USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 58
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1815-President, James W. Lanier; Recorder, Stephen Reeder; Trustees, William C. Schenck, William Harrison, Charles Lang, Lewis Davis, Luther Russell; Treasurer, Samuel Caldwell; Assessor, James McEwen; Town Mar- shal and Collector, Christian Petifish: Supervisor, William F. Barkalow.
1816-President, Samuel Caldwell; Recorder, Charles Lang; Trustees, J. N. C. Schenck, Joseph Troxell, W. C. Schenck, Daniel Storms, Stephen Reed- er; Treasurer, W. Harrison; Assessor, Daniel Wertz; Marshal and Collector. C. Petifish.
1817-President, William C. Schenck; Recorder, Robert Young: Trustees. Samuel Caldwell, Samuel Campbell, James Tapscott, James McEwen, James W. Lanier; Treasurer, W. Harrison; Marshal and Collector, C. Petifish: As- sessor, D. Wertz.
1818-President, Matthew Magrew; Recorder, James W. Lanier; Trustees. W. C. Schenck, Lewis Davis, Martin Earhart, Garret A. Schenck; James W. Lanier; Treasurer, W. Harrison; Assessor, Samuel Campbell; Marshal. C. Petifish.
1819-President, Samuel Caldwell ; Recorder, John Silver ; Trustees. Samuel Campbell, Daniel Storms, Charles Lang, James McEwen, Isaac Win- ner; Treasurer, W. Harrison; Assessor, Moses Smith; Marshal, C. Petifish.
1820-President, Charles Lang; Recorder, James H. Newell; Trustees. Moses Smith, William Brown, Thomas L. Paine, Joseph Mayfield. John C.
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Finney; Treasurer, Lewis Davis; Assessor, John G. Mount; Marshal, C. Peti- fish. 1821 -- President, James McEwen; Recorder, Justine Smith; Trustees, William Harrison, Joseph Mayfield, Lewis Knipple, Robert Young, Philip Rossman; Treasurer. Lewis Davis; Assessor, Moses Smith; Marshal, C. Petifish. 1822-President, James W. Lanier; Recorder, W. R. Schenck; Trustees, Samuel Caldwell, Daniel Storms, Michael Waggoner, Philip Rossman, Charles Lang; Treasurer, Lewis Davis; Assessor, Moses Smith; Marshal, C. Petifish.
1823-President. James W. Lanier ; Recorder, William R. Schenck ; Trustees, Garret Schenck, George McAroy, Alexander Cumming, Samuel Cald- well, William Brown; Treasurer, Lewis Davis; Assessor, Stephen Wood; Mar- shal, Samuel Vail.
1824 -- President, James W. Lanier ; Recorder, William R. Schenck; Trustees, J. N. C. Schenck, Charles Lang, Garret A. Schenck, Joseph Merri- field, Robert Young; Treasurer, William Brown; Assessor. James McEwen; Marshal, Samuel Vail.
1825-President, Samuel Caldwell ; Recorder, William R. Schenck ; Trustees, Garret A. Schenck, J. N. C. Schenck, Charles Lang. Alexander Cummings, Isaac Winner; Treasurer, William Brown; Assessor. James Mc- Ewen; Marshal, Robert R. Young.
1826-President, Samuel Caldwell; Recorder, James Silver; Trustees, Eden Burrowes, Charles Lang, Lewis Davis, Isaac Winner, Michael Waggoner, Garret Schenck and Elias Coleman; Treasurer, E. Burrowes; Assessor, C. Petifish; Marshal, Jonathan Mooney.
1827-Same as above.
1828-President, Charles Lang ; Recorder, James Silver; Trustees, J. N. C. Schenck, Jonathan Mooney, Garret Schenck, Eden Burrowes, Isaac Winner; Treasurer, E. Burrowes.
