Genealogist, Historian and Moderate Republican
Salem, Illinois & Verde Valley, Arizona

Hi, I am Stephen Philip Howard Frakes, and I am presently living in Salem, Marion County, in the Great State of Illinois. I lived my youth in Springfield, Illinois, the Capital of Illinois and the home town of Abraham Lincoln. I was born the 2nd of October, 1957 in Highland, Madison County, Illinois. My parents were living in Edwardsville at the time. I love the photo at right. It is of my father, Philip Howard Frakes, me and my grandfather, William Philip Frakes.

When I was a Freshman in high school, attending Southeast High in Springfield, my family moved to Marion County, where they were raised. I then attended Kinmundy-Alma High School in Kinmundy, Illinois the rest of my freshman year and my sophmore year. I then went to Patoka High School in Patoka, Illinois for my junior and senior year, graduating there in 1975.

I attended college at Johnson & Wales College in Providence, Rhode Island, majoring in the Culinary Arts. Rhode Island may be a small state, but it is a great state in friends for me. After college, I worked at Powers and McAndrew's law firm in downtown Providence. I did paralegal work. I later moved back to Salem, Illinois. You can see some of my New England friends at my Rhode Island Friends Web Page and my Massachusetts Friends Web Page.

Because of my love of history, I was appointed to the Salem Historical-Patriotical Commission, by Mayor Leonard Ferguson, and remained there for several years, serving in the capacity of chairman and also of Secretary. I served as Secretary-Treasurer of the William Jennings Bryan Memorial Committee. I have been a member of the Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society since the 1970's.

In 1999, I moved to Cottonwood, Arizona. I moved to Arizona to help a friend Darrell Lundberg, who was also originally from Illinois, open his store, Seasons Party Shoppe.

From there I worked at "Crossroads Youth Shelter" in Cottonwood. Working as a Behavioral Health Specialist with kids ages 12 to 17, inclusive. It was the best job I ever had. I not only felt like I was accomplishing something, but I really enjoyed working with the teens. I hated to leave that job, but the new management made it a terrible place to work. Unfortunately, that new managment ran the shelter into the ground and it was closed. I really miss all of my kids from the shelter. None of them are kids anymore, but they will always be my kids. You can see some of my kids on one of My Arizona Friends Web Page.

I then began working at Los Abrigados Lodge in Uptown Sedona. It is affiliated with Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, which is located on the original property of Sedona Schnebly, the founding mother of Sedona.

On October 2, 2002, I arrived back in Salem, Illinois to help out my mother with my father, who was ill from Scleroderma, which was affecting his lungs.

Pertaining to religious matters, I was a member of Temple Solomon in Centralia, Illinois, a small Reform Jewish Temple, until I moved to Arizona. In Sedona, I observed the high holidays with my very good friends, Fred and Audrey Dorfman and their son Nathan and other friends. We usually observed the Passover Seder with friends in Flagstaff and Break-the-fast (Ending of Yom Kippur) at the Dorfman's in Sedona. It was always a good time with good friends. While living in Arizona I came to the realization that one does not need organized religion to be spiritual. God is not a religion. Religions are man made. I therefore feel no need to attend an organized religion, but do on occasion. Temple Solomon in Centralia was sold in 2004 because there were so few members left in the area.

In photo left to right: Audrey Dorfman, Stephen Frakes and Fred Dorfman at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa.

Besides working, I kept busy in Arizona as Vice President of the V.V.A.L.C. and doing the OUT 'N About web page for them, as well as the newsletter, "Closet Times". It is the glbt organization of the Verde Valley. Since I have moved back to Salem, Illinois. I moderate the Yahoo Groups: GLBT Community of the Verde Valley AZ. Also the Southern Illinois GLBT Yahoo Group.

In 2002 I began to have problems with my feet. By 2003, I could hardly walk and was diagnosed with severe neuropathy. There is always pain in my feet and when I walk on them the pain becomes worse and remains worse for some time even after I have sat back down. The neuropathy is in my feet, ankles, calves of my legs and my fingers. I can only type for a short time, as it feels like there are tacks on the keys of the keyboard after typing for a little bit. Thank God for television and books, or I would literally be dead from boredom. It is kinda tough, being a person who was so active in both community and politics, to just sit around at home all day every day. Fortunately, I have a wonderful supportive family and a mother who is a jewel.

I am a Libra

My Surprise 50th Birthday Party

I was born 2 October 1957, Highland, Madison County, Illinois, the son of Colonel Philip H. and Monna Marilyn (Conant) Frakes.

I have two sisters, Tanya Rae (Frakes)(Courtright) Belfiore of Salem, Illinois and Terri June (Mrs. Richard Dale "Rick" Adams of Adams Farm, rural Patoka, Illinois. I have five nephews: Nathan Roddy Alan Courtright, Trent Maurice Adams, Brock Richard Adams, David Philip Anthony Belfiore and Daniel William Eli Belfiore.

My father was born and raised in Salem, and my mother was born and raised in the Kinmundy-Alma area, in Foster Township. My father has been involved in many organizations, including the Lions Club, Shriners and has held appointed and elected positions including the Salem Zoning Commission and Republican Central Committeeman, including Chairman of the Marion County Republican Central Committee, and has served on several state boards including Military Aide to former Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan.

This is my family's home in Salem, Illinois. It is the oldest home in Salem. Built in 1842 for Rev. Benjamin F. & Mary Putnam (Rand) Lemen. My great-grandparents, Julius and Anna (Maier) Merten, were the first of my family to own the home. They moved into the home in 1909. Then in 1941, my grandparents, William Philip and Beatrice Margaret Julietta (Merten) Frakes, became the owners of the house. My parents, Philip Howard and Monna Marilyn (Conant) Frakes, took ownership in 1981. This photo was taken in the Spring of 1994.

My nephew, Nathan, is married to a lovely gal named Angie Jaye (Albert)(Riley) Courtright. They were married in September of 1999 and live in Salem, Illinois. Angie is a school teacher and Nathan is empolyed with the State of Illinois as an officer at a prison in Vandalia, Illinois. Nathan graduated and received his bachlors degree in law enforcement in December, 2004, Eastern Illinois University. Nathan served in the United States Marine Corp and saw action in Somalia. Nathan and Angie had their first child together on Friday, 29 March 2002, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois. She was named Madison Jaye Courtright. So now I am a great-uncle. :) Angie also has a daughter by a previous marriage who I consider to be my niece, Jillian Rebecca "Jill" Riley.

My mother's side of the family has been in Marion County, Illinois since 1830, when Airs Conant, Esquire and his wife, Mary "Polly" (Pepper) Conant, settled here. He was a school teacher, Justice of the Peace and a farmer.

Nathan and Angie's Wedding in Salem, Illinois, in 1999

Standing left to right: Brock Richard Adams, David Philip Anthony Belfiore (in back), Nathan Roddy Alan Courtright, Richard Dale Adams, and Stephen Philip Howard Frakes.