Bio: Rev. J. M. Franklin, Sabine &Vernon Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana

The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
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REV. J. M. FRANKLIN



Rev. J. M. Franklin, merchant and pastor of the Methodist episcopal Church

South, P. O. Fort Jesup, was born in Natchitoches Parish, La., (now Vernon

Parish) on September 14, 1836, and is a son of J. W. and Elizabeth (Meyers)

Franklin, natives of Tennessee and Mississippi, respectively.  The parents

were married in the Creole State in 1834 and located in what was then

Natchitoches Parish on a tract of land which they afterward entered.  They

lived in three parishes and never moved.  They were first cut off in Sabine,

then Vernon and in the last they reside at the present time.  



The father has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and has never held

nor has he sought office.  When he first came here the country was unsettled

and wild bests were numerous.  Many an exciting adventure has he had with wild

animals, and he at one time killed a bear with his knife.  The bear was

hugging his dog to death and he stepped up and stabbed it through the lungs. 

He was very fond of his dogs, and took a great delight in hunting bears, etc.  



Of the twelve children born to his marriage, ten are now living and are heads

of families" Mary (wife of J. P. Michell), Nancy (wife of E. Kay, John (a

Methodist Episcopal minister and representative of Vernon Parish), Eliza J.

(Wife of A. Dixon), Elizabeth (wife of P. B. Kay, Lydia (wife of H. W.

Presley), Thomas, Luticia and Melissa (twins), the first married John Kane and

the second became the wife of Robert Wright.  



J. M. Franklin, the eldest of the above mentioned family, was reared and

educated in what is now Vernon Parish; was brought up on the farm, and at the

age of twenty two began the study of the ministry.  He went through the

regular course, graduated, and was ordained in 1872 as an elder.  He moved to

Fort Jesup in 1870 and has been a resident of the same ever since.  In 1887 he

founded the Fort Jesup Masonic Institute, which is now on a paying basis with

an average attendance of about sixty pupils.  He was a liberal donator to the

institution, both in money and time, and is a representative man of the

parish.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Shelby's battalion, which afterward

consolidated with the Crescent.  He at one time belonged to the medical

department, doing hospital duty or being war master.  Since the war he has

been engaged in his ministerial duties and is doing much good.  For a great

many years he carried on farming and was very successful in this occupation.



He was first married in 1856 to Miss Melissa M. Connelly, who bore him one

son, John R., who is a practicing physician of Fort Jesup.  His second

marriage was in 1870 to Mrs. Martha A. tally, and they have six children

living; Mamie L., Mittie P., Hattie, Thomas G., James W. and Henry Ll, all of

whom are attending school but Mamie L., who is married.  They lost one child,

Ella.  



Mr. Franklin is a Royal Arch Mason and has been a member of that organization

for thirty three years, taking a great interest in the same.  His father and

all his brothers were Masons.  Mr. Franklin has been postmaster since 1888 and

is one of the prominent men of Sabine Parish, having assisted materially in

the development of the same.  He has also taken a decided interest in

educational and religious affairs, and is a hard worker in both causes.  His

work will ever be fresh and green in the memory of the people of Sabine

Parish.  His wife is an estimable lady and co worker with him in all laudable

enterprises.  Mr. Franklin is the leading light of Fort Jesup, and is a man of

great influence in his community.  Politically he is a Democrat, but takes no

interest in the same, except to throw his influence to the man he thinks will

make the best officer.



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