Guide to the Papers of Robert Franklin Frampton, 1805-1967
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of Robert Franklin Frampton
- Creator
- Frampton, Robert Franklin (1882-1967)
- Collection Number
- MSS#146
- Extent
- 7.5 cubic feet (15 boxes)
- Date
- 1805-1967
- Abstract
- The Frampton family genealogy was compiled by Robert Franklin Frampton, a Frampton Historian and Genealogist who lived at various times in Ridgway (Elk County), Falls Creek (Clearfield County), and Scottdale (Westmoreland County), Pennsylvania. Robert spent over sixty years (1903-1967) tracing his family roots to 1066 and the Doomsday Book. These papers include biographical materials on individual family members, family histories, personal and genealogical correspondence, poems, news clippings chronicling births, marriages, deaths and reunions, photographs, indices and other sundry items.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of Robert Franklin Frampton (1882-c1967)
The Frampton family genealogy was compiled by Robert Franklin Frampton, a Frampton Historian and Genealogist who lived at various times in Ridgway (Elk County), Falls Creek (Clearfield County), and Scottdale (Westmoreland County), Pennsylvania. Robert spent over sixty years (1903-1967) tracing his family roots to 1066 and the Doomsday Book.
Robert F. Frampton was born February 1, 1882, in Homer City, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Alfred and Lena Smith Frampton. In 1889, his family moved to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where he spent his childhood and attended school. Religion played an important role in his life even at the early age of ten when he changed his denomination from Baptist to Presbyterian at the request of his mother. His strong Christian faith compelled him to spread the word of his faith, by teaching Sunday school and studies of the New Testament. When he moved to Ridgway, Pennsylvania in 1910, he joined a congregation known as the Church of Christ, became an elder in this church and again taught Sunday school. He continued Biblical teachings in the Church of Christ after he moved to Scottdale.
In 1899, at the age of 17, he began working as a grocery clerk at the store of W. C. Torrance in Punxsutawney and later for W. C. Oarks in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. He stayed in Charleroi for six months and returned home to be instructed in the telegraph with his brother Harry. Having completed the course, they were able to secure jobs on the Pennsylvania and North West Railroad as agents in Winslow, Pennsylvania. Two years later Robert accepted a position on the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh railroad at Big Run as an operator and clerk. He stayed at this position for three more years before being promoted to Dispatcher at DuBois, where he ran trains between DuBois and Clearfield. He later accepted a position as Operator on the Pennsylvania Railroad at Ridgway where he remained for twenty-eight years. His position within the company changed several times, forcing him to relocate to Erie, Brockway, Falls Creek, and Pittsburgh. In 1947 he retired to Kingview, Star Route, Scottdale, where he lived the rest of his life. Robert was married twice, first to Annie Viola Keller, with whom he had two children, and second to Jennie Smith, who had three children of her own.
In 1928, Robert organized the first troop of Boy Scouts at Ridgway, and continued as leader for five years. He later served as leader for troops in Brockway and Falls Creek and carried out his leadership role with full enthusiasm, which he relayed to his troops. He was always interested in music and was able to teach the Scouts bugle calls. His love of music extended to his playing in an orchestra at Brockway for two years.
During World War I, he was held to work on the railroad due to his experience in train operations. During World War II, in 1942, he joined a group of experienced riflemen and hunters who became known as Guerrillas. This group became Company 17-A of the Pennsylvania State Defense. In April 1943, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant and was trained on the rifle range, anti-personal bombs and explosives detection of enemy planes, and received a certificate as a bomb agent. He held this position until his discharge in October 1945.
Frampton decided to trace his family's roots during his first marriage. He followed the normal path that genealogists take by obtaining all the information on himself and his parents that he could. He began to branch out to different family members, and this pursuit became more than a hobby, but an obsession. He became consumed by his need to finish this undertaking. He arranged all his materials by the individual's date of birth, and obtained enough information to compile seven large family indices and several smaller ones.
Scope and Content Notes
The Frampton Family Papers are housed in fourteen archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title with personal materials arranged to the front and indices arranged to the rear. These papers include biographical materials on individual family members, family histories, personal and genealogical correspondence, poems, news clippings chronicling births, marriages, deaths and reunions, photographs, indices and other sundry items. These papers provide a history of Jefferson, Elk, Clarion, Berks, and Indiana Counties by showing who lived in these areas, why they were there, and what they did.
