Lawson D. Franklin
American slave owner and businessman (1804-1861)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawson D. Franklin (January 19, 1804 – April 8, 1861) was an American planter, slave trader and businessman in the antebellum South. He was the first millionaire in Tennessee.
- Elizabeth Rogers
- Catherine Smith
Lawson D. Franklin | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 19, 1804 |
| Died | April 8, 1861 (aged 57) |
| Occupation | Planter |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 sons, 3 daughters |
| Parent(s) | Owen Franklin Elizabeth Roper |
| Relatives | William Allen Montgomery (son-in-law) |
Early life
Lawson D. Franklin was born on January 19, 1804,[1] the son of Owen Franklin and Elizabeth "Betsy" Franklin (née Roper).[2] On his paternal side, he was a descendant of one of Benjamin Franklin's brothers.[3]
Career
Personal life
Franklin married Elizabeth Rogers (1809–1846). They had three sons, Isaac W. Rodgers (1827–1866), Robert O. Franklin and Lawson D. Franklin (1841–1847), and three daughters, Elizabeth Caroline (1831–1909), Jane June and Louisa. He married a second time to Catherine Smith.
Franklin resided at the Lawson D. Franklin House in White Pine, Tennessee.[1] He built Fairfax in White Pine for his son Isaac, and Bleak House in Knoxville, Tennessee for his daughter Louisa.[1]
Death
Franklin died on April 8, 1861.[1]
