Frank's family moved from Wisconsin to Dakota Territory while he was a child. His parents were considered "pioneers" in Oak Lake Township of Brookings Co., so this was probably in 1877 or 1878, just before the big "rush" of 1879-1884.
His early life is described by his future wife, Maude Hegeman: "The Boydens took land in what was known as Oaklake Township, I think. During the most terrible blizzard (I think in 1880) the father was away. Frank and his mother burned hay, the furniture, the floor, and finally were forced to seek a neighbor, Mr. Andrews. Mrs. Boyden could not reach their house, sinking down in the snow with her tiny son, Lon [Alonzo]. "Frank followed a furrow and reached the house. He and Mr. Andrews found Mrs. Boyden. All might have been lost, as many were, in that record storm.
"A school was established in "The Valley" and the winter of '79 Frank stayed with my people and went to school. He was nine and a half, I was not two years old. Frank's father deserted his family when Frank was about 15. He had apparently lost his homestead and timber claim and had become despondent. Frank's mother, two brothers and he moved into Brookings, where his mother was employed by P.J. Hegeman in his glove and leather factory.
After completing high school, Frank attended South Dakota Agricultural College (now South Dakota State University) at Brookings for a year, then dropped out to support his family, doing farming, logging, and finally -- after a course in telegraphy -- spending a year in charge of the railroad station in "Watersmeet" Michigan (on the upper penninsula). He returned to Brookings, where he completed college, graduating in the same class as his future wife Maude Hegeman [Class of '97, graduating in 1898.]
Frank taught school one year, then was elected County School Superintendent for two terms. [Wedding announcement says he was elected in the fall of 1898.
After marrying Maude in 1900, he went to Northwestern University Medical School, in Evanston, Cook Co., IL, from which he graduated with honors. He then served with the Mayo brothers as a resident at their clinic in Rochester, MN, becoming one of the first "Fellows" trained there. Frank returned to Brookings and, though deeply in debt for his education, borrowed more from the local banker (Horace Fishback) to build a small hospital on land beside the college. Maude served as business manager, while Frank practiced surgery and medicine.
In the spring of 1910, after a trip to the west coast while convalescing from severe pneumonia, Frank decided to move to Oregon, and subsequently purchased a practice from the general physician in the small community of Heppner, Morrow Co., OR, a center of sheep ranching. Despite the rapid growth of a very active practice, Frank opted to seize an opportunity that became available in the larger city of Pendleton, Umatilla Co., about 60 miles to the east, and the family moved there in July of 1912. Frank practiced in Pendleton until about 1925, when he moved his practice to Portland.
Frank retired in 1945 due to disability. He needed the sun, so he and Maude regretfully closed their lovely home at Memme, OR, near Mt. Hood, going for nine winters to Mexico.
His early life is described by his future wife, Maude Hegeman: "The Boydens took land in what was known as Oaklake Township, I think. During the most terrible blizzard (I think in 1880) the father was away. Frank and his mother burned hay, the furniture, the floor, and finally were forced to seek a neighbor, Mr. Andrews. Mrs. Boyden could not reach their house, sinking down in the snow with her tiny son, Lon [Alonzo]. "Frank followed a furrow and reached the house. He and Mr. Andrews found Mrs. Boyden. All might have been lost, as many were, in that record storm.
"A school was established in "The Valley" and the winter of '79 Frank stayed with my people and went to school. He was nine and a half, I was not two years old. Frank's father deserted his family when Frank was about 15. He had apparently lost his homestead and timber claim and had become despondent. Frank's mother, two brothers and he moved into Brookings, where his mother was employed by P.J. Hegeman in his glove and leather factory.
After completing high school, Frank attended South Dakota Agricultural College (now South Dakota State University) at Brookings for a year, then dropped out to support his family, doing farming, logging, and finally -- after a course in telegraphy -- spending a year in charge of the railroad station in "Watersmeet" Michigan (on the upper penninsula). He returned to Brookings, where he completed college, graduating in the same class as his future wife Maude Hegeman [Class of '97, graduating in 1898.]
Frank taught school one year, then was elected County School Superintendent for two terms. [Wedding announcement says he was elected in the fall of 1898.
After marrying Maude in 1900, he went to Northwestern University Medical School, in Evanston, Cook Co., IL, from which he graduated with honors. He then served with the Mayo brothers as a resident at their clinic in Rochester, MN, becoming one of the first "Fellows" trained there. Frank returned to Brookings and, though deeply in debt for his education, borrowed more from the local banker (Horace Fishback) to build a small hospital on land beside the college. Maude served as business manager, while Frank practiced surgery and medicine.
In the spring of 1910, after a trip to the west coast while convalescing from severe pneumonia, Frank decided to move to Oregon, and subsequently purchased a practice from the general physician in the small community of Heppner, Morrow Co., OR, a center of sheep ranching. Despite the rapid growth of a very active practice, Frank opted to seize an opportunity that became available in the larger city of Pendleton, Umatilla Co., about 60 miles to the east, and the family moved there in July of 1912. Frank practiced in Pendleton until about 1925, when he moved his practice to Portland.
Frank retired in 1945 due to disability. He needed the sun, so he and Maude regretfully closed their lovely home at Memme, OR, near Mt. Hood, going for nine winters to Mexico.
