Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 298. FRANKLIN PIERCE GROUND For nearly three-quarters of a century Franklin Pierce Ground has been a resident of Oregon and during the greater part of this period has lived in the Willamette valley, where until recently he has been actively identified with agricultural affairs, in which he has met with a large measure of success. Mr. Ground was born in Warren county, Illinois, on the 11th of January, 1852, and is a son of Edward and Eliza A. (Butler) Ground, of whom the former was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. Edward Ground crossed the plains, with ox teams and covered wagon in 1853, and located on a donation claim of prairie land on the Luckiamute river, eight miles south of Monmouth, in Polk county, where he lived for a few years, when he sold that place and moved to Parker, Polk county, where he bought a ranch. In 1868 he sold that farm and moved to Yamhill county, where he bought a place on which he lived three years, at the end of which time he sold out and, retiring from active affairs, moved to Scio, Linn county, where he lived until his death, in 1886. In Illinois, October 30, 1834, he was married to Miss Eliza A. Butler, and they came to Oregon in 1853. She was the daughter of Peter and Rachel (Murphy) Butler. The Butler family is of English origin and the progenitors of the family in this country crossed the Atlantic about 1760. They were loyal to their adopted country and some of them fought for the colonies in the war of the Revolution. To Edward and Eliza Ground were born eight children, namely, William, Francis, Robert, Luther, Peter, Franklin P., John and Sylvester, all of whom are deceased except Franklin P. The mother of these children died in 1864, and in 1868 Mr. Ground married Mrs. Susan Crossley, and they had two children, namely: Mrs. Alice Shadowney, of Los Angeles, California, who is the mother of a son, and Evaline, who lives in Portland, Oregon. Edward Ground was a member of the Christian church and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Scio, Linn county. Franklin P. Ground attended the public schools and completed his studies in Christian College, at Monmouth, Oregon. He worked out on farms for a number of years and after his marriage, in 1888, bought one hundred and ninety-six acres of land on American bottoms, south of Independence, where he was engaged in farming until 1902, when he sold out and leased another farm near Independence, which he cultivated for three years. He next went to Crook county, in eastern Oregon, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, but a year later he sold his right to this land and, returning to the Willamette Valley, bought a farm near Monmouth, which he operated for two years. Selling that place, he bought sixty acres a mile north of Buena Vista, Polk county, where he built a fine house, cultivating that place until 1925, when he leased the farm, though he still lives in the old home. His career has been marked by persistent industry, backed by sound judgment, and the success which has crowned his business career is well merited. In 1888 Mr. Ground was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Wells, who was born in Polk county, Oregon, and was a daughter of George A. and Henrietta (Turner) Wells, the latter born in Ellsbury, Illinois. George A. Wells, who was a native of Pike county, Missouri, crossed the plains in 1853, with the typical equipment of that day, and located at Philomath, Benton county, Oregon, where he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land. He built a log house, planted some of the land to grain and raised cattle. After several years, he moved to Hubbard, Marion county, where he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he lived until 1867, when he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres near Buena Vista, in Polk county, a part of the land being covered with timber, while the remainder was prairie. Here he followed farming during his remaining active years, his death occurring April 25, 1900. He was survived a number of years by his widow, who passed away in November, 1912. They became the parents of nine children, as follows: Richard, who lives in San Francisco, California; Mary, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Collins, who lives in Dallas, Oregon; William L., in Linn county, this state; C. P., of Salem, Oregon; George A., of Polk county; Mrs. Ground; J. E., of Portland, this state, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ground became the parents of two children: George Edward, who was born in Polk county, was graduated from high school and spent two years in the State Normal School at Monmouth. He is married and has two children, Yvonne and George Edward, Jr. Ray Granville, who was born in Polk county, graduated from the high school at Dallas, attended Leland Stanford University for three years, and now holds a good position in Nicaragua. The mother of these children died July 27, 1925. Mr. Ground is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Buena Vista, while in his political views he is a stanch republican. Though he has never aspired to public office, he has taken a keen interest in the public affairs of his community and in every sense has proven a good citizen commanding the confidence and good will of his fellowmen. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2012 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.