My Genealogy Hound

Frank B. Sliger, president of the First National Bank of Helena, Ark., is one of the foremost business men of Phillips County, although he is young in years. His birth occurred in New Orleans, La., July 16, 1854, and he is a son of Samuel and Mary (Klock) Sliger, the former a native of Frankfort, Germany, and the latter of Strasburg. They were married in their native country, and in 1846 embarked on board a vessel bound for the United States, landing at New Orleans, where Mr. Sliger engaged in the produce business. He enlisted in the Mexican War, and is supposed to have been assassinated at the City of Mexico. Besides his wife, who afterward died in Covington, Ky., he left a family of six children, of whom Frank was fourth. His opportunities for acquiring a good education being excellent, he secured a fair general knowledge in the public schools of New Orleans. It was not long until he had to rely entirely upon his own resources for support, and although his education was very good he was young in years and unacquainted with the ways of the world, and therefore found it somewhat difficult to obtain a living for a number of years. In the spring of 1868, when only fourteen years of age, he came to Helena and immediately entered the employ of Straub & Lohmann, merchants, and is still associated with the senior partner, having been connected with him a period of twenty-two years. By economy, industry and a judicious use of his money saved, wealth soon began to come in, and he engaged in the brokerage and real-estate business, his wealth materially increasing while thus occupied. In 1884, in connection with L. Lucy, he started a private bank, but their business increased to such an extent that they were compelled to reorganize with more capital, and the National Bank was established, he becoming its president. He also deals in real estate, and owns a vast amount of land in different localities. He is public-spirited, progressive, and possesses keen perception and sound judgment, and is acknowledged by all to be one of the leading business spirits of Helena. He is a stockholder in the Planters’ Compress Company, the Electric Light and Power Company, and so secure is he in the estimation of the people that he could command almost any position in their power to give, did he so wish it. He has been city treasurer for several years, was treasurer of Cotton Belt District No. 1, and as he has always been deeply interested in educational matters, he has been president of the school board for a number of years, but is now resigned. He is Grand Treasurer of the Knights of Honor of the State, is Grand Commander of the American Legion of Honor of the State, is a member of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and I. O. O. F., being Noble Grand in the latter organization. He was married in March, 1886, to Miss Maggie Carpenter, by whom he has one child, Eugenia, born in March, 1887.