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JOSEPH M. FRANKLIN
Vol. 3, p. 1104-1105

Though he is now retired from legal practice, Joseph M. Franklin for
upwards of forty years gave a distinctive service as an attorney in
the old Chickasaw Nation and during the tribal days of government
there was probably no more influential white man in the Nation than
Mr. Franklin. He has always been loyal to his adopted people, and
they owe him much for the interest and enthusiasm with which he has
handled their affairs. Mr. Franklin is now taking life somewhat
quietly at Colbert.

Born in Sullivan County, Missouri, on December 3, 1854, he is the
son of Edmond Franklin and a grandson of Conrad Franklin. The latter
was born in England of English parents, came to America in young
manhood, and after moving about for several years settled permanently
in Missouri. Reared in Missouri, Edmond Franklin became a farmer and
a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal faith. He was married in that
state to Miss Didema KNIFONG, whose father was a native German and
had settled in Missouri where he reared a family. To Edmond Franklin
and wife were born six children. The oldest, James H., died near Mead
eighteen years ago, and his son Edward Q. is still living there. W.
C. Franklin, who died four years ago, was a resident of Texas. Anna
married a Mr. DENNIS of Milan, Missouri. John Wesley lived at Joplin,
Missouri, until his death. Jesse H. is now living at Milan, Missouri,
the six children Joseph M. was the youngest. All the others served in
the Civil war, and his youth alone prevented Joseph M. from
participation.

Mr. Franklin finished his education in the public schools of Dennis,
Texas, in 1871. The following year he was attracted in to the Indian
Territory and located in what was known as Panola County of the
Chickasaw Nation. In 1873 he was licensed to practice law in the
Indian courts of that Nation, and was later admitted to practice in
the Federal courts, while with the coming of statehood he was
admitted to the Oklahoma bar.

Mr. Franklin has an enviable reputation in the Chickasaw Nation as a
public servant, due to the fidelity and care which he exercised in
every responsibility entrusted to him. His first elective office in
his adopted nation was that of representative. Before he entered the
campaign he pledged his people that he would not seek more than one
term, and that if they wanted him to run again and felt that he had
served them justly he would do it, but he would not seek election on
his own initiative. He was elected to office in the campaign which
followed, and in the second campaign his party brought him forward as
a candidate, while in the third he was the unanimous choice of all
parties. After serving several terms as representative, he ran for
the office of attorney general of the Chickasaw Nation on the ticket
with Governor Guy, but they were counted out by the Byrd party, after
they had legitimately won the race. When the Chickasaw Council passed
a law disqualifying any intermarried citizens from holding office,
Mr. Franklin did not ask the indulgence of the people. He was content
to serve them in an unofficial capacity, and his interest in their
welfare was as strong then as it ever had been. He was prominent in
the fight for statehood and was a member of the first party organized
with that end in view. After statehood he aligned himself with the
democratic party, though he was a strong opponent of the Haskell
faction in that party, and was equally stanch in his support of Bruce
and also of the present Governor Williams.

Some months ago Mr. Franklin gave up his active practice of law
altogether and now devotes himself chiefly to the operation and
management of his farm.

In 1875 he married Miss Tennie S. COLBERT, a member of one of the
most noted families of the old Chickasaw country, a daughter of Sam
and Elizabeth (REYNOLDS) Colbert of Rock Springs, Oklahoma. Sam
Colbert was a cousin of Frank and Jim Colbert, and members of the
Colbert family are given Considerable space on other pages of this
work. Mrs. Franklin died in February, 1876, less than a year after
her marriage. In 1881 Mr. Franklin married Miss Eliza A. SHELTON. To
their union have been born seven children: Jesse Edmond, who finished
his education in the Durant Presbyterian College; William, who lives
at Lehigh, Oklahoma; Joan, who was also educated in Durant
Presbyterian College and is the wife of G. E. KENNEDY of Texas;
Benjamin and is the wife of G. E. KENNEDY of Texas; Benjamin Guy,
also a graduate of Durant College; Mary Ellen, now the wife of O. P.
JONES of Kingston; Lilah, a graduate of the Colbert High School, of
Durant College, and now a student in the Southeastern State Normal;
and Erma, a student in the Colbert High School. The Franklin family
represents some of the finest qualities of citizenship, and its
members are popular in whatever circles they move. They are members
of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Franklin has served the church as
one of its ruling members for the past thirty-six years. He is a
Mason and an Odd Fellow and prominent in both orders.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, November 12, 1998.