The Franklin Family of Collin County, Texas

The Franklin Family of Collin County, Texas.

The FRANKLINS came to Collin County in 1857 from Washington County, Arkansas, where they had lived for over 20 years. They settled near East Fork where James purchased his land and commenced his farm operation. He had several head of cattle, some sheep and pigs along with his milk cows and horses. His crops were wheat, corn and sweet potatoes.

James S. FRANKLIN was born about 1806 in South Carolina, and his wife, Cynthia, was born about 1805 in Tennessee. They had two sons, John ABNER b. 24 Oct 1832 and Isaac b. 1834. Both boys were born in Arkansas. Soon it came time to marry. Isaac married Leatha Ann CARTWRIGHT, daughter of Rev. Asbury Cartwright. They had two daughters: Lorena b. 1859; and Cynthia, b. 1861. Cynthia married J. C. SAUNDERS Nov 10, 1880.

After the death of his first wife, Isaac FRANKLIN married Levinia Elizabeth BURKE on Sep 18, 1867. She was the daughter of James Madison BURKE and Sarah (DEMING) Burke, and was born Nov 14, 1847, in Jefferson Co, AR.

Isaac and Levinia had 6 children:

James Benjamin FRANKLiN b. Nov 16, 1868 d. Feb 6, 1883.

Emma C. FRANKLIN, b. Apr 1870,

married Andrew Jackson "Jack" DOUGLAS, Jr., as his 2nd wife, on Apr 9, 1889;

Mary Lee FRANKLIN b. 1874, married Isaac J. TOLLESON on Dec 3, 1888;

Sarah Ella FRANKLIN b. 1874, married Louis Roy HATFIELD on Dec 4, 1893;

Joseph A. "Joe" FRANKLIN b. 1876,

Joe did not marry but stayed on the family farm to help his mother after Isaac died;

Ardie May FRANKLIN who was born Nov 2, 1880 & died Jun 10, 1940 in Woodward, Oklahoma.

She married Robert Paschal "Pat" DOUGLAS on Oct 20, 1898.

(He was not related to Jack Douglas who married her sister, Emma)

Abner FRANKLIN married Peachy Ellen FRENCH who was born in 1844 in Indiana. They were married in Collin County on Jan 9, 1861, with J. M. Chapman officiating.

Their children were:

Jonathan Sanders FRANKLIN, b. 1870, married Sara IDA___ in 1899;

Ella Lee FRANKLIN b. 3 Aug 1872; died 5 Dec 1955; m. Thomas Andrew McDONALD in 1889;

John WARREN FRANKLIN b. 27 Jan 1874, died 15 Nov 1945;
married Dora Ann HUGHES on 16 Feb 1896;

Daisy ANNIE FRANKLIN b. in March 1879 who married J. T. COX in 1898;

Isaac Newton FRANKLIN b. Apr 2, 1883, d. 17 Feb 1969; married Addie Lee BRILEY June 6, 1910.

Abner and Peachy lived in Grayson County. She died Mar 18, 1894, and he died Oct 19, 1904. They were buried in Cedar Mills Cemetery.

Isaac FRANKLIN died Jan 14, 1881, and is buried at Mugg Cemetery near Weston in Collin County. His wife, Levinia Elizabeth lived for many more years and was affectionately known as "Grandma Franklin". She died June 21, 1926, and is also buried at Mugg Cemetery. There is no tombstone for her but she was buried beside Isaac.

Sources: Federal Census for 1850 (AR); 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 & 1920 (TX); Land Records for Arkansas and Deed Records for Collin Co, TX; Marriage License for Isaac Franklin and Levinia Burke; Death Certificate for Levinia Franklin; Marriage Records for Collin Co, TX; Tombstone Inscriptions for Mugg Cemetery, Weston, TX; Grayson Co. Cemetery Records, Vol I; Family Data from Kimberly Hodges, a descendant of Abner Franklin; "The History of Grayson County, Texas" Vol I and II; Oklahoma Death Records; Social Security Death Index; Agricultural Census for Collin Co, TX, for 1860 & 1870.

Back to Burke/Franklin Family Page