1829-President, Charles Lang; Recorder, James W. Lanier; Trustees, Eden Burrowes, Jonathan Mooney, J. N. C. Schenck, Lewis Davis, Elias Coleman; Treasurer, Martin Earhart; Assessor, Samuel Campbell; Marshal, Egbert T. Smith.
1830-President, Charles Lang; Recorder, James W. Lanier; Trustees, Jonathan Mooney, James Anderson, George C. Smith, Egbert T. Smith, Isaac Winner; Treasurer, Martin Earhart; Assessor, James McEwen; Marshal, Isaac Winner; John Ainsworth, Jacob Long and Philip Rossman, Trustees, for a part of the year.
1831-President, Charles Lang; Recorder, James W. Lanier; Trustees, Jonathan Mooney, Jacob Long, James Anderson, George C. Smith, Philip Rossman; Treasurer, Martin Earhart; Assessor, James McEwen.
1832-President, Lewis Davis; Recorder, S. R. Burrowes; Trustees, Jacob Roades, Daniel Harper, E. T. Smith, James McEwen. Elias Coleman; Treas- urer, M. W. Earhart; Assessor, O. Evans; Marshal, H. Hemphill.
1833-President, O. Evans; Recorder, S. R. Burrowes; Trustees, Jacob Roades, E. T. Smith, Jacob Long, Elias Coleman, Daniel Harper; Treasurer, M. W. Earhart; Assessor, James McEwen; Marshal, Henry Hemphill.
1834-President, Henry Catick; Recorder, John L. Thirkield; Trustees, Samuel Leonard, William Brown (John Haller), David Baird, Elias Coleman (Thomas H. Wilkins), Charles Lang ; Treasurer, M. W. Earhart; Assessor, Charles Lang; Marshal, William T. Barkalow.
1835-President, Egbert T. Smith ; Recorder, Derrick G. Barkalow; Trustees, Jonathan Mooney, Charles Lang, Samuel Leonard, M. W. Earhart, Thomas H. Wilkins; Treasurer, Cyrus Johnson; Assessor, William Brown; Marshal, Okey McAbe; Collector, Jesse L. Ward.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1836-President, E. T. Smith; Recorder, O. Britton; Trustees, Jonathan Mooney, T. H. Wilkins, Samuel Leonard, M. W. Earhart, S. R. Burrowes.
The date of the charter of the incorporated village of Franklin is March 9, 1837. By a misunderstanding, an election was held on March 1, 1837, which resulted as follows:
1837-Absalom Death, Mayor; S. R. Burrowes, Recorder; Cyrus Johnson, Treasurer; Washington Coleman, Marshal and Collector; George Kinder, Orson Britton, Jonathan Mooney, J. W. Caldwell, S. R. Burrowes and Otho Evans, Trustees; A. R. Earhart, Supervisor.
1838-Absalom Death, Mayor; S. R. Burrowes, Recorder; Cyrus Johnson, Treasurer; H. Hemphill, Marshal, Collector and Clerk of Markets; J. Mooney, J. W. Caldwell, O. Evans, M. W. Earhart and Daniel Harper, Trustees.
1839-Absalom Death, Mayor; S. R. Burrowes, Recorder; H. Hemphill, Marshal; Cyrus Johnson, Treasurer; A. R. Earhart, Supervisor; J. Mooney, D. Harper, O. Evans, J. W. Caldwell and M. W. Earhart, Trustees.
1840-Samuel Leonard, Mayor; J. L. Thirkield, Recorder; Cyrus John- son, Treasurer; H. Hemphill, Marshal; Samuel Smith, Supervisor; S. R. Bur- rowes, I. McTaggert, Washington Coleman, Daniel Harper and George Balen- tine. Trustees.
1841-Daniel Harper, Mayor; J. L. Thirkield, Recorder; J. S. Hatfield, Marshal and Supervisor; Cyrus Johnson, Treasurer; George Balentine, Israel McTaggert, Wash Coleman and George Kinder, Trustees.
