Bio of Frank Joseph Selement

Frank Joseph Selement was born December 4, 1887 near Coldwater, Kansas. His parents immigrated from Kroyta, county of Krolovice, fifty miles southwest of Prague, Czechoslovakia, or fourteen miles north of Pilzen, Czechoslovkia. On June 8, 1889 his parents filed claim to a farm near Yukon Oklahoma. Frank grew up on the farm, and attended Oklahoma and Mechanical College in Stillwater Oklahoma. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and the rank of Left Lieutenant in the Cadet Corp. He attended Bliss Electrical School in Washington DC. He entered the Army during World War I and was stationed near Paris. He was discharged from the Army February 7, 1919, after serving as a private in the Light Air 23rd Balloon Company.

He worked for Otis Elevator and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Companies in Oklahoma City. He bought a fram house on NW 39th Street, Putnam Heights Addition in Oklahoma City. He married Mary Swanda on December 27, 1922 in a Double Wedding Ceremony with her sister Allie Swanda and her new husband Frank A Svejkovsky.

Frank and Mary lived in his home on 39th Street in Oklahoma City, which was a part of the original Route 66. Frank died June 1, 1970 in Farmers Branch Texas, at the home of his daughter, Eleanor Selement Martin. He was buried in the Czech Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

Frank Joseph Selement; as written by his daughter Eleanor Selement Martin; from the Swanda Family History Collection of Aline Svejkovsky Garrett.

Notes for Frank Selement; compiled by Pamela Hutchison Garrett, 2013; for Family Stories at pamgarrett.com.