ca. 1790s – George POWER, who came to Franklin with the military to build Fort Franklin, returned in 1790 as a settler and opened a trading post. By 1792, William WILSON, who apparently came from Northumberland Co., operated a store that was located very near to Fort Franklin. Edward HALE came in the late 1790s and was a merchant and operated an inn. The ledger books of these early merchants have given us an idea of the types of coinage used and the forms of barter. John Chapman, who later became known as Johnny Appleseed, is listed on early trading records in Franklin.

ca. 1813 – Andrew BOWMAN operated a tanning and shoemaking business at his homestead located at the corner of West Park and Elk Streets.

ca. 1823 – A. McCALMONT ran a wool carding establishment. Wm. RAYMOND opened a store and advertised “NEW and general assortment of SEASONABLE GOODS, which he intends selling very low for CASH, or Country Produce”.

ca. 1830 – Nathaniel CAREY ran a tailoring business on Liberty Street.

ca. 1831 – J. BENNETT & Co. and Samuel F. PLUMER operated general mercantile establishments on Liberty Street.

ca. 1832 – John SHAW was a chairmaker. Another chairmaking business was that of partners, John SMITH and John MARTIN. Elihu BUTLER advertised clock, watch making, silversmithing and dentistry attended to on reasonable terms . C. W. SIMMONS offered groceries and provisions.

ca. 1833 – James & John L. THOMPSON owned a store in Franklin. James was killed on Jan. 21, 1833 when he removed ashes from the store’s stove and put them in the wrong keg – one containing two pounds of damaged powder. Warm coals were apparently in with the ashes and when he took the keg to the street to empty the ashes, the powder exploded and he died within an hour.

ca. 1834 – R. POWER advertised that he just received a new supply of Fall and Winter Goods – hats, caps, boots, shoes. His store also sold groceries and liquors. He states at the end of his ad: “ For all which he will receive cash, Wheat, Corn, Rye Oats, and nearly all articles of country produce”. Jeremiah CLANCY operated a boot and shoe making stand. J. H. SHANNON ran an ad for CHEAP GOODS. He had just received from Pittsburgh a good assortment of dry goods, groceries, Queensware, hardware, etc.

ca. 1835 – Thomas LINDSEY offered dry goods, groceries, hardware, Queensware, liquors, breads, cakes, crackers, beers and cutlery in his store on Doe Street (Thirteenth St.) L. T. RENO sold hats and flour and also operated a tavern. Benjamin ALEXANDER offered ‘Fancy & Windsor Chairs” at his chairmaking shop a few doors from the corner of Doe (13th) & Elk. A. Mc DOWELL advertised axes, bacon, salt and supply of Fall & Winter Goods. B. A. PLUMER sold dry goods, hardware, Queensware, tinware, saddlery, books and stationery with the following statement: In short, those who wish to purchase good and CHEAP GOODS, will consult their interests by calling on B. A. Plumer.

ca. 1836 – Samuel SNYDER, a blacksmith, removed his stand to a new shop on the east side of Doe (13th) one door south of the Robert LAMBERTON store. John FLOYD & Co. were wholesale grocers at No. 81 Liberty Street. Hugh HENRY & Wm. ELLIOTT entered into a partnership opening at the store house lately occupied by R. POWER – one door west of Col. Jas. KINNEAR’S Hotel on Liberty. At their retail store, they advertised dry goods, groceries, hard-ware, Queensware, cutlery, etc. Myron PARK had a large advertisement for his dry goods, groceries, hardware, books, stationery, sundries, drugs and paints that would be sold for cash or approved barter.

ca. 1838 – N. CAREY removed his shop to the house one door east of W. Raymond’s and immediately opposite Henry & Elliott’s store. James W. WARD, who did clock & watch repairing, commenced business one door north of Mr. Reno’s tavern stand on Doe - (13th). H. B. KEPHART, a blacksmith, was now in a shop formerly occupied by Artimas B. WALKER on Liberty Street.

ca. 1849 – John H. SHANNON removed his stand to the one formerly occupied by A. S. WILSON and received a new and complete stock of groceries, confectioneries, toys, etc. In addition, he has fitted up an excellent eating and reading room where he is prepared to accommodate his customers with oysters, pig’s feet, tripe, lamb’s tongue and most delicacies of the day. NICKLIN & BRYDEN advertised dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, shoes, hardware, iron, nails, carriage and buggy springs, axle nuts, fish, salt and lumber. William H. SHANNON was advertising a new grocery and bakery in the Brick Building opposite Col. Kinnear’s Hotel (Liberty St.) J. BLEAKLEY had a variety store.

ca. 1851 – M. VANDORN offered his tailoring services in his advertisement. The Lamberton House with C. G. EVANS in charge, has taken this new and commodious building and is prepared to accommodate all in a style never before equaled. It is located on Liberty Street in the very center of the business portion with well-furnished and comfortable rooms in which borders will be accommodated by day, week or month. Z.C. LUSE advertises his stand as a book store, jewelry store and has marble tomb and grave stones. C. H. DALE owned the Rail Road Depot in the Brick House opposite Col. Kinnear’s Hotel – Liberty Street. Joseph S. HOOTON had his tailoring shop on Liberty, opposite Wm. Raymond’s store.

