Henry Thomas Franelich
Henry was Thomas and Odelia Franelich's 5th child. Born March 4, 1863.
He was a bookkeeper for D. Querin and lived at the nw corner of Government and St. Emanuel Street in 1879. In 1882 he was a bartender at the Independence Saloon and lived at 82 Government St. The nw corner of Government and St. Emanuel Streets was a fruit and liquor store on the first floor and residence on the second in 1855.
The owner, Caleb Price, of the building to the immediate west, bought this corner building to renovate and join it to his original building. Then, in 1871, it opened as the LaClede Hotel (named after, Pierre LaClede, a French trader from New Orleans who established a trading post in 1764 on the Mississippi River that became St. Louis). In December, 1875, Caleb Price had money problems and auctioned the contents of the LaClede Hotel to satisfy his debt. It was during this period Henry lived there, I'm assuming he brought his own furniture. In 1881 the buildings operated as the LaClede hotel again until 1888, 6 years after Price's death. During 1903–1926 the executive offices for "Mobile Light and Railroad Company," operators of the Mobile electric street cars, were there. In 1926, the LaClede began operating as a hotel again until 1963 and then close for good as a hotel.
Two buildings that were existing and Henry would have seen everyday were Dr. Henry S. LeVert's office and the one on the ne corner of St. Emanuel and Government Streets.
Henry moved to Selma, AL. where he was a Councilman and many
times acting Mayor. He
married Amelia Roth October 6,1884, in Dallas County (Selma). Amelia
Roth was born in New York, NY, September 16,1886, and died in Selma October 4,
1942, her father was John Roth born in Germany. Henry
and Amelia owned a house at 226 Franklin Street in 1913.
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During the period of 1901 through 1904, and probably longer, Henry owned a saloon at 803 Alabama St. and lived at 801 Franklin St. Right (smaller) is an advertisement from the June 22, 1901, Selma Record, a "Journal of Afro-American News and Opinion." Another advertisement for Henry's saloon, right (larger), is from the Marion Times-standard newspaper dated March 6, 1902.
Henry died from a lingering illness at the age of 53 while on a business trip to Birmingham in 1915. He was survived by his wife Amelia Roth Franelich and sister Lucy Webster. They may have had an adopted daughter named Mina. For some reason his birth year as 1862 on the head stone is wrong, he was born March 4, 1863 (see birthdate). Amelia moved to Mobile and worked as a cashier for Papa Nick at his billiard and pool business (151 Beauregard St.) in 1918, according to the city directory. Amelia attended Papa Nick's funeral service and signed the registry as "Aunt Amelia."
He was buried in Old Live Oak Cemetery, Division 7, Selma, AL. in Dallas county. His wife Amelia (1866-1942) is buried there also.
He was a Master Mason, Elk, Red Man and Odd Fellow.