Frank's family moved from Wisconsin to Dakota Territory while he was a child. His parents were considered "pioneers" in Oak Lake Township of Brookings Co., so this was probably in 1877 or 1878, just before the big "rush" of 1879-1884.
His early life is described by his future wife, Maude Hegeman: "The Boydens took land in what was known as Oaklake Township, I think. During the most terrible blizzard (I think in 1880) the father was away. Frank and his mother burned hay, the furniture, the floor, and finally were forced to seek a neighbor, Mr. Andrews. Mrs. Boyden could not reach their house, sinking down in the snow with her tiny son, Lon [Alonzo]. "Frank followed a furrow and reached the house. He and Mr. Andrews found Mrs. Boyden. All might have been lost, as many were, in that record storm.
"A school was established in "The Valley" and the winter of '79 Frank stayed with my people and went to school. He was nine and a half, I was not two years old. Frank's father deserted his family when Frank was about 15. He had apparently lost his homestead and timber claim and had become despondent. Frank's mother, two brothers and he moved into Brookings, where his mother was employed by P.J. Hegeman in his glove and leather factory.
After completing high school, Frank attended South Dakota Agricultural College (now South Dakota State University) at Brookings for a year, then dropped out to support his family, doing farming, logging, and finally -- after a course in telegraphy -- spending a year in charge of the railroad station in "Watersmeet" Michigan (on the upper penninsula). He returned to Brookings, where he completed college, graduating in the same class as his future wife Maude Hegeman [Class of '97, graduating in 1898.]
Frank taught school one year, then was elected County School Superintendent for two terms. [Wedding announcement says he was elected in the fall of 1898.
After marrying Maude in 1900, he went to Northwestern University Medical School, in Evanston, Cook Co., IL, from which he graduated with honors. He then served with the Mayo brothers as a resident at their clinic in Rochester, MN, becoming one of the first "Fellows" trained there. Frank returned to Brookings and, though deeply in debt for his education, borrowed more from the local banker (Horace Fishback) to build a small hospital on land beside the college. Maude served as business manager, while Frank practiced surgery and medicine.
In the spring of 1910, after a trip to the west coast while convalescing from severe pneumonia, Frank decided to move to Oregon, and subsequently purchased a practice from the general physician in the small community of Heppner, Morrow Co., OR, a center of sheep ranching. Despite the rapid growth of a very active practice, Frank opted to seize an opportunity that became available in the larger city of Pendleton, Umatilla Co., about 60 miles to the east, and the family moved there in July of 1912. Frank practiced in Pendleton until about 1925, when he moved his practice to Portland.
Frank retired in 1945 due to disability. He needed the sun, so he and Maude regretfully closed their lovely home at Memme, OR, near Mt. Hood, going for nine winters to Mexico.
His early life is described by his future wife, Maude Hegeman: "The Boydens took land in what was known as Oaklake Township, I think. During the most terrible blizzard (I think in 1880) the father was away. Frank and his mother burned hay, the furniture, the floor, and finally were forced to seek a neighbor, Mr. Andrews. Mrs. Boyden could not reach their house, sinking down in the snow with her tiny son, Lon [Alonzo]. "Frank followed a furrow and reached the house. He and Mr. Andrews found Mrs. Boyden. All might have been lost, as many were, in that record storm.
"A school was established in "The Valley" and the winter of '79 Frank stayed with my people and went to school. He was nine and a half, I was not two years old. Frank's father deserted his family when Frank was about 15. He had apparently lost his homestead and timber claim and had become despondent. Frank's mother, two brothers and he moved into Brookings, where his mother was employed by P.J. Hegeman in his glove and leather factory.
After completing high school, Frank attended South Dakota Agricultural College (now South Dakota State University) at Brookings for a year, then dropped out to support his family, doing farming, logging, and finally -- after a course in telegraphy -- spending a year in charge of the railroad station in "Watersmeet" Michigan (on the upper penninsula). He returned to Brookings, where he completed college, graduating in the same class as his future wife Maude Hegeman [Class of '97, graduating in 1898.]
Frank taught school one year, then was elected County School Superintendent for two terms. [Wedding announcement says he was elected in the fall of 1898.
After marrying Maude in 1900, he went to Northwestern University Medical School, in Evanston, Cook Co., IL, from which he graduated with honors. He then served with the Mayo brothers as a resident at their clinic in Rochester, MN, becoming one of the first "Fellows" trained there. Frank returned to Brookings and, though deeply in debt for his education, borrowed more from the local banker (Horace Fishback) to build a small hospital on land beside the college. Maude served as business manager, while Frank practiced surgery and medicine.
In the spring of 1910, after a trip to the west coast while convalescing from severe pneumonia, Frank decided to move to Oregon, and subsequently purchased a practice from the general physician in the small community of Heppner, Morrow Co., OR, a center of sheep ranching. Despite the rapid growth of a very active practice, Frank opted to seize an opportunity that became available in the larger city of Pendleton, Umatilla Co., about 60 miles to the east, and the family moved there in July of 1912. Frank practiced in Pendleton until about 1925, when he moved his practice to Portland.
Frank retired in 1945 due to disability. He needed the sun, so he and Maude regretfully closed their lovely home at Memme, OR, near Mt. Hood, going for nine winters to Mexico.
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