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Pioneers of Marion County Franklin Township Franklin Township Histories - Page 332 Chapter XXXI. Franklin Township - Geography and Early History - Early Settlers - John Clark - Milling Adventure - Nathan Nichols - His Death - Peter Rowe - First Orchards - First Church Organizations - First School House - Caloma. Technically, Franklin is in town. 75, range 21, and is bounded on the north by Pleasant Grove, on the east by Knoxville, on the south by Dallas, and on the west by Warren county. Much the larger portion of the township is prairie, the timber narrowly margining White Breast, that runs through the south-east quarter, and a small creek called Coon creek, that runs through the north-west quarter. Coal is abundant along White Breast, and several veins have been opened and worked measuring four feet in thickness. The prairies are less broken than in some other portions of the county; and, the soil being excellent, no better farming land can be found than exists in Franklin. On the 3d of October, '48, by order of the county commissioners, this township was defined as a part of Dallas, and so remained till about '52, when it became a part of Pleasant Grove, and so remained till the 28th of February, '55, when, by order of the county judge, it became a distinct township, to be known as Franklin township. On the 2d day of April, of the same year, the first election in and for said township, was held at the house of John Clark, at which John McNeil and John Miller were chosen justices; Samuel Ream and William Sweezy, constables; John Clark, assessor; J. W. Hightree, clerk; Warren McNeil, Isaac Cap Franklin Township Histories - Page 333 elin and Samuel B. Wilson, trustees. There is no record of the number of votes cast. The following are the names of most of those persons who settled in the township at the earliest dates: Nathan Nichols and Amanda Hewland, in '46; Peter Row, William Frazer and James Frakes, in '48; John Clark, in '49; Daniel F. Smith in '50, and J. W. Hightree, in '52. Franklin Township Histories - Page 335 Frakes went to Wapello county. Jackson McClain and John Clark planted the first orchards in '52. Of the sixty trees planted by Mr. C., but two now live. McClain's are mostly living. Rev. A. Colborn was the first preacher in the township, and John Demors organized the first society of United Brethren in '51. The meeting was held in sub-district number one, and the class was composed of persons belonging to various denominations. Revs. Banebreak and Sleeper also preached and organized a church of United Brethren at Coloma. The first house erected for school purposes was in district number one, in '50. Soon after its completion Chas. Smith, now living in Pleasant Grove, came and asked the privilege of dedicating it to educational purposes by delivering a lecture on slavery. The request was granted, and this was the first lecture of any kind delivered in the township. W. M. Stone made the first political speech ever made in the township in this house in '56, in favor of John C. Fremont for President. Daniel F. Smith kept the first postoffice in '57, called Coloma, the name it still retains. Mails once a week between Franklin Township Histories - Page 336 Chariton and Newton. Present postmaster, F. A. Harding; mails weekly.
Index of names mentioned in Franklin township section: Banebreak, Rev. - Franklin township pg 335 Capelin, Isaac -
Franklin township pg 332, 333 Demors, John - Franklin township pg 335 Frakes - Franklin
township pg 335 Harding, F. A. -
Franklin township pg 336 McClain, Jackson
- Franklin township pg 335 Miller, John - Franklin township pg 332 Nichols, Nathan - Franklin township pg 333 Ream, Samuel - Franklin
township pg 332 Sleeper, Rev. -
Franklin township pg 335 Wilson, Samuel B. - Franklin township pg 333
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