November 2010
Lexington’s Franklin Mansion-Part 1
Last month we found the location of Jesse Trimmer’s Farm Estate and what is left of his country home on Section 17 of Money Creek Township. An almost identical home was built in the city of Lexington in the 1860’s and it remained a Trimmer home until after Jesse Trimmer’s death in 1876. The stately Italianate style home at 402 West South Street was acquired in 1877 by Noah and Sarah Catherine Spawr Franklin. She was a niece of Uncle Jesse Trimmer, as her mother was Jesse’s sister, Eliza Trimmer Spawr and the wife of Lexington’s first citizen, Jacob Spawr. (see article of May 2010)
Noah Franklin arrived in Money Creek Township about 1848 with his parents Col. John Franklin and his mother Mary Pruette, also called “Polly” Franklin. They brought 11 children, 6 boys and 5 girls, and one nephew with them to begin their new life as Illinois pioneers.
Noah was a hard worker who made a mark on Lexington from the beginning. He eventually caught the eye of Miss Sarah Catherine Spawr and they were married on June 29, 1854. The story has it that Noah arranged for the wedding party and a large number of guests to celebrate by taking a ride to Bloomington on the very first steam engine to come to Lexington on the newly built railroad. Because there was no way to turn the huge engine around, it picked up the guests and backed up all the way to Bloomington for the celebration. Noah obviously did things in a big way!
Over the years Noah and Sarah had 5 children, Elmo, Bertram, Ida, Minnie Maud, and Lola. All but Lola lived to adulthood. Then, in 1877, when the children were still young, Noah and Sarah were able to purchase the Trimmer home on South Street for $7,500. Eventually Noah took his son Noah Elmo, Sr. into partnership in business ventures and on their 1200 acre stock farm, from which they reportedly shipped animals for 60 consecutive years. Noah and Sarah were respected members of the community and continued to reside in the Franklin Mansion until Noah’s death at age 100 years in 1931.
The son, Noah Elmo, Sr. moved into the house with his wife Margaret, and their two children, Barbara and Elmo, Jr. As his father before him, Elmo was a very accomplished businessman. Besides his partnership with his father, he was a Money Creek township supervisor and a director and officer of the State Bank of Lexington. Beginning in 1912 he served terms in the Illinois Senate and also in the U.S. Senate. He was a Lexington school board member, active in leadership of the Boy Scouts and donated land from his farm for Camp Franklin for the scouts. He also was instrumental in helping to found the ISU Farm. He was a member of the Christian Church, Masonic Lodge, Consistory, and the Shrine. He died in 1960 and his wife Margaret occupied the home for several more years.
Elmo Jr. and his wife Edith moved into the house in February of 1963. They raised their five children, Elizabeth, Ann, John, Mike, and Barbara in the home.
The majority of the home is original and substantially unchanged. Of course, over the years, improvements like electricity, central heating, and plumbing, were added. An upstairs bedroom and a portion of the den were both made into bathrooms. Several additions have been made. In the 1890’s an attached kitchen was built to replace the summer kitchen. The southeast porch was added in the 1920’s, and its screen windows replaced with glass in the 1980’s. The verandah, wrought iron fence, and hitching post are all original, and do much to add to the stately appearance of the home. A back family room was added in the early 1970’s and the smoke house in the back became a tool shed, and then a pool house. The barn is original, however the attached lean-to was added around 1915 when automobiles became available. Most of the furniture was purchased by Noah Franklin in the 1890’s. It has remained in the home and in use since then.
In the year 2000 Elmo, Jr. and Edith moved to Bloomington and John and Kathi Franklin moved in with their five children, Jackie, Brent, Matt, Noah, and Jack.
Be sure to come back next month for our virtual tour and learn about the special features of the Franklin Mansion, courtesy of the youngest Noah, a 6th grade student at Lexington Elementary School and part of the 5th generation of Franklins to live in the special home.