Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Chanfrau, Frank S.

CHANFRAU, Frank S., actor, b. in New York, 22 Feb., 1824; d. in Jersey City, 2 Oct., 1884. His father was a French officer in the vessel that brought Lafayette to the United States. He enjoyed but few educational advantages. At an early age he attempted to earn a livelihood as a hatter, subsequently was employed as a ship-builder at Cleveland, and helped to build the first steamboat that ever left that port. Returning to New York, he lived precariously for a year or two, and during this period his talent as a mimic became first known, and put him in the way that ultimately led to fortune. His first theatre engagement was as a supernumerary at the old Bowery theatre; subsequently he became utility-man at the same place, and after some years played second juvenile parts at the old Park theatre, and in 1848 was engaged as leading comedian at Mitchell's Olympic theatre. He gained great popularity as a comic actor at this house, his impersonation of Mose the fireman in Benjamin Baker's play, “A Glance at New York,” being regarded as inimitable. Chanfrau's success as Mose made him rich. On 20 Sept., 1849, he first appeared in the Arch street theatre, Philadelphia, and soon afterward he provided Brooklyn with a theatre; but the undertaking did not succeed, and, after sinking $22,000 in the venture, he accepted an invitation from Charles R. Thorne to sail for California. After a most successful tour there he returned to New York and added Thomas B. de Walden's Sam to his repertory, and during the winter of 1870 appeared in the leading part in “Kit, the Arkansas Traveller,” a play written by Edward Spencer, and then produced for the first time. As Kit Redding, Chanfrau achieved his most signal success. In this rôle he exhibited all his gifts and attainments to the best advantage, and though the character of his acting was never elevated, it was invariably amusing and never hurtful. He was a generous and noble-minded man, correct in his habits, and a model husband, father, and son. He died worth about $300,000, having considerable property at Long Branch, N. J., which he had made his residence for nineteen years. — His wife, Henrietta Baker, actress, b. in Philadelphia in 1837, made her début during the summer of 1854 at the assembly buildings, Philadelphia, under the management of Prof. Mueller, as a vocalist. Her first appearance on the boards of a regular theatre was at the city museum in her native place, 9 Sept., 1854, as Miss Apsley in “The Willow Copse.” A short time afterward she became a member of the Arch street theatre, where she remained nearly two seasons. When the National at Cincinnati was opened by Lewis Baker for the season 1857-'8, she became a member of the company and achieved success. She married Mr. Chanfrau in July, 1858. After a long absence from New York, in the autumn of 1886 she appeared at the reopening of the Fourteenth street theatre as Linda Colmore in “The Scapegoat.” Her acting is entirely free from affectation or mannerisms.