Zebulon Franks

Zebulon Franks, born Zebulon Goodyvitch, was born in Yelisavetgrad, Russia, near the major city of Odessa in 1863. Franks’ father was the Head Rabbi of the local synagogue. In 1881, Zebulon Franks managed to escape while his family was killed in a pogrom. Zebulon escaped into Austria-Hungary where he joined a group of immigrants including Esther Blonde, the daughter of Jacob Blonde. They spent the summer traveling west across Europe, eventually sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to New York and eventually travelled to Winnipeg. Zebulon took a job working for the Canada Pacific Railroad and married Esther Blonde in 1884.

In 1887, after the CPR was completed, Zebulon Franks and his family moved west to Vancouver. First, Zebulon opened a fruit and confectionary store. In 1896, he opened the Zebulon Franks Hardware store on 42 Water Street. Esther and Zebulon had two daughters in Winnipeg and another four children in Vancouver before Esther’s death in 1897. A new marriage was arranged between Zebulon and Yetta Halperin from Israel. Together Zebulon and Yetta had six children of their own.