HISTORY IN FRANKLIN?
by George BeitzelThe little village of Franklin lies just about 5 miles to the south west of Glenbrooke. It has a population of about 160. Included is one very historically important resident. Alexander Hamilton Willard. And on to the rest of the story.
Who can recall what the Corps of Discovery was? A hint. It was a dream of President Thomas Jefferson. His project commenced in 1804 and took three years and some 10,000 miles to complete. Still can't recall it ? Today it is more commonly remembered as the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Alex Willard was one of 45 hand picked men to complete the journey all the way from Illinois to the Pacific Ocean and back. Willard was born in New Hampshire in 1878. He served in the Army prior to joining the Lewis and Clark expedition at age 25. He was a large man for the day and a gunsmith. The trip was an adventure of a lifetime. He worked with Lewis and Clark as well as the Shoshoni guide, Sacajawea , and their French Canadian guides.
Upon returning he married, lived in Wisconsin with his family including a dozen children. Alex fought in the Blackhawk Indian War. One of his sons moved to California in 1849 to try his hand in the Gold Rush. Alex and his family came to California by ox team and settled in Franklin in 1851. He died in 1865, the last member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He is buried in the Franklin cemetery which is located at the intersection of Hood Franklin Road and Franklin Blvd. at the south end of Franklin The cemetery is adjacent to the Franklin School. ( You can't miss this one ).
His cemetery plot is well marked and is part of our areas history.
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Great story. And impressive. To think such a person was a resident of this area.
Was there a typo in the third paragraph re: date of his birth?
Loved the story an hope George honors is with more stories!
Since we came from out of the area, I love learning about the local history and the reason behind some street names- I'll never travel on Willard again without thinking of this history. . Thanks George!
Phyllis: Good Eye. I was 100 years off. Lets try 1777. No excuse from the proof reader. Will be more diligent in the future. thanks george
Thanks George.
I've appreciated all your articles: our canal, mosquitoes, mudd hens/old men, Murphy's Corral and Alex Willard and 12 children!..........We are lucky to have an author and expert on local history in our community. TELMAS should book you, but I know their day conflicts with your Civil War Roundtable.
Write on.