The Story of Frank's Fort (Frankfort)

No one has an ego like my husband's.

When we were kids together, Tom told me this big fish story about how Frankfort got its name. He said the town is named for his great grandfather Frank Martin who lived in a trapper’s cabin in what is now Elberta. 

I was so mad when I found out this was true.

According to Blacklock’s History of Elberta:

In the fall of 1855, Joseph Robar, sixty years of age, and Frank Martin, his son-in-law, arrived at the entrance to lake Aux Bec Scies in his small schooner the “French Girl” ….”Young Frank Martin and Amelia (Robar) took up temporary residence in Joe Oliver’s trapper cabin on the north side of the outlet from Lake Aux Bec Scies and spent the first winter there.”  (Blacklock, 1975)

Historic marker at Gilmore Township Cemetery on Grace Road

That was the cabin that was called Frank’s fort. What made it look like a fort? Well, the sand would blow in from the beach and drift against the house, which still happens in Frankfort on windy days. To fight the sand, Frank built up a wall around the cabin, which made it look like a fort.

Frank’s father –in-law built the very first frame house in Benzie County. Joseph Robar also gained son-in-laws Joseph Oliver, first settler, and George Greenwood, brother of the first businessman who was a blacksmith. Benzie County’s first wedding was in that same frame house. This family must have been something!

There are no photos of Frank Martin. These are the Robar  girls.

Another story Tom liked to tell is about how the Beaver Island Mormon folk stole his great, great grandfather’s cow.  Joseph Robar, with his son, William, Frank Martin, and John Greenwood brought home a team of oxen and four cows from Manistee. They saw a boat pass by as they wear headed for home. They got home in time for lunch, and turned the animals out to graze while they ate.             

“After dinner, Robar asked Martin to look after the stock to make sure they did not stray too far. Martin soon reported that one of the oxen and one of the cows were missing. They immediately began a search and found the grail leading across the river and to the north through the woods. About two miles north of the river mouth, the trail turned toward Lake Michigan. As they came near the beach, they came upon the ox’s head, and when they got in sight of the water, and interesting but disheartening scene burst into view.” (Blacklock, 1975)

Gilmore Township Cemetary

They had butchered the ox, but intended to take the cow home alive for good milk. They managed to get her on their boat and on Beaver Island. She was identified as Robar’s cow, but King Frank Strang never paid for the ox or the cow.

When I married Tom, my daughter was in a class where she had to talk about three war heroes of the past. Tom talked her into writing about Frank Martin, who entered the Civil War at age 38 October 27, 1864.  Frank’s unit went from Munroe, Michigan to Tennessee and then joined General Sherman, marching on foot all the way to Atlanta Georgia and engaging in many of the major battles along the way. After that, the regiment (marched over two hundred miles in a month following General Hood and fighting more battles. Frank received an honorable discharge, was not wounded in action, but did suffer from hearing loss due to the constant cannon and gunfire around him.  With the information provided by Tom and his sister Pat, Jess got some good marks on that paper and awe filled comments from the teacher as well! 

Frank and Amelia’s son Raliegh Martin continued the Martin legacy in this family line. Raliegh loved all kinds of sports. According to my sister-in-law Pat White, and he loved to play baseball and hunt. He loved women. This was his downfall. Raliegh was married three times. He had children by his first wife, Ethel Hensey, who he married in 1902. Their names were Robert and Mildred. Robert Martin was my father-in-law.

Raliegh used to drive snow plows for the county.

“ He told stories of drifts so high that he had to get a running start to tunnel his truck through them. His son Bob rode with him often and once ended up under the truck seat after hitting a huge snow drift.” (Pat White, 2010)

Raliegh kept a pet raccoon named Petey. Pat shares that one day Raliegh went out and when he came back there was toilet paper strung all over the house. Petey came to live with Raliegh’s grand children after that.

My mother had worked with Raliegh in a factory in Benzonia. She told me often that Raliegh was quite a  flirt! Raliegh was a little guy with a big sparkle in his eye. Apparently Raliegh also had a motorcycle, as did his son and grandson, although not the same bike. That would have been awesome.

This story will continue with the stories of Robert Martin.