Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-26
bENlANlM FE1ANKLM
~ ANERICANC
~~cc0~~~@-

On January II, 17O6, Benjamin
Franklin saw the beginning of his long
life, which fortunately for the world
had other dimensions than that of
length. In the young and scrambling
village OF boston. where he was born
in a house opposite the Old South
Street Church, the period of boyhood
was shortened by the new country's
need of producers rather than consum-
crS. Familiar as the story of George
Wushington's Ratchet is the story Of the
quaint. prccOciouS child who at 7 dis
ruuragcd his fathers idea of devoting
him to the church, at 10 helped his
father in the ~uncongcnial trade Of soap
| boiler and tallOw chandler, and at IL
signed an indenture OF apprenticeship
| binding himself to serve his brother for
nine years rs printer.
In Philadelphia, when he arrived
there in 1122, there We're but two print
crs. With one of these, Keimer, Frank
lin secured employment. Through his
work he became acquainted with Sir
William Keith. the governor oil the
provinces. who promised to aid him, and
Franklin prepared to go to England to
purchase Il press and types. Up to the
moment Of sailing the governor prom
iscd to supply letters Of introduction
and credit, but the promise was broken.
/ Franklin. a boy Of IS, found himself
| alone In London. where he easily gained
| empioyment. and where he remained a
| year and Il half.
After this visit In England he re-
turned to Philadelphia in 1924, estab'
| lished himself in the printing business,
| published q newspaper, practiced indus
try md %frugality, avoided the appear
| ance of evil. married and gradually
rose high in the esteem OF his fellow
| citizens. u
Through Poor Richards Almanac"
he preached to the people. He organ
lied societies and clubs; learned
French. Spanish and italian; served as
clerk Of the provincial general assem-
bly, for fourteen years and was then
chosen n member of the assembly it
self was appointed postmaster OF phil
adelphia invented the Franklin stove;
founded Il philosophical society; start
ed the movement for an academy,
which eventuated into the University
of PENNSYLVANIA: organized the Union
Fire Company helped in the founda'
ton of a hospital tried to reform the
night watch secured city improve
ments; procured horses and wagons 10
carry the ordnance and camp belong
inrs of General Braddock on his ill
fatcd campaign of the French and IN
dian war. and in every way filed the
n~o>i.ion of first citizen of the province
of Pennsylvania.
When the province of Pennsylvania
wished Il statement of grievances
against the Penns laid before the king
thew selected Franklin to represent
them. In 1864 he was again sent forth
To london to petition the king for a
ROYAL government. He returned In ITO,
q fortnight after the Lexington ana
Concord fights. He was by this time an
old mar, but the next two years were
probably the busiest of his Q IRE. IN
177G he was elected envoy to france
and during the revolutionary lerlod
,non him fell the burden of securing
foreign financial aid. 1t was not untli
17S5 that he again found himself IN
full view Of Philadelphia. So little had
Tho tourney hurt him that he lived TO
attend the constitutional convention ID
1857 and to know that George WASH
,noton would be the first President OF
+bo ronuhlic which he had helped to
fornI aa