing others in the air schools at St. Louis and Joplin. He recently enlisted in the Royal Canadian Flying Corps, after passing brilliant examinations, and will probably soon be in flying service with the British.

Theodore Paul, born January 21, 1912, attended school at Lawrenceville and the University of Missouri. Of artistic temperament he has produced sketches, drawings and sculpture, which are unusual and of great credit. He lives in New York City and is interested in the theater. He has recently enlisted in the United States Navy, in the Medical Corps.

Norman Edward, born May 2, 1916. Norman was a fine boy, loved by everyone, who died in 1932, after a lingering illness.

-SOURCE: Wallower, E. Z. Reminiscences of E. Z. Wallower, Harrisburg, Pa., April, 1941 (Limited Edition). Copy No. 10 to Theodore Paul Wallower. (pages 182-184)

Frank graduated from Princeton in 1903 and married Marie Russert on February 27, 1907 at Webb City, Missouri. At the time the family lived at 204 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Webb City, Missouri. Frank was a mine operator and general manager of the Bradford Kansas City Zinc Company and affiliated with the Disbrow Mining Company.

Marie Russert was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her father was Jean Baptiste Russert (born in Mannheim, Germany) and her mother was Bertha Sherrell, also born in Mannheim. At the time of her death, she lived at 112 Sergeant Avenue, Joplin, Missouri. She was buried on December 23, 1920, at Mount Hope Cemetery. Source for information on Marie Russert is her death certificate and this book: AMELI, Howard W. (Editor), Class of 1903 Princeton University: Five Year Record. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1909. (pages 71 and 89). (http://books.google.com/books?id=d6QOAAAAYAAJ)

Frank and Marie Russert had at least two children:

Frank C. Wallower, Jr., born November 21, 1907, died September 24, 1966.

Norman Edward Wallower, born May 2, 1916, died Aug 11, 1939 of nephrosclerosis in Joplin, Missouri. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Frank then married Marie Elizabeth Lambert She was born on June 9, 1898 in Webb City, Missouri. Her father was George W. Lambert (born in Webb City, Missouri) and her mother was Ida Robinson (born in Joplin, Missouri). Marie Elizabeth died on Mar 14, 1929. At the time of her death, she lived at 112 Sergeant Avenue, Joplin, Missouri. She was buried on March 16, 1929 at Mount Hope Cemetery. Source for information on Marie Elizabeth is from her death certificate.

Juanita’s sister, Lorraine Hammons, was a member of the New York Opera Company and her obituary may be found here.

FRANK C. WALLOWER, JR.

Apparently Frank C. Wallower, Jr. died in an automobile accident in Illinois on Sep. 24, 1966. According to Robert Smith’s blog, http://joplinjalopy.blogspot.com/, this information was a penciled note on the pages of Cornell alumni office records he received while researching Frank C. Wallower, Jr.