Nathan E. Franklin Biography


	This biography appears on pages 207-208 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				NATHAN E. FRANKLIN.  

	A community owes much to those men who direct and control its 
financial institutions and Nathan E. Franklin as president of the First 
National Bank of Deadwood has done a great deal to further the 
development of the city and its vicinity, making the bank of which he 
is the executive head of great service to the community. The first care 
of the institution has been the safety of the deposits, but it has been 
so wisely directed that this end has been attained and worthy business 
enterprises have also been fostered through the judicious extension of 
credit. The Consolidated Power & Light Company of Deadwood and Lead 
also owes much of its prosperity to Mr. Franklin, as he is its 
president. Although he has business interests which occupy much of his 
time and attention, he has been prominent in public affairs and is the 
present mayor of Deadwood.  

	Mr. Franklin was born in Burlington, Iowa, on the 15th of 
December, 1870, a son of Harris and Anna (Steiner) Franklin, both of 
whom were born in Hanover, Germany, in March, 1849. They came to 
America in childhood and their marriage occurred in Burlington, Iowa. 
The father came to this country when hardly nine years of age and 
resided in New York for some time but later removed to Iowa, eventually 
locating at Burlington. After being employed for some time at various 
things he became a traveling salesman for a Council Bluffs house and 
continued in that connection until 1875, when he went to Laramie, 
Wyoming. In that year he made a business trip to Custer, South Dakota, 
but returned to Wyoming and engaged in mercantile business in Cheyenne 
until 1878, when he came to Deadwood and established himself in 
business. In 1908 he retired from the cares and responsibilities of 
active life and now resides in New York city. He was one of the men who 
did much for the early development of the locality around Deadwood. He 
was among the first to mine in the flat formation here and was an 
organizer of the Golden Reward one of the famous mines of the Black 
Hills, but later disposed of this mine to E. H. Harriman and his 
associates. He was the organizer of the American National Bank at 
Deadwood, which was afterward merged with the First National Bank; is 
the principal stockholder of the Franklin Hotel and organized the 
Franklin Live Stock Company, which did an extensive business until the 
open ranges were taken up by settlers. He is a mall of unusual public 
spirit and was always willing to give of his ability and money to 
assist in any project that would promote the advancement of Deadwood 
and its vicinity. His generosity is well known and no worthy cause ever 
sought his assistance in vain. Although he did so much for the public 
good outside of the political field, he always refused to hold office. 
His wife passed away January 10, 1902. 

	Nathan E. Franklin is an only child and received the best 
educational advantages. After graduating from the Deadwood high school 
in 1887, he entered Notre Dame University and was graduated therefrom 
with the class of 1890. In 1887, while still attending school, he 
served an apprenticeship in a drug store belonging to Kirk G. Phillips 
in the summer and in 1890 was employed by that gentleman as clerk. In 
1891 he embarked in the drug business for himself at Deadwood, so 
continuing until 1902, when he disposed of his store and was cashier of 
the American National Bank for three years. At the end of that time the 
bank consolidated with the First National, and Mr. Franklin became 
president of the institution, in which capacity he is still serving. He 
has executive talent of a high order and under his direction all the 
departments work in harmony and the bank as a whole is growing steadily 
in assets and in the confidence of the community. Mr. Franklin not only 
thoroughly understands both the detail of banking routine and the 
underlying principles of banking and currency, but he is also an 
excellent judge of men and surrounds himself with those who are 
unusually competent for the discharge of their duties. He organized the 
Consolidated Power & Light Company of Deadwood and Lead, which 
furnishes highs and power to all of the mining companies in the 
locality and to a number of cities, including Whitewood, Sturgis, Belle 
Fourche, Portland, Terry and Central City. It is one of the largest 
power and light companies in the west and as its president Mr. Franklin 
has many important questions to decide and heavy responsibilities to 
bear, but his powers of administration are equal to the demands made 
upon them. He is prominent in the association of bankers and represents 
the state of South Dakota upon the executive council of the American 
Bankers, Association and is in addition vice president of the South 
Dakota State Bankers, Association.  

	Mr. Franklin was married on the 14th of September, 1893, to Miss 
Ada F. Keller, who was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a daughter of Frank 
and Minnie Keller. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have one daughter, Anna 
Mildred, the wife of D. S. Traitel, a resident of New York city, who is 
engaged in the marble importing business and also takes contracts for 
marble work in the erection of new buildings. The Traitel Marble 
Company of Long Island is well known to the trade.  

	Mr. Franklin gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party and is the present mayor of Deadwood, giving to the municipality 
a vigorous and clean administration. He has been a director of the 
Deadwood Business Men's Club for eight years and its president for 
three years and under his direction the organization has accomplished 
much good for the city He is also president of the local humane 
society. Fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of 
Elks and the Masonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second 
degree. He is one of the commanding figures in business and financial 
circles of Deadwood and all concede that his position is due solely to 
his marked executive and business ability and to his proven probity.