Franklin's parents were Samuel Rhoades Franklin and Sarah Simonds. His father was the son of Mary Rhoades, a daughter of Samuel Rhoades,[1] who had been a member of the First Continental Congress. His father's brother, Walter Franklin was a prominent Pennsylvania lawyer, later state Attorney General and state judge.
Early lifeedit
Franklin was born in New York, the only surviving child of his parents.[2] As a teenager, he moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to live with his uncle and namesake. Walter attended Litchfield Law School in Connecticut, where he met and, in 1821, married Sarah Buel. They moved to York, Pennsylvania, where Franklin practiced law.
Childrenedit
The Franklins had six children.
Their eldest was William Buel, who was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and post-bellum was a civil engineer. Their second child was Samuel Rhoads, a rear admiral in the U. S. Navy, before, during, and after the Civil War. Their third child was Thomas, "apparently the black sheep of the family." Their fourth child was Anne, who died, apparently, in childbirth. Their fifth child was Frederick Buel, who died in his twenties. Their sixth child was named the same as his father, Walter Simonds. He attended Harvard, served in the Union Army as a brevet lieutenant colonel, and post-bellum was a civil engineer and businessman.[2]
The summer before his death, Franklin wrote to Secretary of War Joel Poinsett requesting that his eldest son, then 15, be admitted to West Point the following summer. Poinsett refused. Franklin's sudden death that fall left the family almost penniless. At this point, Senator James Buchanan, a family friend, intervened, and convinced Poinsett to reverse his decision.[3]
Careeredit
Franklin was named as Clerk for the Twenty-third United States Congress on December 2, 1833, and served for the next two congresses, dying in office of a sudden "malignant fever".[4] He was the third Pennsylvanian to hold the post.
Referencesedit
^The Snell biography spells their names with an extra 'e'.
^ abMark A. Snell (2002). From First to Last: The Life of Major General William B. Franklin. Fordham University Press. p. 2. ISBN9780823221493.
^Snell, pp. 4–9. W. B. Franklin graduated first in his class.
^S[amuel] R[hoads] Franklin (1898). Memories of a Rear-Admiral. Harper & Brothers. p. 8.
External linksedit
office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
walter, franklin, politician, walter, simonds, franklin, november, 1799, september, 1838, lawyer, practiced, pennsylvania, served, seventh, clerk, united, states, house, representatives, from, 1833, until, death, 1838, portrait, contents, personal, life, ances. Walter Simonds Franklin November 6 1799 September 20 1838 was a lawyer who practiced in Pennsylvania He served as the seventh Clerk of the United States House of Representatives from 1833 until his death in 1838 Portrait Contents 1 Personal life 1 1 Ancestry 1 2 Early life 1 3 Children 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksPersonal life editAncestry edit Franklin s parents were Samuel Rhoades Franklin and Sarah Simonds His father was the son of Mary Rhoades a daughter of Samuel Rhoades 1 who had been a member of the First Continental Congress His father s brother Walter Franklin was a prominent Pennsylvania lawyer later state Attorney General and state judge Early life edit Franklin was born in New York the only surviving child of his parents 2 As a teenager he moved to Lancaster Pennsylvania to live with his uncle and namesake Walter attended Litchfield Law School in Connecticut where he met and in 1821 married Sarah Buel They moved to York Pennsylvania where Franklin practiced law Children edit The Franklins had six children Their eldest was William Buel who was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and post bellum was a civil engineer Their second child was Samuel Rhoads a rear admiral in the U S Navy before during and after the Civil War Their third child was Thomas apparently the black sheep of the family Their fourth child was Anne who died apparently in childbirth Their fifth child was Frederick Buel who died in his twenties Their sixth child was named the same as his father Walter Simonds He attended Harvard served in the Union Army as a brevet lieutenant colonel and post bellum was a civil engineer and businessman 2 The summer before his death Franklin wrote to Secretary of War Joel Poinsett requesting that his eldest son then 15 be admitted to West Point the following summer Poinsett refused Franklin s sudden death that fall left the family almost penniless At this point Senator James Buchanan a family friend intervened and convinced Poinsett to reverse his decision 3 Career editFranklin was named as Clerk for the Twenty third United States Congress on December 2 1833 and served for the next two congresses dying in office of a sudden malignant fever 4 He was the third Pennsylvanian to hold the post References edit The Snell biography spells their names with an extra e a b Mark A Snell 2002 From First to Last The Life of Major General William B Franklin Fordham University Press p 2 ISBN 9780823221493 Snell pp 4 9 W B Franklin graduated first in his class S amuel R hoads Franklin 1898 Memories of a Rear Admiral Harper amp Brothers p 8 External links editoffice of the Clerk of the U S House of Representatives TombstoneGovernment officesPreceded byMatthew St Clair Clarke Clerk of the United States House of Representatives1833 1838 Succeeded byHugh A Garland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter S Franklin politician amp oldid 1084830654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
