Franke, Carl F., 1871-1940.

Chairman of the Iowa Republican State Central Committee at the time of Taft's election to the presidency in 1908. Franke later aligned himself with the progressive faction of the Party and supported Theodore Roosevelt's run for the presidency when he campaigned as the Bull Moose candidate, having failed to secure the nomination as the Republican Party candidate. Franke was born in Parkersburg, Iowa (Butler County) where he began his political career as a Republican Party advocate. He later moved to Mason City where he ran a business (Franke Land and Investment Company).