The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-08

life Keimer's supply of type was limited and
his wants could not be satisfied without sending
to England. So Foreman Franklin made mold
for casting letters and supplied his employer
with the type which he needed. He also dabbled
in engraving ink making and various other ad-
juncts of the printing trade which he had
learned in London. Finding Keimer unappre-
cative of his efforts, Franklin decided to start
in business for himself.
In 1928 he formed a partnership with GER
tain Hugh Meredith, with Meredith furnishing
most of the money for the enterprises and Frank
lin most of the brains. 1t was at this time that
he wrote the famous epitaph which he hoped
would be placed on his gravestOne when he died
and which, from it's tone, indicated that he de-
sired no higher honor than to be known as B.
Franklin Printer" That the name which
appeared over his print shop when Meredith
withdrew from the partnership two years later
In the meantime Franklin had bought out the
Pennsylvania Gazette, newspaper started by
Keimer soon after Franklin left his employ.
short time after he had assumed sole manage
ment of the printing business. he was appointed
public printer by the Pennsylvania assembly. In
1882 he wrote and began publication of his
famous "Poor Richards Almanack,' the average
sale of which for % years more than 10000
copies annually Franklin not only good
printer and a good editor but he was also
good business man, his printing enterprise
fourished so well that in 174S at the age of
forty-two he was able to retire from active bust
ness He had accumulated substantial for
tune and was now ready to devote his time to
his scientific experiments and his great variety
of other interests. Although his partner. David
Hail. took active charge of the printing business
in 174S, Franklin retained financial interest
in it until 1865 Then the wider field of states
manship called him. He went to London as
agent for Pennsylvania in the dispute with the
Mother Country over taxation and soon fund
himself the bold defender of the rights of all
the American colonies.
But even though the years which followed
found him busy with many other affairs Frank
lin never got entirely away from his first love
the printing business. In the memorable year
of 1776 while he was representing the new ma
ton in Paris he established small printing Of
flee in the French capital to be used for propa-
ganda purposes and incidentally as school OF
printing for his two grandsons. When he left
France he of the most famous men OF
his time. But at heart he was still "B. Frank
lin, Printer" so he brought home to America
with him the printing equipment he had used in
Paris and a complete type foundry, both Of
which he placed under the management of his
grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, the son of
his beloved daughter, Sarah Franklin Bache.
Franklin retained his interest in this printing
business to the end Of his days, constantly CIV
ing his grandson the benefit of his experience
and having sort of general supervision over
the enterprise. Then on April II, 1870, the busy
career of Benjamin Franklin ended In the city
where he had risen to his first fame-Philadel-
phia. He was buried in Christ Church Burying
Ground there. However much his simple soul
wanted to be remembered as "B. Franklin.
Printer" his relatives evidently thought that an
epitaph BETTING his worldwide fame was more
appropriate than likening him to an "old book"
So the eptaph which he had written for him.
self nearly half century before was not placed
upon the stone of his grave.
In attempting to evaluate the services Of Ben
jamin Franklin as printer and publisher, one
Is confronted with the same wealth Of material
which characterized all of his other activities.
So it is difficult to pick out the things which can
be designated his greatest contribution to the
Journalism of this nation. This general state
ment, however, can be made: Franklin was as