FRANK MCMILLAN STANTON was
born, May 23, 1865, at 313 West 23rd Street, New York City, the youngest
son of John and Elizabeth Romaine McMillan Stanton. His father, John
Stanton, was born in England, came to the United States as a boy and for
several years was engaged in coal-mining. During the Civil War period, he
became interested in the copper district of Lake Superior, becoming
prominent in the development of that district, where his chief interests
were and which he maintained for the remainder of his life. Mr. Stanton’s
mother was of an old New York family, related to Governor Peter Stuyvesant
and other ancient houses and many of its members were active and prominent
in the affairs and history of the city. One brother, John H. Stanton, of
New York City, and one sister, Helen Louise Stanton, now Mrs. J. W. Moore,
of Atlantic Mine, Michigan, survive him.
Mr. Stanton studied in Grammar
School No. 55, New York, afterward in Columbia Grammar School, and entered
Columbia University School of Mines in 1882, where he was graduated with
the degree of Mining Engineer in 1887. He worked for about two years as a
surveyor and assayer, principally at the Central Mine, in which he
attracted the attention of several of the important companies of the
Superior region. He then accepted a situation with the Atlantic Mining
Company, advancing rapidly to Superintendent. In this capacity, he served
the company for twenty-three years, improving mining methods and creating
what was considered one of the best organizations in the mining field.
Under his painstaking and scientific direction, the property held the
world’s record for low cost of production during a number of years. The
mine produced only low-grade ores and required the most intensive
production to operate even profitably. While engaged in this work, Mr.
Stanton acted in an advisory capacity to several other companies in the
district.
Failing health forced his retirement
in 1910 and a long visit to Europe, upon which he visited most of the
Continental countries, availing himself of the opportunity to study the
mines and mining methods of Europe. Upon his return to active business
life, he was elected Treasurer and Director of the Mohawk Mining Company
and Wolverine Copper Mining Company, two of the most important in the
Superior district, with a daily output of 4,000 tons of high-grade copper
ore. He was also Treasurer and Director of the Michigan Copper Mining
Company and the White Pine Extension Copper Company, in the same district;
President of the Fort Mountain Talc Company, Georgia; Director of the
First National Bank, Houghton, Mich., the Ohio and Kentucky Railroad, and
the Copper Range Company; and was connected with several other large
business operations until his death at Whitestone, Long Island, New York,
September 12, 1916.
Mr. Stanton was a life-member of the
St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York; a member of the West 23rd
Street Presbyterian Church, New York City, the New York Burns Society, St.
George’s Society, and many patriotic, social and professional
organizations, including: American Society of Civil Engineers, American
Chemical Society, American Forestry Association, American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, American
Mining Congress (life-member), American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, American Museum of Natural History, American
Automobile Association, Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Washington Continental
Guards, Navy League of the United States (life-member), American
Association for the Advancement of Science (life-member), Seventh
Infantry, N. U. N. Y., Regimental Mess (life-member), Seventh Regiment
Veteran and Active League, Society of the Upper Eighties of Columbia
University, Sons of the Revolution, Society of Colonial Wars, United
Engineering Society, Houghton, Mich., Light Infantry, Horticultural
Society of New York, Lake Superior Mining Institute, Michigan State Rifle
Association (life-member), National Rifle Association, American Revolver
Association, National Security League (life-member), and Columbia
University Alumni and Athletic Associations. He was a member of the
Whitestone Yacht, New York Athletic, Union League, Engineers’, Columbia
Yacht, and University Clubs, New York; the Chicago Athletic Club; the
Onigaming and Miscowabik Clubs, Lake Superior; and the Houghton Club,
Houghton, Mich. Mr. Stanton married Miss Kathryn Marie Rodolf.