Gates Curtis, in his Memorial Record of Saint Lawrence County provided a brief biography of Franz up to 1894 (His SLC):
Franz B. Maxfield was born in Parishville, November 20, 1860, a son of Samuel, a native of Vermont, who came to this country in 1858. He was a carpenter and also a farmer, and was the father of six children, of whom Franz was next to the oldest. Our subject was educated in the common schools and at Potsdam State Normal School, after which he taught for one year. In 1885 he was engaged as clerk and bookkeeper for F. B. Mathews in his hardware store. In November, 1889, Mr. Maxfield, in company with Frank F. Flint, purchased the business of Mr. Mathews and this firm existed until April 1, 1891. On that date T. O'Brien purchased the interest of Mr. Flint and the firm has since been O'Brien & Maxfield. Their store is located on the south side of Main street in the O'Brien block; has a frontage of twenty four feet, and seventy five feet depth, with a tin shop in the rear. They carry a full line of stoves and shelf hardware and are contractors for tinning, plumbing and furnace work. The second story is used as store room for reserve stock, Mr. Maxfield is a member of the S. O. V. He married in 1881, Nellie J. Currier of Potsdam, and they have had four children: Grace C., Carolyn R., and Jennie C. and Nellie C. (twins). The latter died April 4, 1893. Mrs. Maxfield died January 23, 1893.Nellie (Currier) Maxfield died at Saint Lawrence County on 21 January 1893 (St L Sur, 21:478). Her estate was brought to Saint Lawrence County Surrogate Court on 30 September 1893 (St L Sur, 21:478).
The 1900 Census reported Sigle Maxfield, widower, born November 1861, hardware dealer, living with his father Samuel in Potsdam. Also in the household were Samuel's second wife, Rowena, and Franz Siegel's three surviving daughters, Grace, born April 1888, Carolyn, born December 1889, and Nellie, born January 1891.
Franz Siegel Maxfield married as his second wife ANN M. CULVER, some time after the 1900 census but before the birth of their child in 1902. Ann was born in 1861 (Potsdam Maxfields). Ann died at Potsdam on 21 June 1904 (VR NY; Potsdam Maxfields).
Franz Siegel Maxfield married as his fourth wife, but only the third of which I have a record, HELEN H. (RICE) ORR at Potsdam on 2 April 1910 (NY Co M). The record provided the following information:
If this was Franz' fourth marriage, there was one about which I have no information. As indicated in the record, Helen was born at Lisbon, Saint Lawrence County, about 1864, to Thomas Rice and Mary Kelley. The 1910 Census (1074:5A), taken 13 days after their marriage, reported the new blended family at Potsdam:
- Franz S. Maxfield, white, 48, of Potsdam, NY, merchant, 4th marriage, widower, b. Parishville NY to Samuel Maxfield (b. USA) and Martha M. Crandall (b. (USA)
- Helen H. Orr, white, 45, of Potsdam, NY, no occupation, 2d marriage, widow, b. Lisbon NY to Thomas Rice (b. USA) and Mary Kelley (b. USA)
- license April 1, 1910, marriage April 2, 1910 at Potsdam by A G Alderman, minister
| Line | Name | Related | Sex | Race | Age | MS | B | FB | MB | Occupation |
| 2 | Maxfield, F. S. | head | M | W | 48 | M4 | NY | NY | NY | retail merchant, hardware |
| 3 | Maxfield, Helen | wife | F | W | 45 | M2 | NY | NY | NY | none |
| 4 | Maxfield, Helen | daughter | F | W | 17 | S | NY | NY | NY | none |
| 5 | Orr, Bessie | step-daughter | F | W | 18 | S | NY | NY | NY | none |
| 6 | Maxfield, Edwin | son | M | W | 7 | S | NY | NY | NY | none |
The household also included one boarder. Franz' new wife Helen had given birth to two children, both of whom were living. The other child was an older daughter, Bella. Helen Rice had married SILAS ORR about 1885; she was a widow in the 1900 census.
The 1920 Census (1260:4B) reported the family at 12 Lawrence Avenue, Potsdam, consisting of Franz S. Maxfield, 58, merchant with a hardware store, Edwin C. Maxfield, son, 17, and Helen O. Maxfield, wife, 55. The 1930 Census (1642:9A) reported an empty-nest couple at 83 Main Street, Potsdam. Franz Siegel Maxfield, 68, still reported himself as a merchant with a hardware store. Helen, his wife, was 65.
Franz Siegel Maxfield died at Potsdam on 28 January 1932 (VR NY; Potsdam Maxfields).
Franz Maxfield and his first wife Ellen Currier had the following children:
Franz Siegel Maxfield and his second wife Ann Culver had the following child:
Ruth M Leisner:
Mrs Ruth Maxfield Leisner, 82, of 309 Court Street, died yesterday at State University Hospital.
b. Potsdam; resident of Syracuse 60 years; member St John the Baptist Church;
survivors: . . . a sister Mrs Helen M Kratz, brother Edwin C Maxfield of Niagara Falls
Mrs Helen M Kratz, 81, of 803 Carbon St, retired practical nurse, died yesterday at St Joseph Hospital;
native of Potsdam; communicant at St John the Baptist Church
survivors; a son, Harry D Kenyon, Jr, 2 stepdaughters: Mrs Lyle Rowland of Chittenango, Miss Mary Kratz; a brother Edwin Maxfield of Niagara Falls.
Frank M Kratz died yesterday at St Joseph's Hospital;
life resident of Syracuse, retired fireman
survivors: wife Helen Maxfield Kratz . . .
Information on this family is found in:
Return to Maxfield Genealogy
Go to Maxfield Genealogy Outline Index