Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-05
| JUNIOR STORIES.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

BENJAMIN Franklin was born in Bos-
ton. Mass, Jan. II, 1905. and died in
Philadelphia, Penn, April 10, 1890 He
| was the son of tallow-candler and
saop boiler. He was apprenticed as a
printer to his elder brother, and
developed much fondness for books
and writing. When he was seventeen
years of age, he went to Philadelphia,
| where he arrived with S1.25 and by
prudent economy saved sufficient to
establish newspaper in 1929. He was
appointed deputy general of the
year served as member Of the AL.
bany convention, in which he pro-
posed an important plan for colonial
union. During his leisure he exper-
imented with scientific matters, for
which purpose he fitted up small
laboratory, and made discoveries re.
garding the theory of positive and
negative electricity. His Poor Rich
ards Almanac founded in 1892.
was established until 1857. and
was the source of some profit 1t was
a medium of considerable utility in
the educational affairs of the colon.
lists. He was the agent of Pennsyl
vannia in England in 1882 and
again from 1764 till the revolution
part of the intervening time he also
represented New Jersey, Mass
achusetts, and Georgia While Frank
/ Inns early education was limited, he
ranked as versatile reader from ear
ly youth, secured wide fund Of
knowledge by self activity, was
elected member of the Royal
Society of England, and granted
academical degree by Oxford and
Edinburg. In 1774 he presented the
first petition of the American con
gress to the king of England and was
elected member of congress on re
turning to America. He favored the
Declaration of independence, and in
Its was sent to France as a com
missioner for the purpose of securing
an alliance between that country and
the United States.
| Nellie Bowlin,
Highland Center, Iowa
Benjamin Franklin philosopher ant
stateman, was born at Boston on the
seventeenth of January 1706.
He was the youngest son Of a family
of seventeen children. His father
Josiah Franklin emigrated from Eng
land to America in 1882; he followed
the business of tallow-candler anf
soap boiler. Benjamin was only ter
years old was employed in his fathers
shop cutting wicks, going errands etc
but cutting wicks and going errands
was too monotonous for him and he
wanted to go to sea. To prevent this
his father bound him as an apprentice
! to his brother, James Franklin, who
was printer by trade. When he wa.
very young, he had great foundness
for reading.
He liked to read SO well that he
would often sit up the greater part o
the night reading.
!. At the age of seventeen FRANKLIN
left .-ome without his parents know
ledge and embarked in vessel foI
New York, from there he went Il
| Philadelphia travelling. partly by watel
and partly by foot. While in Philadel
phia he obtained a position as {
journeyman printer.
In the following year a gentleman
promised him help if he would Sc
up in business for himself, so hi
Went TO England TO purchase type
and other materials. When he go
there he failed to receive the hell
expected from his pretended friend
and was obliged to work in Londol
where he worked for more than ;
year.
He returned to America and two
years later with the help of som,
friends started in business for him
self The next year he married Mis-
Deborah Reed whom he had met ii
Philadelphia before going to England
In later years he went to Europe
returning to Philadelphia where HI
;. died April II. 1890, age eighty-ofu
years.
Yours truly,
Lillian Consodine,
Ottumwa, Iowa