1842-Daniel Harper, Mayor; J. L. Thirkield, Recorder; Cyrus Johnson, Treasurer; A. R. Earhart, Marshal; George Kinder, George Balentine, Israel McTaggert, W. Coleman and Richard Coles, Trustees.
1843-Cyrus Johnson, Mayor; resigned and succeeded by R. S. Lockwood; Denise Denise, Recorder; George Balentine, Treasurer; E. T. Hendrickson, Marshal ; George Kinder, Supervisor ; Aaron R. Earhart, Samuel Smith, George L. Denise. Joseph Hurst and Geerge Kinder, Trustees.
1844-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor ; D. Denise, Recorder ; Gabriel Scharf, Marshal; John Frieze, Market Master; George Balentine, Treasurer; J. Hurst, S. Smith, A. R. Earhart, George Kinder and George L. Denise, Trustees.
1845 -- R. S. Lockwood, Mayor ; E. T. Hendrickson, Recorder ; George Balentine, Treasurer; John Scharf, Marshal; Joseph A. Brown, Supervisor and Market Master; D. Denise, G. L. Denise, A. R. Earhart, George Kinder and J. Hurst, Trustees.
1846-John G. Law, Mayor; resigned, and H. Hemphill succeeded; E. T. Hendrickson, Recorder; George Balentine, Treasurer; John Scharf, Marshal; R. Lockwood, Market Master ; George Kinder, Supervisor ; L. McTaggert, Thomas Parker, George Balentine, Derrick Wooley and George Kinder, Trus- tees.
1847-H. Hemphill, Mayor; Otho Evans, Recorder; George Balentine. Treasurer; A. R. Earhart, Marshal; E. T. Hendrickson, Market Master; E. T. Hendrickson, I. McTaggert, R. S. Lockwood, R. Wooley and Thomas Parker, Trustees.
1848-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; B. B. Barkalow, (resigned), and R. S. Lock- wood, Recorder; George Balentine, Treasurer; R. R. Young, Supervisor; Jesse Lee, Marshal; Uriah Clutch, H. J. Death, R. Coles, W. F. Smith, Trustees.
1849-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; R. S. Lockwood, Recorder and Treasurer; A. R. Earhart, Marshal; R. Wooley, R. Coles, Uriah Clutch, O. Evans, W. F. Smith, H. J. Death, Trustees.
1850-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; R. S. Lockwood, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; A. R. Earhart. Marshal; Uriah Clutch, R. Coles, W. F. Smith, H. J. Death, F. Dechant, Trustees.
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Thomas Rich
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1851-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; R. S. Lockwood, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; Joseph Crawford, Marshal; R. Coles, Uriah Clutch, W. F. Smith, F. De- chant and H. J. Death, Trustees.
1852-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; R. S. Lockwood, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; Jesse Lee, Marshal; Uriah Clutch, R. Coles, W. F. Smith, F. Dechant and H. J. Death, Trustees.
1853-A. D. Reeder, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; R. Coles, Treasurer; Jesse Lee, Marshal; H. J. Death, S. Lippencott, R. Coles, Uriah Clutch and Joseph A. Brown, Trustees.
1854 -- John S. Todd, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; H. J. Death, S. Walling, S. C. Lippencott, R. Wilkinson, H. B. Meeker, Trustees, and Jesse Lee (resigned), and Samuel Wallace, Marshal.
1855-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; Samuel Wallace, Marshal; S. C. Lippencott, H. B. Meeker, R. Wilkin- son and H. J. Death, Trustees.
1856-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; R. Coles, Treas- urer; J. B. Clemmens, Marshal; Sales Walling, W. T. Barkalow, H. B. Meeker and R. Wilkinson, Trustees.
1857-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; J. L. Thirkield, Treasurer; Samuel Wallace, Marshal: R. Wilkinson, Sales Walling, F. Dechant and G. L. Denise, Trustees.
