Welcome to Franklin County Kansas Genealogy Research







 


Ottawa KS  NW corner 2nd & main   1872


 
 My name is Bob Jenkins
and I created this website to provide genealogy
 information and links to genealogy information  to assist people in researching
 their Franklin County Kansas ancestors.

 I would appreciate any contribution that you would like to make  to this site:
 biographies, obituaries, birth, marriage, death info,  grave info, photographs....etc

 
  
   Use the box below to search for
   Franklin County Data



 
  Brief History from Kansas State Historical Society:

 

 Franklin County was one of the first 33 counties organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1855. Founded by Baptist
 missionaries, Reverend and Mrs. Jotham Meeker were the first white settlers, followed by Reverend and Mrs. Robert
 Simmerwell. Other early founders include J. H. Whetstone; S. T. Kelsey; and J. M. Bernard. The county contains the cities
 of Rantoul, Wellsville, Princeton, Ottawa, Pomona, Lane, Richmond and Williamsburg.

 The famous Pottawatomie Massacre, led by John Brown, near Lane on May 24, 1856, is indicative of the county's place in
 the early free-state, pro slavery difficulties. The operation of the experimental French silk-producing commune called
 "Silkville" that attempted to produce silk and silk materials in the 1870s and 1880s brought considerable attention to the area.
 The second chautauqua in the nation, and the second largest in size, was held at Ottawa between 1883 and 1914.



 *Note*
 
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