ca. 1869 – Thomas J. TURNER dealt in watches, clocks and jewelry in the Hanna Block on Thirteenth St. Other merchants at this same location were WILT Brothers Photography Studio, Jas. BRYDEN dealer in boots & shoes, J. GOSLINE dealer in millinery and fancy goods, Mrs. A. KINNEAR’S Millinery & Dress Making, Herman M. RIESER’S Millinery & Fancy Goods. D. ZEUGSCHMIDT was a dealer in tobacco, cigars, pipes, etc. on Liberty St. S. L. ULMAN had a boot and shoe store on Liberty Street. W. E. TAYLOR offered drugs, medicines, pure chemicals, oils, paints, glass, stationery, picture frames, moldings, etc. at his store on Liberty St. Mrs. M. A. Mc KENZIE was a fashionable milliner on Doe - 13th Street. Nathan CAMPBELL owned a grocery store on Liberty.

ca. 1871 – George S. KING and John H. LEE were wholesale and retail dealers in groceries at the corner of Liberty and Twelfth Streets, across from the Court House.

T. W. BRIGHAM operated a livery on Elk Street just below Thirteenth. Joseph CARR operated a restaurant near the King & Lee Grocery Store. Wm. A. COOPER ran a grocery store at the corner of Liberty and West Park. Henry DUBBS was a druggist on Liberty Street. Thomas MOORE had his harness shop on Liberty St. for many years.

ca. 1879 – Edward BACHARACH owned a tobacco store on Liberty St. I. ALBERT did his blacksmithing and wagon work at his shop on 13th St. Stephen BARRETT operated a restaurant at the corner of Otter and 13th Streets. Jacob BERGER was a cigar maker. Isa BLACK did much of the photography work in the area and had his studio and home on Liberty above 13th St. G. G. COLE was a grocer located on Liberty across from the Rural Hotel. Abraham GRIMM and Wm. READING were butchers at their shop on 13th St. W. D. RIDER and Frank HAZELTINE sold stoves and tinware at their shop on Liberty near 8th St. Josie MCCORMICK was a milliner. I. E. HOWARD & Sons offered lumber, sash and blinds at their place on Atlantic Ave.

ca. 1884 – L. T. CHAPMAN was a watchmaker and jeweler in the Bleakley Block on Liberty. L. K. ACKER was a druggist with his shop on Liberty opposite the park. Miles SMITH was a manufacturer of and dealer in cabinets and upholstered furniture at No. 13 Thirteenth St. J. R. WATSON was a dealer in all grades of coal and located near the depot in Franklin. Wm. WENZEL located his bakery at No. 11 Thirteenth St. and also sold confectionery, groceries, tobacco, notions, cutlery, guns, revolvers and ammunition. D. WILHELM had a big ad for his tailor business – ‘A Good Fit Guaranteed’ – located on Thirteenth St. between Buffalo and Liberty. G. S. LICHAU was a dealer and jobber in 5, 10, 20, and 25 cent goods and was located in the Hanna Block at the corner of Thirteenth and Elk. Phillip GROSSMAN owned a brewery at the corner of Otter and S. Park. George ALLEN was Mayor and also owned George Allen and Son shoe store on Thirteenth.

ca. 1887 – E. W. SNOOK acquired property at the corner of Liberty and W. Park Streets in 1883 and within a few years constructed a large brick building. Snook & Co. Hardware and the jewelry and watchmaking shop of L. T. CHAPMAN occupied this new building. The livery of F. P. SWIFT faced W. Park was behind the Snook Building. John QUINN, Jr. ran a billiard parlor on Thirteenth. John COEFIELD was the agent for the Standard Sewing Machine Co. at his shop on Thirteenth. Byron MOFFETT continued his Livery Stable, Bus and Cab Line at his establishment behind the Exchange Hotel on Liberty Street.

ca. 1892 – Thomas WALKER operated a brush manufacturing company on Twelfth at the corner of Otter. W. T. BELL located his greenhouse at 1420 Buffalo St. Blacksmith and Carriage Manufactures were: I. H. BORLAND, H. MYERS, J. L. RAY, Robert J. RATCLIFF and C. J. STEWART. Charles and George LIMBER owned a bakery at 1149 Liberty Street. The Franklin store of the Printz Co. clothing stores was the second in the chain founded by Bert H. PRINTZ. This store was opened by Aaron A. PRINTZ in 1889 and later sold to David PRINTZ in 1896.

ca. 1900– Four bakeries were in operation at this time: LIMBER’S, J. C. MUELLER, Mrs. William WENZEL and Mrs. Elvira WENTWORTH. The Chinese laundry facilities of Hong LEE and Jim JU were located on Liberty Street while Sam LEE had his laundry on Thirteenth Street. Fancy ladies accessories were quite in vogue and their needs met through the millinery shops owned by Mrs. Frank BEMENT, Mrs. Perry DeWOODY, Mrs. A. H. GRAY, the Misses Mamie FRICK and Mollie J. KENNEDY, Clara F. PAY and Mrs. S.B. WITHEROW. Music and musical merchandise was offered at the Liberty Street stores of Jacob SHEASLEY and Elliott HARVEY. Restaurants in the business district were owned by H. W. ELLIOTT, J. N. ELLIOTT, Alvin GRIFFIN, Joseph KLINORDLINGER, F. T. OESAU, Lewis PRATT, F. L. RIDDLE. Partners, Thomas S. HENDERSON and Robert MUIR, also operated a restaurant. Henry W. FIELDING manufactured carriages and wagons. Mrs. Margaret EMMICKE, widow of Peter, continued the grocery store on Thirteenth St.