1858-M. V. Barkalow, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; E. B. Thirkield, Treasurer; George W. Rook, Marshal; G. L. Denise, Sales Walling, J. L. Thirkield, F. Dechant and W. B. McAroy, Trustees.
1859-M. V. Barkalow, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; E. B. Thirkield, Treasurer; D. B. Ten Eyck, Marshal; Sales Walling, Dr. W. B. McAroy, Dr. W. L. Schenck, Uriah Clutch, H. Crampton, Trustees.
1860-Jason S. Evans, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; E. B. Thirkield, Treasurer; James Melley, Marshal; Dr. W. L. Schenck, J. L. Rickard. Uriah Clutch, F. Dechant and G. L. Denise, Council.
1861-James Stace, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; J. S. Haller (re- signed) and D. Adams, Treasurer; John G. Gage, Marshal; F. Dechant, Will- iam Corwin, R. P. Evans, William L. Schenck, H. T. Griftner, Council.
1862-Sales Walling, Mayor; W. F. Smith, Recorder; M. V. Barkalow, Treasurer; J. W. Bonner, Marshal; R. P. Evans, James Ely, H. T. Griftner, F. Dechant and William F. Schenck, Council.
1863-Washington L. Schenck, Mayor ; W. F. Smith, Recorder ; D. Adams, Treasurer; John G. Gage, Marshal; J. W. Shertzer, G. W. Rook, William Kennedy, H. T. Griftner and William L. Schenck, Council.
1864-Wash. L. Schenck, Mayor; W. D. Schenck, Recorder; D. Adams, Treasurer; John W. Bonner, Marshal; G. W. Rook, William Cum- ming, William L. Schenck, John Marshal, H. B. Meeker, Council.
1865-H. Hemphill, Mayor ; W. F. Smith, Recorder ; R. Wilkinson, Treasurer; Charles Wiley, Marshal; John Marshal, William L. Schenck, John Reece, Andrew Reeder and H. B. Meeker, Council.
1866-H. Hemphill, Mayor; John Reece, Recorder; James Stace, Treas- urer; John G. Smith, Marshal; A. S. Reeder, J. W. Shertzer, O. Evans, Jr., H. B. Meeker, H. T. Griftner, Council.
1867-H. Hemphill, Mayor ; C. C. Brown, Recorder; Sales Walling, Treasurer; Jonas W. Brown, Marshal; H. B. Meeker, William L. Schenck, W. S. Evans, O . H. Denise, H. T. Griftner, Council.
1868-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; John A. Reece (resigned) and W. Cole- man, Recorder; E. P. Crist, Treasurer; J. W. Brown, Marshal; William B. McAroy, J. W. Shertzer, James S. Reece, George W. Rook and Joseph Wood- ward, Jr., Council.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
' 1869-R. F. Ireland, Mayor; C. A. Hunt (resigned) and A. S. Reeder, Recorder; E. P. Crist, Treasurer; Lewis Hurst, Marshal; W. B. McAroy, William L. Schenck, W. L. Evans, George W. Rook and J. W. Shertzer. Council.
1870-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; Lew Woodward (resigned) and C. E. Denise, Recorder; R. F. Ireland, Treasurer; Lewis Hurst, Marshal; Alvin Walling, H. B. Meeker. W. B. McAroy, John Randall and W. Carpenter. Council.
1871-Ben Morgan, Mayor; M. W. Earhart. Recorder; R. F. Ireland. Treasurer; Lewis Hurst, Marshal; H. B. Meeker, William B. McAroy. William L. Schenck, E. P. Crist, Al Walling and J. W. Shertzer, Council.
1872-Ben Morgan, Mayor; M. W. Earhart, Recorder; R. F. Ireland. Treasurer; Lewis Hurst, Marshal; J. W. Shertzer, Alvin Walling, H. B. Meeker, E. P. Crist, W. B. McAroy; William L. Schenck (deceased) and suc ceeded by J. F. Gallaher, Council.