Correspondence begins with personal materials. Of note are a series of letters dated January 15th through March 18, 1888 between Robert's parents, Alfred and Lena Frampton, during a separation caused by Alfred's work building a home in Milestown, Pennsylvania while Lena was taking care of their home in Two Licks (Indiana County), Pennsylvania. Their correspondence shows that regardless of how busy their separate lives were, they always found time to write after their daily work and tasks were completed. They discussed the weather, how the home was running, store credit charges, bills and their children. In one of Lena's earlier letters she explains that she sent all the children to school except Robert, because he was not feeling well at the time, and she also needed him home with her for company (Robert was only six at the time). Both Alfred and Lena missed each other terribly, and this is clearly conveyed through their letters, especially at the end where they state they are anxious to reunite at home.
Genealogical correspondence was gathered and collected by Robert Frampton from 1903-1967. Most of the correspondence here is of a general question and answer style arrangement, stemming from earlier correspondence by Frampton. Responses primarily consist of lists of children, spouse and other family members names, date and place of birth, marital status, and known residence. This information helped Frampton to compile his genealogy. Other correspondence exists from specific family members. These include Edna Ditty (1949), Gladys and Henry Perkins (1938-1956), and Violet and Charles Smith (1955-1961). All three women wrote these letters and refer to Robert as Uncle, as well as making references to one another. All three women begin by trying to keep their Uncle up to date on family and siblings and new occurrences before answering their Uncle's previous questions. One particular undated letter from Edna states that she has not heard from Violet, but expects Violet and Charles will be heading to Florida soon. A similar letter appears in the correspondence of Gladys and Harry. Gladys is anxious to hear from Violet before they head South and letters from Violet state that she visits with Gladys often. From the letters, there is an indication that Gladys, Edna and Violet may be sisters.
Additional correspondence is from the Baltimore and Ohio and the Pennsylvania railroads from 1933-1937 when Robert worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as 3rd trick operator. Information here includes the cancellation of embargoes of other railways; general orders of changes on the B and O's Buffalo Division; and time sheets stating work carried out for January 6 and 7, 1933 and February 24, 1937 by Robert Frampton in Falls Creek, PA.
Research notes, indices and family histories help to link together the different family branches of the Frampton family. Individuals who are of importance for something accomplished or done for the family name are highlighted through the use of biographical information, family trees, and newspaper clippings. Indices have been compiled for the Bloom, Clover/Corbett, Fillmore, Frampton, Keller, Laney and Mahoney families. Those with extensive/expanded family histories include the Clover/Corbett, Frampton, Keller and Laney families.
The Clover/Corbett family originated from John Peter Clover Sr. and Catherine Sharp. John Clover Sr., a Prussian from Holland, emigrated from Hanover, Germany to America in 1755 and settled in Clover Hill, New Jersey. John Clover Sr. worked as a blacksmith and had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Two sons, Philip and Peter, were Revolutionary War soldiers. Philip served in the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania militia and Peter, a New Jersey soldier, served in Captain Stout's army. Catherine moved to Clarion County, Pennsylvania with her three younger sons and purchased land. This land was later selected as the site for the Clarion County courthouse after being donated by the Clover descendants in return for receiving half the proceeds of the sale of the lots.
The Frampton name extends from 1066 in Dorsetshire, the County of Dorset, England. Frampton was knighted, made sheriff, had a family crest, and a coat of arms. The Frampton name still exists in England today. William Frampton, the first Frampton to come to the United States, was a Quaker who came with the earliest settlers. William Frampton owned considerable property in both New York and Philadelphia, where his landholdings included the site of the public wharf. He served as one of the Registrars of Pennsylvania under William Penn and was a keeper of the Great Seal. William married Elizabeth Potter, and had three children. William served during the Revolutionary War as a Private in the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Militia of Associators. His brother Nathaniel, also a Private, was his comrade and they fought together. There were several other Framptons who served in the Revolutionary War: John Frampton, Private in the Continental line; Arthur Frampton, Private in the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania militia; John Roll, Private in the 7th Company, 8th Battalion, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; and John Clugh (Clough), a Corporal in the Revolutionary Army.
Frampton was unable to gather much information concerning the Fillmore Family, other than that Joshua Fillmore was killed at the Battle of White Oak Swamp on June 30, 1862, Jeremiah Fillmore was wounded and crippled at the battle of Fredericksburg and was a member of the 11th P.V.I. (Private), Andrew Fillmore belonged to the Rough Riders, Washington, D.C., and William F. Fillmore was a member of CO. A 61st P.V.I. (Private).
