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.
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