Franklin is a historic town in northern Delaware County, defined by its early New England settlement and its evolution into a center for education and agriculture. It’s development occurred in stages as both a town and an incorporated village:

Establishment of the Town of Franklin

• Settlement (1784): The first white settler, Sluman Wattles, arrived in the Ouleout Valley in the summer of 1784 to survey land.

• Legislative Creation (1792): The Town of Franklin was officially created by the New York State Legislature on April 10, 1792, when it was separated from the Town of Harpersfield.

• First Town Meeting (1793): The first official town meeting took place on April 6, 1793, at the home of Sluman Wattles, where he was elected the first supervisor. 

Establishment of the Village of Franklin

• Planning (1827): The Village of Franklin was platted in 1827 by John Edgerton, who purchased 100 acres for the site.

• Incorporation (1836): The village was officially incorporated on April 6, 1836. 

• The Town of Franklin from "The History of Delaware County by ...

  The number of voters in the town if 861, of which number forty have been naturalized. * THE WATTLES FAMILY. The first settler in t...

  Delaware County NY Genealogy

• History - Town of Franklin, NY

  TOWN OF FRANKLIN HISTORY/TOWN JOURNALSBy Teresa R. Eshelman, Town Historian. As we enter the Internet world, events of the past be...

  Town of Franklin, NY

• Franklin (village), New York - Wikipedia

  The village of Franklin was platted in 1827 by John Edgerton, who had bought 100 acres (40 ha) for the site. It was incorporated i...

Origins and Founding

• Early Settlement (1784): The first European-American settler, Sluman Wattles (later a county judge), arrived in the Ouleout Valley in 1784 to survey land. He built the town's first log cabin and negotiated a treaty with local Delaware Indians.

• Establishment (1792): The Town of Franklin was officially created by the state legislature on April 10, 1792, carved from the Town of Harpersfield. It was originally part of Otsego County before Delaware County was formed in 1797.

• Naming: The town was likely named after Temple Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin, or possibly William Franklin (Benjamin's eldest son), who held a large patent for land in the area.

Growth and Industry

• Early Economy: The initial economy relied on clearing dense forests of pine and maple. Timber was rafted down the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers to markets in Philadelphia.

• Agricultural Shift: In the 19th century, farming shifted from grain and livestock to sheep and wool production. After the Civil War, Franklin became a major dairy farming hub, known for producing high-quality butter for New York City.

• Transportation: The Catskill and Susquehanna Turnpike, established in 1800, brought travelers and trade, leading to a boom in local taverns and inns.

A Center for Education

• Delaware Literary Institute (DLI): Founded in 1835, the DLI became a prestigious institution of higher learning. At its peak in 1855, it drew over 400 students from 30 states and six foreign countries.

• Legacy: The DLI eventually influenced the creation of the State Normal School in Oneonta, now SUNY Oneonta. The village’s historic Stone Hall, rebuilt after a fire in 1856, remains a landmark of this era.

Community and Modern History

• Incorporation (1836): The Village of Franklin was platted in 1827 and officially incorporated on April 6, 1836.

• Social Reform: The town has historical links to abolition; in 1846, it had a significant Black population due to resettlement efforts by Gerrit Smith. It is also the burial place of social photographer Lewis Hine, whose work helped end child labor.

• Historic Status: The Franklin Village Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. To this day, Franklin remains a "dry" town regarding the sale of alcohol.