1873-P. M. Dechant, Mayor; M. W. Earhart, Recorder; R. F. Ireland. Treasurer; J. W. Bonner, Marshal; H. B. Meeker, W. B. McAroy, T. M. Mc- Whinney, R. P. Evans, Council.
1874-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; M. W. Earhart (resigned) and William Corwin, Jr., Recorder; J. M. Dachtler, Marshal; H. B. Meeker, T. M. Mc- Whinney, J. F. Gallaher, J. J. Turney and H. Lecher, Council.
1875 -- R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; John Reece, Clerk; R. F. Ireland, Treas- urer; J. M. Dachtler, Marshal; H. Lecher, H. Crampton, J. J. Turney. H. B. Meeker and E. P. Crist, Council.
1876-R. S. Lockwood, Mayor; J. A. Reece, Clerk; R. F. Ireland, Treas- urer; J. M. Dachtler, Marshal; E. P. Crist, H. Crampton, H. B. Meeker, George McLane, I. T. Baker and F. R. Evans, Council.
1877-H. Crampton, Mayor; J. A. Reece, Recorder; George McLane, Treasurer; J. M. Dachtler, Marshal; J. D. Hendrickson, H. B. Meeker, E. M. Burrowes, F. R. Evans, I. Munger and F. Wittlinger, Council.
1878-H. Crampton, Mayor; J. A. Reece, Recorder; George McLane. Treasurer; J. M. Dachtler, Marshal; H. B. Meeker, J. D. Hendrickson. F. Clemmens, I. Munger, J. Theiss and E. M. Burrowes, Council.
1879-J. W. Shertzer, Mayor; J. A. Reece. Clerk; George McLane, Treas- 1 rer; J. H. Thompson, Marshal; R. Emerson, J. D. Hendrickson, H. Levi, F. Clemmens, J. Theiss and I. Munger, Council.
1880-J. W. Shertzer, Mayor; J. A. Reece, Recorder; George McLane, Treasurer; J. H. Thompson, Marshal; I. Munger, J. Theiss, H. Crampton, M. W. Earhart, R. Emerson and J. D. Hendrickson, Council.
1881-J. M. Dachtler, Mayor; J. A. Reece, Recorder; I. Munger, Treas- urer; George C. Weaver, R. P. Lockwood, W. A. Van Horne, W. R. Dial, H Crampton and John Theiss, Council; John H. Thompson, Marshal.
PROTECTION FROM FIRE.
In looking over old town records, I find that, in 1830, a subscription was taken for the purpose of buying a fire-engine. This was bought, and it was a small hand-engine, called the Ringleader, which was filled by means of a bucket-line, and kept full in that away, while from two to six men. by turning cranks, forced the water through the hose. This engine, although small, did good service, and was very well built, as shown by the fact that the wheels are still in use by Mr. H. B. Meeker, as a truck for hauling stone. About 1850. the Council bought an engine, which was worked in what is called row-boat fashion. This was called "The Whale." A number of years afterward. a brake engine was bought, and the two did good service.
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When the market-house was built, in 1843, a full set of hooks and ladders was made for the corporation, and, while the east end of the market-house was devoted to the engine, the sides were the depositories of the hooks and ladders, in order that they might be of easy access in case of fire. After some years, cisterns were built, one at the intersection of Center and Fourth streets, the other at the intersection of Center and Sixth streets. In 1877, the Council bought of C. Ahrens & Co., of Cincinnati, a Latta steam fire-engine, and two reels containing 1,000 feet of hose. August 26, 1877, one reel was burned, but was promptly supplied by the purchase of a new one and additional hose. In addition to the cisterns, approaches have been made to the river at Second, Sixth and Seventh streets and between Third and Fourth streets, while the canal on the east gives easy access to almost all parts of town. :
SITUATION OF THE TOWN AND ITS GROWTH.