The Keller Family, of Rockland (Berks County), Pennsylvania, was descended from John Christophel Keller who came to the U. S. in 1764 from Nitsche, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. Keller traveled aboard the "Brittannia" with a young companion and relative named Fritsche. Fritsche would never see America because he became fatally ill on the ship. John felt the need to dispose of the body himself and carried Fritsche from the hold to the deck without assistance. This incident is one that he retold throughout his life because it disturbed him so greatly. After his arrival at Philadelphia, John walked to the home of his fellow Nitsche emigrants, the Reichart family, in Rockland, Pennsylvania. He resided with them, finding work as a weaver, a family trade, and later served in the Revolutionary War. He married Catharine Delp, and had twelve children. Upon their marriage, Catharine's father gave them a tract of land which they cleared together and where they spent the rest of their lives. This land would remain in the family for over 100 years.
The Larner (Learn) Family originated in Holland and England. John Learn and his brother came in to Philadelphia in 1750 and settled in Tannersville, Monroe County. John later purchased a large tract of land in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. John had ten children. Native Americans massacred his oldest child, George, at the age of 31. Little else is known of the family aside from military service of various members, including Daniel Alexander Laney (War of 1812), John Milton, John Hall and James Laney (Civil War), and Frank C. and Archibald Stewart Smith Jr. (World War II).
The early descendants of the Mohney Family are hard to trace due to inconclusive records. The scant information includes that a John Mohney Sr. built a stone house at Oak Ridge, Pennsylvania in 1824. He came from Germany with his parents as a small boy. John Mohney later purchased 500 acres in Red Bank Township (Clarion County), Pennsylvania.
Newspaper clippings make up the bulk of the collection. Frampton gathered clippings on family members, family reunions, events of importance in Jefferson and Westmoreland Counties, soldiers and their discharges, articles and columns written by family members, and other articles that he found interesting. The clippings begin with biographical information arranged alphabetically. This section provides biographies of individual family members who did something important in the community or an individual accomplishment. Birth notices, wedding licenses and announcements, and reunions provide information on family members living in Jefferson, Elk, Clarion and Westmoreland County during the first half of the twentieth century.
Frampton also collected clippings on events and activities in different counties. While serving as a Boy Scout leader, Frampton collected informative articles pertaining not only to the activities of his troop but on other counties and townships as well. A series of articles entitled "Who Are You?" by Ruby Haskins Ellis (a Frampton descendant) was designed to help amateur genealogists begin their own ancestry research. "10, 25 and 50 Years Ago" is a series of clippings from the Jeffersonian Democrat stating what was occurring in the lives of the people of Jefferson County over the designated time periods. Records of soldiers and their discharges illustrate who was fighting in World Wars I and II and the Korean War. Photographs of individual soldiers include identification, rank, and major activities. Reunion clippings from c1922-c1947 pertain to both family reunions and reunions of individuals. These reunions are of children separated from their parents and siblings separated from one another. The articles of general interest were compiled to give the reader a better understanding of everyday life. Clippings exist on town and school histories, listings of voters, census information, the issue of women teaching boys, Mormon information in Pennsylvania, church anniversaries, and a directory of teachers in Clearfield County, 1924-1925, including an individual breakdown by township and borough.
Besides collecting and compiling genealogical materials, Frampton served as troop leader and secretary for the Boy Scouts in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Materials relating to his involvement with the Boy Scouts includes the names and ages of the boys in his troop, lists of badges required, and when they were received for each level, as well as activities preformed by the troop. Correspondence exists between the Boy Scouts of America, Clarion-Venango County Council and his troop for summer camp registration and costs, outfitting supply lists, and when badges were received. Financial materials on the Boy Scouts also help to illustrate the costs of supplies and clothing for Boy Scouts in 1928-1930. Again, newspaper clippings on the troop activities and those of others on Clarion-Venango Counties help to illustrate the work of the Boy Scouts in Western Pennsylvania.
Photographs of individuals, groups, homes and items provide additional information on the Frampton family. A majority of the photographs are identified and include pictures of Robert Frampton as a scout troop leader, Robert and his wife Jennie, Christmas photo greeting cards of the Muir family, J.F. Lancy, Saruer, Clover, Smith and Frampton family members and Leah Bloom as well as others. Photographs depicting Robert Frampton's homes in Falls Creek and Scottdale, Pennsylvania, the work room of George O. Frampton in Waupaca, Wisconsin, and school children in the Washington Territory help to illustrate that Frampton's family was not limited to Pennsylvania, but had branched out into other areas of the U.S. as well.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession in 1955.
Acc. 1955x Gift of Mrs. Robert F. Frampton (Papers).
Preferred Citation
Papers of Robert Franklin Frampton, 1805-1967, MSS# 146, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Historical Society Staff in c1955. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Stephanie Riccardi on December 1, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on February 15, 2002.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Frampton, Robert Franklin (1882-1967)
- Ditty, Edna
- Frampton, Alfred
- Frampton family
- Frampton, Lana
- Perkins, Gladys
- Perkins, Henry
- Smith, Charles
- Smith, Violet