Levi Alexander Franklin
Levi Alexander Franklin was born February 3, 1844, most likely in
Watauga County, North Carolina. He was the son of Isaac Franklin and Hannah
Taylor Franklin, and great grandson of John Franklin and Phoebe Parker, early
settlers of Burke County, North Carolina. Census records show Isaac's family
living in Watauga, Mitchell and then lastly in Burke County. His brothers and
sisters were; Ebbin Franklin, born in 1826,
and died young; George W. Franklin was born in 1828 and married first Barbara
Caroline Franklin, and his second wife was Katie Ausburn; Cinthia Adaline
Franklin was born about 1830 and died February 2, 1906, she married Harrison
Henderson Johnson; Samuel Franklin was born in 1832 and died April 9, 1915 and
married Nancy Ervin; Dorcas Franklin was born 1836, John E. Franklin was born
July 1837 and died April 19, 1917 married Elizabeth Ramsey; Joseph Valentine
Franklin born June 1, 1841 and died October 27, 1929 married Mary Ann Cloud.;
Elizabeth Franklin was born 1842.
Levi enlisted as a Confederate soldier in Mitchell County on
July 16, 1862. He was reported present from January to June 1863. Military
records show that he was wounded at Chickamauga, Georgia on September 20, 1863
and that he deserted from camp near Chattanooga, Tennessee on September 24,
1863. He enlisted as a private in Company C. 13th Regiment Tennessee Calvary,
(Union), on or about the same day. He was 20 years of age at the time of his
enlistment. Levi stayed in the
Union Army until September of 1865. Elizabeth applied for a widow's pension
January 21, 1886. The North Carolina pension rolls show his widow Elizabeth
receiving his pension at Connelly Springs. They state he was in the 15th Calvary
and had wounds from a "spent ball in left breast".
Levi married Charlotte Elizabeth Berry (born January 1, 1845) on
August 11, 1866 in Burke County NC. She was the daughter of Elisha Berry and
Margaret England. They had eight children; Ida Ruth, Laura Allison, Alonzo C.,
Eddie Jones, Susan Ella, Cicero E., Isaac J., and Maggie Lee.
Ida Ruth was born September 13, 1867, she married Samuel M. Cook
(son of Aaron Cook and Mary Caroline Hildebrand) on December 30, 1888 and died
January 05, 1940. She and Samuel moved to Winston-Salem before 1920. She and
Samuel are buried at Woodland Cemetery in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co. Their
children were, Everette Lee, Charles Collins, Marion M., Samuel Warren, Ruth
Glenn, and Ethel.
Laura Allison was born October 15, 1870 in Burke County. She
married Byard Williams (son of Byard Williams and Dulcimer Singleton) September
19, 1887. They raised their family in the Drexel area of North Carolina. She
died January 04, 1948. Laura and Byard are buried at Drexel Memorial Park, Burke
County. Their children; Samuel Floyd, Della, Newland, Maggie, Freddie, Florence,
Odos, Ervin A., Mable Beatrice, Frank, and Henry Odell.
Alonzo C. was born March 10, 1872 and married Rittie Etta Page
(daughter of Wesley Page and Mary Ann Bollinger) March 20, 1892 in Lovelady
Township, Burke County NC. He died February 15, 1928 and is buried at
Bollinger's Chapel Methodist Church. Their children; Garland Fonzo, Van Vuland,
Ora, Tulah Flo, Ruby O., Viola, Vivian Leigh, Mary Elizabeth, twin girls Juanita
Bertha and Wilneta Blanche, and Rittie Page.
Eddie Jones was born January 20, 1874 married Alice Eliza
Kincaid (daughter of John and Martha Kincaid) November 26, 1899 in Caldwell
County, NC and moved to Broward County, Florida about 1914. He died on January
5, 1957. Their children; Garther Levon, Lois, Olive, Alma Lee, and Mamie.
Susan Ella was born March 31, 1876 and married James McGalliard April 14,
1901 in Caldwell County, NC and died February 23, 1939. They raised their family
in Valdese, NC. She and James are buried at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery. Their
children; Gracie L., Paul Jones, Colon Boyd, James Edward, Charles Worth, and
Frances Lillian.
Maggie Lee was born April 26, 1881, Burke Co NC. She married
Thomas Sidney McGalliard (son of M. Jones and Mary Jane McGalliard) October 27,
1900 and she died June 06, 1964. Their marriage record shows Maggie's parents as
Leander and Lizzie Franklin. Maggie and Thomas raised their family in Valdese,
NC. She is buried at Enon Baptist Church, Burke County. Their children; Charley,
Ivey Jones, Earl, Thomas Gerald, Pearl Elizabeth, Lila Lee and Ernest Ervin.
Cicero G. and Isaac J. twins boys born in 1879, believed to have
died young. Nothing more is known of these two children of Levi and Elizabeth at
this time.
Levi Franklin's grandfather was Samuel Franklin who settled on the
side of Humpback Mountain in Burke County and became the first white settler of
Linville Falls, where many of the Franklin descendants still live. He built a
large log house and several log outbuildings where he housed travelers passing
through. He also operated a gristmill. He was renowned as a master hewer of
logs, a skill he passed on to his sons. Several of the cabins he and his sons
built still exist in Linville Falls. His sons discovered the actual falls and
caverns in Linville Falls, which are now part of Pisgah National Forest. Levi's
grandparents, Samuel and Dorcus Franklin are buried in Pisgah Cemetery in
Linville Falls. Most likely his parents, Isaac and Hannah Franklin are buried
there as well, though there is no tombstones for them. Levi Alexander Franklin
died on January 31, 1881, just four months before his youngest daughter, Maggie
Lee, was born. His wife, Elizabeth, died June 30, 1896. The location of their
graves are unknown at this time. Many
of the descendants of Levi and Elizabeth Franklin are still living in Burke
County, North Carolina, and others are living in Maryland, Florida, and
California.
Sources:
Census, Birth, Marriage and Death records, Family documents, Bible records,
Civil War documents, research by Guerney Franklin and Tense Franklin Banks.
Special thanks to Levi's great granddaughter, Frances McGalliard Stone, for
provided the photograph of Levi.
Prepared
by Roberta
Cooke Schmidt
If you would like to exchange
Franklin information with me
Please email me at tps914@aol.com
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