Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 651. MRS. MINNIE FRANKLIN Among the women of the northwest who are making an enviable success as trait raisers may be named Mrs. Minnie Franklin, who resides on a well kept ranch near Vancouver and in the management of her affairs displays a knowledge of farm operations that one would scarcely expect except from a person whose life had been passed on the farm under most favorable conditions. Mrs. Franklin is a native of Iowa, born in 1863, and when three years of age removed with her parents, William and C. C. Smiley, to Missouri, where she was reared. She was educated in the public schools, and in 1880 was united in marriage to Francis M. Franklin. She came west with her parents in 1883 to Vancouver and there spent the winter, but returned to Arkansas the following spring where she continued for two years. At the end of that time she came again to the coast and spent two and one-half years at Vancouver. Mr. Franklin was a timber cruiser and about this time was engaged by a Boston firm to visit Nicaragua, Central America, for the purpose of selecting and getting out mahogany and Spanish cedar for shipment to New England. Mrs. Franklin accompanied her husband upon the trip, returning to Washington at the expiration of two and one-half years. A year later he again went to Central America and remained for two years and a half, after which he again became a resident of Vancouver, making his home there until his death June 20, 1906. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Franklin W. Curry, who is now engaged in business in Portland. Since her return to Vancouver, Mrs. Franklin has engaged in farming and fruit raising and had a beautiful prune orchard of twenty-one acres. Recently nineteen acres of the orchard were reset with the English walnut, which promises to be one of the important crops of this region. She also has a farm of one hundred acres on La Center road, north of Vancouver. This farm is under lease and has growing upon it a fine orchard of eighteen acres in prunes. The success of Mrs. Franklin in her chosen calling is due to a spirit of independence and courage with which she was endowed and a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits which she acquired in the course of her earlier life. She is a woman of tact and unflagging industry, and one of her strong characteristics is the laudable desire to make herself a useful member of the community. That she has succeeded is the verdict of all who visit her farm and observe the air of comfort, neatness and order that everywhere prevails. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.