Franklin is situated ten miles northwest of Lebanon, on the Great Miami River. Through it passes the Miami Canal, the C., C., C. & I. R. R. and the Dayton & Cincinnati Turnpike. In Howe's Historical Collections, the first cabin is said to have been built on or near Lot 21, Front street, the lot now owned and occupied by E. B. Thirkield. In the spring of 1796, six or eight cabins stood on the town plat. A church, common for all denominations. on the site of the Baptist Church, was the first erected, about the year 1808. The house occupied by J. N. C. Schenck during his life was partly built at a very early date-probably as early as 1796 or 1797, by Mr. Crane, who afterward located north of town. Mrs. Mary Campbell, who is still living, at the age of ninety-six, attended a party in the house above mentioned about 1798. The house occupied by W. S. Evans, on Front street, just above Third, was built by Gen. W. C. Schenck in 1798. The house lately removed by the Rossmans to make room for their magnificent brick, was probably one of the oldest houses in town and was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Campbell. Here Lewis D. Campbell was born and passed his boyhood. The old Clutch property, oppo- site the Presbyterian Church, lately torn down, was another old house.
Although Franklin is old, yet its progress for several years past has been marked. In 1840, it contained three churches, a high school, four dry goods stores, two grocery stores, two forwarding and commission houses and had 770 inhabitants. In 1881, it contains 2,700 inhabitants, has a printing- office, a graded school, three dry goods houses, two notion houses, eight gro- ceries, three bakeries, two confectioneries, two news depots, three hardware stores, two banks, two hotels, numerous boarding-houses, ten or twelve saloons, three harness stores, four shoe stores, two watch-makers, two telegraph offices, one telephone exchange and several of the largest manufactories in the Miami Valley. There are also five church buildings and three congregations that rent, making eight church organizations in all.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Franklin early felt the importance of public offices, and, although we find the earliest meetings for elections were held at hotels, as well as private resi- dences, in 1843, they determined to build a house which should serve for all public purposes. The church built in 1808, on the corner of Center and Fourth streets, was used for public meetings when fit, but, being the property of no one in particular, was not well taken care of. The market-house, as it was called, was built in the center of Fourth, on Market street, and consisted of two stories. In the lower one, the west end was fitted for a market, with stalls. The east end was inclosed so as to keep the fire-engine in good con- dition. Above this part was one room which looked something like a small
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
house balanced on the roof of a larger one. This was the Council Chamber. and. uncouth as it would now look, was considered to be a grand affair. In 1857, the people were called on to vote for or against a town hall, and. the vote being favorable, the hall was built on the north side of Fourth street. between Center and Front. nearly north of the site of the old market-house. It contained in the lower story an engine-room, a large market-room and a prison, or calaboose, with an iron cage of two cells. In the upper story. a Council Chamber and a hall, with a stage at the east end. This stood nearly twenty years. being consumed by fire on August 26, 1877. In it burned all the furniture, many of the books belonging to the corporation, the two hand- engines and one reel of hose. The new steam engine was fortunately saved. but not enough hose was rescued to save the building. After considerable trouble with the insurance companies the old walls were raised, the whole building remodeled, and, on Thanksgiving week, 1879, the Opera Hall was open- ed by the Julia A. Hunt Dramatic Company, which gave a week's entertainment in it. The hall will seat about 600, and is a neat and convenient one, as is shown by the patronage it receives from dramatic troupes. The lower part now contains engine-rooms, hook and ladder room, Council Chamber and prison. The outside has been transformed and now presents a very creditable appearance.
In 1864 and 1865, the lodge of Odd Fellows conceived the idea of build- ing a hall. and a lottery scheme was begun, which resulted in the building which now stands on the southeast corner of Fourth and Center streets. It is of three stories. with a truss roof. On the first floor are three business rooms. fronting on Center street. The north room is occupied by the First National Bank; immediately south of this is a stairway leading to the upper floors: next, the shoe and hat store of Harris Bros., and, in the south room E. Liesen- hoff & Co. deal in clothing and gents' furnishing goods. On the second floor. on the north side. is the public reading room and library; on the south side are various offices. The third floor has on the north the Masonic Hall; on the south, the Odd Fellows Hall. The building, except the two halls which be- long to the lodges, respectively occupying them, now belongs to the First National Bank.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The following advertisement appeared in the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette, published at Cincinnati, by Joseph Carpenter & Co. The paper bears date of August 31, 1803:
SCHOOL.
