Frank Lynch Company Records

Collection

Identifier: MSS 3078

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection was not in good shape before it was processed. Therefore, it was re-processed so that there are several series. Many of the papers in this collection are FRAGILE

Correspondence This series consists of correspondence to either Martin Kittel or the Frank Lynch Company. They date from 1903 to 1953. The series is broken down in to two parts. The first part with the correspondence by date only. The second is by name in alphabetical order.

Legal This series contains a personal ledger as well as six folders dealing with land holding records for William F. Kittel who was Martin Kittel’s brother. The rest of the documents dealing with these land holdings are in a box (Box 10) unfoldered as their connection, other than familial, is unknown as this time.

Farm Records This series contains five folders pertaining to sections of Lynch property as well as soil and economic reports.

Legal and Correspondence Documents This series pertains to a set of documents found after initial processing. They include both correspondence as well as legal documents and range from 1882 to 1948.

Ledgers The final series are three boxes with ledgers dealing with the business. They range from 1904 to 1945.

Dates

1882-1953

Creator

Lynch, Frank, 1853-1939. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection is held by the Institute.

Biography

William Franklin “Frank” Lynch was born December 19, 1853 in Coshocton, Ohio to James and Sara (Platt) Lynch. The family first moved to Beaver Dam Wisconsin and then to Plainview, Minnesota. It was there in 1878 that Frank Lynch married Georgia A. Allen. Frank and Georgia moved to Casselton, North Dakota in 1882. They never had any children.

While in Casselton, Frank Lynch would rise to become a prominent businessman. He would bring a machinery business that he had started in Minnesota with him and this business would become successful. He would eventually branch out his business ventures to banking, farm loan, mortgage, real estate, and insurance interests. In addition to those, he was the president of the Amenia Sharon Grain Co., Amenia Sharon Land Co., and the Red River Western Railway Co. He also served as an agent for the Alliance Mortgage and Investment Cop of Manchester England. He also interests in the lumber mills in the west. He would buy stock in Benson Lumber Co. and would eventually become its president in 1909 and retained that position until his death.

Frank Lynch would serve as mayor of Casselton from 1885 to 1886.

Over the years, Frank Lynch donated more than $150,000 to Wesley College. Ten years before his death on October 3, 1929, a degree of doctor of laws was given to Frank Lynch and was completed March 14, 1930.

Frank Lynch died at his home of Villa Montezuma in San Diego, on April 22, 1939. Georgia Lynch would die on December 8, 1942.

Martin Kittel was born December 15, 1878. He moved to Casselton, North Dakota, in 1906 when he started work for Frank Lynch. He handled the farm machinery business. He eventually became a farm manger for one of Lynch’s properties as well as the Vice President for the Frank Lynch Company. He married Mary Gerstmann in 1901. He died May 7, 1945.

Extent

8.25 Linear Feet (This collection contains materials, the bulk of which are correspondence, relating to the Frank Lynch Company. It also contains several ledgers as well as legal documents.) : This collection is fragile.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains materials, the bulk of which are correspondence, relating to the Frank Lynch Company. It also contains several ledgers as well as legal documents.