James Albert Franklin (1898 - 1987)

Born 7 Apr 1898 in Loango, Covington County, Alabama, United States of America

Ancestors

Husband of Mollie J. (Edson) Franklin — married 17 Jun 1922 (to Nov 1923) in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama, United States of America

Husband of Lula May (Brooks) Franklin — married 22 Mar 1931 in Monroeville, Monroe, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1987 at age 88 in Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Lisa Franklin [send private message] and Huey George [send private message]

Biography

James Albert Franklin was born 07 Apr 1898^[1] in Alabama.^[2] In 1918 he was described as being of medium height and slender build with brown eyes and black hair.^[1]

He was the son of Riley Alexander Franklin^[3] and Margarete Franklin^[4] and was raised by his Aunt after his mother's death.^[5]

Triangulated atDNA test results and Y DNA test results indicate Albert was the son of Riley Franklin who is known and has been proven, to have fathered a number of illegitimate children during his lifetime.^[3]

"Tales that my Dad told of his early teens included this one that always left him in fits of laughter. (As remembered by Anne, his third child). 'Me and my brother As [Asbury] and a cousin decided to go down to the local creek to swim. None of us had bathing suits in those days so we were planning to go "skinny dipping" as usual. We set out down the main road and finally there was a bet made as to who would get to the water first. I knew that being the youngest and smaller than my brother and cousin there wasn't a chance in hell of me being the first so I kinda just dragged behind. I had my own plans for the biggest joke ever played on two teenaged boys just reaching puberty. They were buck-naked and were having the time of their lives until they realized that I had gathered all their clothes and headed for home to wait for the fun to begin. From my view on the front porch I could get the full view of the main road that was the only way home. It was a pretty busy road even back in those days and it was the beginning of summer with all the folks out going back and forth. Finally I caught a sorta "walking shrub" coming down the ditch and then another and I knew it was them!! I started laughing so hard out there until it really attracted attention from everyone and they all started looking in the direction of the moving shrubs which had suddenly grew the heads of my brother and cousin. They were naked as the day they came into the world and I new that I was gonna take the worst beating of my life, which I did, but it was one of the funniest sights that I have ever seen..."'

Per Evelyn Blow, his daughter - "Daddy said he completed the second grade in school, and was not sent back. He had a rough childhood and adolescence. In his early adulthood, went through two failed marriages. No children were born of these marriages. He traveled down to Hollywood, Florida and also to Chattanooga, Tennessee prior to his marriage to my mother. He learned house painting and wallpapering and supported the family by engaging in this line of work until he was not able to climb ladders due to his advanced age. He then set up a sign-painting shop and a saw-sharpening shop where he worked until his death. Dad was proud of the fact that, despite his lack of formal education, he became literate through his own efforts. He read extensively and was always open to new ideas. My mother was always there to offer us her love and support and encouragement".

Albert married Mollie Edson in Andalusia, Alabama on 17 Jun 1922.^[6] The couple divorced in November of 1923.^[7]

He then married Lula Mae Brooks^{[2][8][9][10][11]} and they had the following known children:

1. Evelyn Franklin was born in Alabama about 1932.^[2][10][8]
2. Mildred Grace Franklin was born in Alabama about 1933.^[9][2][10]
3. Opal Franklin was born in Alabama about 1936.^[2][10]
4. James Wendell Franklin was born about 1941.^[12][10]
5. William Lawrence "Larry" Franklin was born about 1944.^[11][10]

Albert was buried 27 May 1987 in Mobile Memorial Gardens, Theodore, Mobile County, Alabama.^[13]

Christening

Christening:

Date: 1950

Place: Ninth Street Baptist Church, Prichard, Mobile County, Alabama

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3P6-51K : 12 December 2014), James Albert Franklin, 1917-1918; citing Covington County, Alabama, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,509,374.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1LR-TNV : accessed 9 December 2016), Lula Mae Franklin in household of James A Franklin, Election Precinct 18, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 20-33, sheet 4B, line 51, family 59, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 20.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} autosomal and Y DNA testing in the Franklin DNA Project at FTDNA
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M98H-5L5 : accessed 11 December 2016), James A Franklin in household of J W Franklin, Precincts 2, 6, 18 Fairfield, Loango, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 6B, family 266, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,011.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXZ8-JVZ : accessed 11 December 2016), James A Franklin in household of Martha J Franklin, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 65, sheet 6A, line 45, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 10; FHL microfilm 1,820,010.
6. ↑ Covington County, Alabama Marriage Record - J A Franklin to Mollie Edson.
7. ↑ Tracking Your Roots, Covington Co., AL divorces-

   FRANKLIN, Millie J. - James Albert Nov 1923

8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1Q-4BZH : 19 February 2021), James Albert Franklin in entry for John Joseph Smith and Evelyn Franklin Luker, 15 Sep 1961; citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,305.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8G4R-BTMM : 7 August 2020), James A. Franklin in entry for Fletcher C. Jacobs, 2 Jun 1950; citing Marriage, Pascagoula, Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 00916, citing multiple county clerks; Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5} Obituary of James Albert Franklin. Mobile Register, 26 Mar 1987
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG14-HPLC : 19 February 2021), James Albert Franklin in entry for William Lawrence Franklin and Linda Sue Neville, 22 Nov 1967; citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,510.
12. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1C-6TDS : 19 February 2021), James Albert Franklin in entry for James Wendell Franklin and Barbara Joan Gibson, 25 Jun 1960; citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,289.
13. ↑ Tombstone.

• 50th Wedding Anniversary
• Covington County, AL Voter Registration Card
• Family history from granddaughter, Melinda Franklin Hilliard, 1990s.
• Notes of Anne Franklin Foldeak, 1990s.
• Notes of Evelyn Franklin Blow, 1990s.
• Franklin, Lisa R. The Franklins of Covington County, Alabama. 4th edition. Houston, Texas. 2006.