Belle was born to parents William Marsh Franklin and Eliza Jane Kirk, in 1870-or 1871 in Carthage, Missouri. She was the fourth of 9 children. She had porcelain skin; and bold red hair.
Belle was a resourceful woman, often holding more than one job at a time. She was a seamstress and laundress a general store owner at several small stores.
She and her husband; Henry J. Blaine were unable to have children of their own. They adopted a toddler named Elmer Ellsworth Davis. They later changed his name to Cecil Ralph Blaine.
As a child Ralph; remembered playing in one of her stores with sticks of dynamite (no fuses) and $20 gold coins. She allowed him to treat the local children with candies from the store.
Belle was unlucky at love and romance, but she married many times. She was in love with the biological father of her adopted son. His name was Ira Orton Davis.
A musician, who was not interested in her. At one point; in 1908 she married Ira's cousin, Elmer Greenleaf. Ralph said she married Elmer because Ira would have nothing to do with her. Ira and Elmer's mothers were sisters. Both Elmer Davis( now named Cecil Ralph Blaine) and Elmer Greenleaf were named for their beloved brother; Elmer Seeley.
Family legend reports Belle's family on the Franklin side was related to Benjamin Franklin.
Belle was a resourceful woman, often holding more than one job at a time. She was a seamstress and laundress a general store owner at several small stores.
She and her husband; Henry J. Blaine were unable to have children of their own. They adopted a toddler named Elmer Ellsworth Davis. They later changed his name to Cecil Ralph Blaine.
As a child Ralph; remembered playing in one of her stores with sticks of dynamite (no fuses) and $20 gold coins. She allowed him to treat the local children with candies from the store.
Belle was unlucky at love and romance, but she married many times. She was in love with the biological father of her adopted son. His name was Ira Orton Davis.
A musician, who was not interested in her. At one point; in 1908 she married Ira's cousin, Elmer Greenleaf. Ralph said she married Elmer because Ira would have nothing to do with her. Ira and Elmer's mothers were sisters. Both Elmer Davis( now named Cecil Ralph Blaine) and Elmer Greenleaf were named for their beloved brother; Elmer Seeley.
Family legend reports Belle's family on the Franklin side was related to Benjamin Franklin.
Belle was born to parents William Marsh Franklin and Eliza Jane Kirk, in 1870-or 1871 in Carthage, Missouri. She was the fourth of 9 children. She had porcelain skin; and bold red hair.
Belle was a resourceful woman, often holding more than one job at a time. She was a seamstress and laundress a general store owner at several small stores.
She and her husband; Henry J. Blaine were unable to have children of their own. They adopted a toddler named Elmer Ellsworth Davis. They later changed his name to Cecil Ralph Blaine.
As a child Ralph; remembered playing in one of her stores with sticks of dynamite (no fuses) and $20 gold coins. She allowed him to treat the local children with candies from the store.
Belle was unlucky at love and romance, but she married many times. She was in love with the biological father of her adopted son. His name was Ira Orton Davis.
A musician, who was not interested in her. At one point; in 1908 she married Ira's cousin, Elmer Greenleaf. Ralph said she married Elmer because Ira would have nothing to do with her. Ira and Elmer's mothers were sisters. Both Elmer Davis( now named Cecil Ralph Blaine) and Elmer Greenleaf were named for their beloved brother; Elmer Seeley.
Family legend reports Belle's family on the Franklin side was related to Benjamin Franklin.
Belle was a resourceful woman, often holding more than one job at a time. She was a seamstress and laundress a general store owner at several small stores.
She and her husband; Henry J. Blaine were unable to have children of their own. They adopted a toddler named Elmer Ellsworth Davis. They later changed his name to Cecil Ralph Blaine.
As a child Ralph; remembered playing in one of her stores with sticks of dynamite (no fuses) and $20 gold coins. She allowed him to treat the local children with candies from the store.
Belle was unlucky at love and romance, but she married many times. She was in love with the biological father of her adopted son. His name was Ira Orton Davis.
A musician, who was not interested in her. At one point; in 1908 she married Ira's cousin, Elmer Greenleaf. Ralph said she married Elmer because Ira would have nothing to do with her. Ira and Elmer's mothers were sisters. Both Elmer Davis( now named Cecil Ralph Blaine) and Elmer Greenleaf were named for their beloved brother; Elmer Seeley.
Family legend reports Belle's family on the Franklin side was related to Benjamin Franklin.
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