John M. Frink

John M. Frink

Frink c. 1903
Born January 21, 1855
Pennsylvania, USA
Died August 31, 1914(1914-08-31) (aged 59)
King County, Washington, USA
Occupation Politician, businessperson
Known for Frink Park, Seattle
Washington Iron Works headquarters in Pioneer Square, Seattle; also called Frink Building and Washington Shoe Building

John M. Frink (January 21, 1855 August 31, 1914) was an early Washington State politician and businessperson.[1][2]

Born in Pennsylvania in 1855, Frink attended Washington College in Topeka, and began a teaching career in Kansas. Arriving in Seattle in 1874, he both taught and served as principal at Seattle's Belltown School. Capitalizing on the City's growth, Frink formed a successful foundry business, Washington Iron Works. He later established the Seattle Electric Company, was a director of the Seattle Savings Bank, and served as a Washington State senator. He lost in the 1900 general election in a bid to unseat John Rankin Rogers as Governor of Washington State, running as a Republican.[3]

Frink in 1891

In 1906 Frink became a member of the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners, and later its president. In 1906 he donated the property that became Frink Park to the City of Seattle.[4][5]

He died on August 31, 1914 and is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Seattle.[6]

References

  1. Will A. Steel (1895), Steel & Searl's legislative souvenir manual for 1895-1896, pp. 66–67
  2. John M. Frink at Find a Grave
  3. Washington governor race details, November 6, 1900, Our Campaigns, retrieved 2013-11-21
  4. Kathryn True; Maria Dolan (2003), Nature in the City Seattle, The Mountaineers, p. 48
  5. Frink Park, Seattle Parks and Recreation
  6. The Everett Daily Herald, Monday, August 31, 1914, page 2


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