Franklin and Park Families
My problem "wall" is a fellow I only know as Riley Franklin. Riley Franklin first appears on the 1830 and 1840 Census for Limestone County, Alabama.
In 1830 he has:
3 males under 5
1 male 30-39
1 female 20-29
In 1840 he has:
3 males 10-14
1 male 5-9
1 male 40-49
2 females under 5
1 female 30-39
In 1842 Riley Franklin bought land in Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Arkansas.
1n 1848 Riley Franklin sold the land to James Tate.
That is the last that I have found on Riley Franklin. But my strongest indication say that he is related ot you Moses Franklin 1798-1875. Mostly by proximity to each other and also in that Moses Franklin did not come to Arkansas alone. but also with with brothers Amos, John and either brother or Uncle Thomas Franklin that married Charity Barnes and settled in Franklin County, Arkansas.
My Great, Great Grandfather James A. Franklin born 1828 Alabama, I find first on the 1850 Census for Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Arkansas. James A. Franklin is 22 years of age and married 1849 to Lucy Ann Park, who is 15. also in the household is one Susanna Franklin at 4 years of age. Now this may wonder a bit, but it has to to make sense in the end.
The home before that of James A. Franklin, is occupied by the family of William Park, this has confused people for years, as his age is thought to be 52, But his age on all of the census records that I have seen is covered by an ink blot. that assumption is incorrect. I know this family as well as the back of my hand. I know all of his siblings and can follow them until they died. This William Park is 21 years of age and was born in Tennessee. Most likely in Franklin County, on the 1850 Census they are listed as:
Wiliiam Park 21
Mary Park 50, she is the mother of all the Park children in this family.
Tabitha Park 16
Narcissa Park 10
Elijah Park 20
Next I will list the complete Park family:
James Park - father
Mary Park - mother
Jonathan Park - eldest son died in 1846 at Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory, while serving with brother George W. Park, during the War with Mexico.
George W. Park - second son. with the exception of about 8-10 years in Taney County, Missouri. Lived out his life in Dover, Pope Co., Arkansas
Serilda Park - married William Shelby Payne, they died in McDonald County, Missouri. in the 1850's they went to California and returned to Missouri
Elijah Park - enlist in the Army 1855, from Taney Co., MO. no more is heard about him
Tabitha Park
Lucy Ann Park - married James A. Franklin
Narcissa Park - married I forget who, but also went to California and returned to Missouri after a stop in Anderson Co., Kansas
James Park the father is supposed to be James Davidson Park, and a son of Ambrose Park, father of the Park families of Franklin, Lincoln and Moore Counties of Tennessee. Ambrose Park's wife left a will naming James D. Park as one of her children. A James Park settled in Pope County, Arkansas in the 1830's and apparently died there before 1850.
The next home after that of James A. Franklin, is occupied by James Tate. Person who bought the land of Riley Franklin.
I have for many year wondered what happened to the other children of Riley Franklin, and just recently came across the following information.
In 1850 Living in Crawford County, Arkansas, and in Pope County, Arkansas are the following people.
Joseph Ashworth Crawford County, Arkansas and in his home:
William Franklin 24 b.Alabama
Margaret Franklin 'nee Ashworth 23 b.Tennessee
Henry Clay Franklin 5 b.Arkansas
Texanna Franklin -sister 11 b.Alabama
Benjamin Franklin 20 b.Alabama head of household
Jane Franklin 23 b.Tennessee - wife
Albert Franklin 17 b.Alabama
Thomas Franklin 6 b.Arkansas
Mary Franklin 15 b.Alabama
In Pope County, Arkansas
Benjamin Ashworth head of household
Anny Franklin 10 b.Arkansas
It is my hypothesis that these Franklin's are the children of Riley Franklin. as they like my GGreat Grandfather James A. Franklin are all born in Alabama, and they are the only Franklin's in west central Arkansas that are from Alabama. Also note that if this is one family, they match exactly what is on the 1830 and 1840 census for Riley Franklin, at Limestone County, Alabama.
Serilda Payne 'nee Park and her family moved to Missouri in the late 1840's. About 1852 All of the rest of the Parks moved into Taney, Greene and Christian Counties of Missouri. At the beginning of that most Uncivil War, George W. Park returned to Dover, Pope County, Arkansas, where he remailned for the rest of his life, raising a large family, many of whom are still there. George W. Park served with the Arkansas Volunteers in the War with Mexico, and later with the Confederacy.
James A. Franklin, moved to Taney County, Missouri along with the Park clan in 1852. and served with the Union Army. I have to forgive him, as he is my GGreat Grandfather.
The other Franklin's in Crawford and Sebastian Counties seem to have stayed there, I have not been able as yet to find many of them after the Uncivil War.
William Franklin of Crawford and Sebastian Counties, served in the 1st Arkansas Infantry, Union. along with his brother-in-law Alfred Ashworth. Alfred Ashworth died during the war. I think the William Franklin also died during the war, though his wife Margaret Franklin 'nee Ashworth and family stayed in Sebastian County, Arkansas through the 1880's. I have traced their son Thomas J. Franklin to McDonald County, Missouri in 1900 and on to Lincoln County, Oklahoma in 1920.
Thomas Franklin's son George Oliver Franklin settled in Seminole County, Oklahoma.
I have noted that the step son of John Franklin of Dardanelles, Yell County, Arkansas, John Garner was an Officer in the Union Army.
I have found that people in the 17 and 1800's invariably moved from Family and Friends, with Family and Friends, to Family and Friends. People who just showed up from where ever, were outcast from where they had come from. Marriages between families only occurred after a long family relationship.
So I am pretty sure that Riley Franklin is either a brother or cousin of your Moses Franklin 1799-1875. all of these family's came from Franklin and Lincoln Counties of Tennessee, and wound up in the same place.
I hope that we can connect.
Yours Respectfully
Michael E. Burk
Hesperia, Ca