FOLK, CHARLES

by Mrs. Mary Lou Folk Schenck

Entry F142 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Charles and Pauline Folk.

Charles Folk was born February 2, 1911 in
Mullen, Nebraska. His parents were Theo-
dore and Anna Folk. Charles graduated from
Mullen High School in 1926 and then pur-
chased a dump truck to haul dirt from various
construction companys. In 1930 he started
working for The Franke Construction Com-
pany, and after three years started keeping
the firm's books. He later worked as foreman,
and then as superintendent.

On July 4, 1931, Charles married Florence
Pauline Wright, daughter of Grace and W.E.
Wright. To this union there were five surviv-
ing children born: Grace (Sallstrom) in 1932,
Mary Louise (Schenck) in 1935, Kathryn
(Hopper) in 1946, and Gary and Larry in
1949.

After Ole Franke died in 1950, Franke
Construction Company was incorporated,
and Charles became the president of the firm,
working in the field and figuring bids for road
lettings. His family lived in Scottsbluff from
1945-1952, when they returned to Mullen. He
was elected County Surveyor in 1954 and
1958 and also served on the school board in
Mullen in the sixties.

Charles and Pauline celebrated their 40th
wedding anniversary in July of 1971. Pauline
died in December 1971. In March of 1974,
Charles married Opal Wickman of Eli,
Nebraska. Charles retired in 1975 when the
Company was sold. At this time, he and Opal
moved to her ranch south of Eli.

Charles has nineteen grandchildren.