FRANCES

A farming community on Highway 6.

The name was bestowed by E. H. McHenry, chief engineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad survey crew, who passed through the area in 1892. Frances was his wife's middle name.

The Wallace Campbell family homesteaded Elk Prairie, south of the townsite, in the early 1880s.

Several Swiss/German families followed in 1886 and have been a dominant group in the community for over 100 years. Descendants hold a variety of ethnic celebrations at the Swiss Picnic Grounds on Elk Prairie Road each year.

A post office was established May 26, 1894, and continued in operation until Nov. 23, 1973.