BIO: Franklin Martin, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLV. EAST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF CAMP HILL. FRANKLIN MARTIN, contractor, West Fairview, is of the Scotch-Irish race who settled the western part of the county. His grandfather, John Martin, who came to this country many years ago, married, in 1800, Elizabeth Mencough, and settled near Gettysburg, Penn., where they lived many years, afterward removing to Dauphin County, and later to East Pennsborough Township, this county, settling near West Fairview in about 1830. John Martin died in 1841, aged sixty-two; his wife died in 1839, aged fifty-eight. They had three sons and two daughters: Robert, born November 30, 1808, died November 1, 1830; Sarah, born February 23, 1810, wife of Henry A. Gross, of Buck Lock, Dauphin County, Penn.; Nancy, born September 14, 1811, died January 11, 1881; John, born October 5, 1814, died December 9, 1885; and William, born June 23, 1817, died August 23, 1877. Of these, William had only three months' regular schooling, but so well improved his spare moments that he became one of the best informed men in the region, assisted by a remarkably tenacious memory. He learned his trade in a nail factory, and in February, 1844, was married to Miss Elizabeth Starr, of near Lewisberry, York Co., Penn., having the year previous built and furnished the house on Main Street, West Fairview, where he lived until his death in 1877. His wife was born December 29, 1821, and died February 20, 1884. They had seven children: Franklin, born in the house where he now lives, November 8, 1843; Jane M. and John A. (twins), born April 7, 1847, both of whom died in infancy; Sarah J., born September 5, 1848, wife of John B. Heck, of Wormleysburg, this county; Elizabeth A., born April 23, 1851, wife of Silas W. Gleim, of Harrisburg, Penn.; Sylvania, born September 23, 1853, died December 6, 1877; Susan A., born October 23, 1858, died January 13, 1863. Franklin attended public schools until 1860, when he went to White Hall Academy, at Camp Hill, this county. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the "Emergency Men," and was in the battle of Antietam. Returning a few days later, he reenlisted, before he was eighteen years old, for three years, or during the war, in the Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. While garrisoning Fortress Monroe he was promoted to second lieutenant, and later to first lieutenant, in which rank he served until mustered out at Philadelphia, November 9, 1865. Although a veteran he was not yet twenty-one years old, and he again went to White Hall Academy for a term, subsequently teaching for three years. In April, 1867, he married Laura C., daughter of John Bowman, of New Buffalo, Perry Co., Penn. They had seven children: Sarah Alice, born June 13, 1868; Martha Bowman, born August 4, 1870, died August 11, 1872: William F., born October 6, 1872; John B. F., born June 4, 1875, died May 20, 1881; Elizabeth Sylvania, born July 16, 1878; George Warren, born April 5, 1880, and an infant but a few months old. In 1868 Mr. Martin engaged in lumber business in West Fairview, Penn., with H. M. Rupley. Their mill burned in December, 1868, but they continued dealing in lumber, and rebuilt in 1869. Our subject sold his interest to his partner in 1870, and for three years was cashier of a bank in West Fairview, and subsequently superintendent of Isaac Frazier's two mills and planning- mill at Goldsboro. He returned to West Fairview at the end of three years, and bought the business from his former partner, running it until September, 1881, when he sold the mill to the Harrisburg Nail Works, and entered into contract with them to furnish their kegs, operating the mill here as well as another owned by them in Perry County. He is also engaged in the business of fire insurance. He and his wife and eldest 471 EAST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP. daughter are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he deservedly stands high in the community.