Person:Benjamin Franklin (15)

From Franklin Family History, P. 22-23: The following was written by Benjamin Joseph Franklin III: As I remember him, as an old man in his seventies, Grandpa Ben Sr. was a fair size man, around 6 feet tall, overweight, with rather spindly legs for his size. Outwardly he was somewhat abrupt and harsh, a hard worker who drove those who worked with and for him. He tolerated no laziness or foolishness, seeing that everyone in his family arose early and were ready for work at daybreak. The day's work often did not cease until after sunset.

One time I rode with him in his buggy behind his horse, "Jeff". He rode over the 700-odd acre farm inspecting the animals and crops. We got in to the house about 3 PM, and grandpa spied a woman, in the family room, sleeping with her face towards the wall. He thought that it was his sister, Maude, who lived with he and grandma. He shouted "Maude, it's still daylight and there's work to be done! Those who sleep in the daytime will always be broke." It turned out that it was not Aunt Maude, but Grandma. She sat up and gave him a piece of her mind, telling him he ought to be ashamed. She said that she and Maude were getting old and would rest anytime they pleased.

He saw money as a means to prevent starvation and a symbol of stature. Tight with money, he was a shrewd businessman, and knew how to drive a bargain in his own favor.

They lived in times more difficult than our own. At night they put a pot under the bed and blew out a kerosene lamp. There was no indoor plumbing. In the morning the pot was emptied, and a fire was lit in the cook stove. The women prepared breakfast while the men went out to take care of the livestock. When breakfast of ham, red gravy and soda biscuits were eaten, the men went to work in the fields and the women set about washing clothes in a tub on a rubbing board.

Grandpa loved his family and would do anything he deemed necessary for their welfare. I remember him as a man that was all business. For many years he and grandma kept their aged mothers (Sallie High and Eliza Goodall) in their home and provided for all their needs, until they died. (Convalescent homes were unheard of at the time). He rarely showed affection to anyone. Once when I was ill, he took me with him in his buggy to see my dad at the Rock Barn and spoke tenderly to me telling me that if I got well he would do something for me (now I forget what). One of the few times that I saw he show affection and then I realized that he really did care.

I was present when, in his seventies, at the urging of Mary and Sally he accepted Christ and was baptized in Station Camp Creek behind the old church building at Number One. Aunt Mary could hardly contain herself for her joy.

1. ↑ Steven L. Franklin. Franklin Family History. (December 1994, 141 pages)
   p. 22, 98.

   Benjamin Joseph Franklin Sr. was born 18 May 1852 in Sullivans Bend, Smith county, Tennessee. He was the sone of Lewis Ellis Franklin and Sarah Sallie High.

2. ↑ Steven L. Franklin. Franklin Family History. (December 1994, 141 pages)
   p. 22.

   Benjamin Joseph Franklin was born in Sullivans Bank, Smith county, Tennessee.

3. ↑ Steven L. Franklin. Franklin Family History. (December 1994, 141 pages)
   p. 22, 98.

   Benjamin died 4 September 1934 near Gallatin, Sumner county, Tennessee, at age 82. His body was interred near Gallatin, Sumner county, Tennessee