A schoolmaster is much needed in this place. A person qualified to teach an English school will find employment.
FRANKLIN, August 17, 1803.
W. C. SCHENCK.
What the result of this advertisement was we have not learned, but old citizens tell of schools at private houses for a number of years. A brick school- house formerly stood near where the depot buildings now stand, but it had been torn down at an early date. Mr. J. B. Morton had a private school, in which not only common, but classical studies were pursued. The building on the northeast corner of Second and Center street, could it speak, would tell of some excellent masters and some bad boys. The old Council chamber in the first market-house was also used as a school-room. Miss Fannie Coleman. Mr. Kingman, Miss Sarah Knipple, Miss McAroy and a number of others had schools which were good for the times. In the year 1848, the citizens saw the benefits arising from a central school, and erected the front part of the Union school building, the Odd Fellows and the Sons of Temperance putting on the third story and roof. The Masons, who had an interest in the north
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room, finally bought that of the Sons, and, with the Odd Fellows, occupied it until the erection of the Odd Fellows Hall, when they both removed to that building.
The first Principal had but a few departments, but there are now in the house, with the rooms that were added about 1874, ten departments. The name of the first Principal was Laman; then followed Marchant, Elliott, Elder, Beall, Hawthorne, Turner, Finch, Hawthorne, Van Horne, and, in 1866, Mr. H. Bennett took charge, and has, by his untiring zeal and unflagging industry, gained for the Franklin Union Schools a reputation that extends throughout the State. The graded system is here carried to perfection, and the results of the careful training obtained in this school manifest themselves wherever its graduates are found. Two of its graduates have entered the ministry, several are engaged in teaching, some in law, others in medicine and all look back to this school as the scene of their early triumphs, and of purposes formed that have resulted in much good. The number of graduates is about sixty. The high school was at one time bitterly opposed, but is in a flourishing condition with about fifty in attendance. : :
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church of Franklin was organized May 20, 1818, with Rev. William Schenck as pastor. He was soon after succeeded by Rev. M. G. Wallace, who continued to serve the people for a time, but the church was not well kept up and for several years no regular meetings were held. However, in 1827, Rev. Adrian Aten began to serve this people as well as those of New Jersey congregation, and, in 1829, there were sixty-nine names of members on the roll of the church. About this time, Rev. John S. Weaver took charge of this church, but was succeeded in one year by Rev. John Hudson, who retained the pastorate for ten years. During his labors, the present church edifice was erected, in the year 1835, largely through the efforts of Dr. O. Evans, Sr. In 1840, Rev. J. B. Morton came to this charge and remained several years doing a good work during the week by his thorough teaching of secular branches. Rev. G. M. Hair then preached for & number of years, and he, too, had a very good private school. By the kindness of Mr. J. N. C. Schenck, who gave land and house, this church was provided with a fine parsonage with ample grounds, which were much improved during the stay of Mr. Hair. Mr. Anon succeeded Mr. Hair, and preached for a short time as a supply. Rev. Henry W. Taylor was the next regular pastor, and lived here for about ten years. Since his time. Rev. John L. Gage, Rev. William Humphreys and Rev. M. V. Crouse have all preached for this people. Rev. Humphreys died with consumption after a short stay. Rev. M. V. Crouse has been a very popular minister and a citizen well beloved by all denominations, and would probably have continued long here had not throat disease compelled him to leave the ministry. Rev. Thomas Todd supplied the pulpit for three months during the present season, since which there has been no regular pastor. The church is financially in good condition.
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