Franklin Howell was the son of Levi and Mary A.Howell. Franklin married Sarah Ann Harry on Dec.23, 1879 in Jackson co, Ohio. To this union two sons were born, Harry Levi and Oren Elden. Franklin grew up to young manhood in Ohio. He and an older brother came to Ellsworth, Kansas in 1871. Buffalo grazed on the plains and he was interested in hunting them. He soon enlisted in Co. E 5th Infantry in the US Army which he always called the 5th walk-a-heaps. He was actively engaged in a number of Indian skirmishes from Texas to Dakotas. He was known as a Indian fighter. His company was surrounded by Indians twice which lasted 3 days and the other 2 days.The day was saved in both instances by reinforcements. His company guarded the surveyors of the Santa Fe Railway right-of-way thru Kansas in 1872. His company also guarded mail wagons from different frontier points which at times proved to be hazardous. One time when his company was guarding the mail from Camp Supply to Fort Dodge, Kansas they were ambushed by about 60 Indians and their quick action saved the day. He did messenger work in carrying messages from one place to another in which was hazardous trails. These messages were sometimes carried at night.
One night at the mouth of Mussel Shells near Fort Snelling, Montana he was carrying a message and his pipe was shot out of his mouth. This caused the messenger boys to be very alert. Franklin rode with Buffalo Bill on different scouting trips in which he would ride 125 miles in a day.General Miles agreed to give him a horse providing that he could ride it and at which he was successful.
In June 25, 1876, His regiment went to Little Big Horn after the Custer massacre. He also knew Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickock,Tom Sherman,Chalk Beeson and other frontier characters.
Franklin told of many perilous situations he was confronted with while serving in the army. After serving in the army for 5 years he returned to Jackson, Ohio where he married Sarah Ann Harry in 1879 and farmed and worked in the railroad shops. In early winter of 1919 his wife died and in 1922 he returned to Kansas and then back to Ohio. He decided to drive back to Kansas with a horse and light wagon. In 1923 reaching Texas county he decided to remain for the winter with his nephew and niece. There he met and married Annis Mercer on March 1, 1924.
One night at the mouth of Mussel Shells near Fort Snelling, Montana he was carrying a message and his pipe was shot out of his mouth. This caused the messenger boys to be very alert. Franklin rode with Buffalo Bill on different scouting trips in which he would ride 125 miles in a day.General Miles agreed to give him a horse providing that he could ride it and at which he was successful.
In June 25, 1876, His regiment went to Little Big Horn after the Custer massacre. He also knew Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickock,Tom Sherman,Chalk Beeson and other frontier characters.
Franklin told of many perilous situations he was confronted with while serving in the army. After serving in the army for 5 years he returned to Jackson, Ohio where he married Sarah Ann Harry in 1879 and farmed and worked in the railroad shops. In early winter of 1919 his wife died and in 1922 he returned to Kansas and then back to Ohio. He decided to drive back to Kansas with a horse and light wagon. In 1923 reaching Texas county he decided to remain for the winter with his nephew and niece. There he met and married Annis Mercer on March 1, 1924.
Franklin Howell was the son of Levi and Mary A.Howell. Franklin married Sarah Ann Harry on Dec.23, 1879 in Jackson co, Ohio. To this union two sons were born, Harry Levi and Oren Elden. Franklin grew up to young manhood in Ohio. He and an older brother came to Ellsworth, Kansas in 1871. Buffalo grazed on the plains and he was interested in hunting them. He soon enlisted in Co. E 5th Infantry in the US Army which he always called the 5th walk-a-heaps. He was actively engaged in a number of Indian skirmishes from Texas to Dakotas. He was known as a Indian fighter. His company was surrounded by Indians twice which lasted 3 days and the other 2 days.The day was saved in both instances by reinforcements. His company guarded the surveyors of the Santa Fe Railway right-of-way thru Kansas in 1872. His company also guarded mail wagons from different frontier points which at times proved to be hazardous. One time when his company was guarding the mail from Camp Supply to Fort Dodge, Kansas they were ambushed by about 60 Indians and their quick action saved the day. He did messenger work in carrying messages from one place to another in which was hazardous trails. These messages were sometimes carried at night.
One night at the mouth of Mussel Shells near Fort Snelling, Montana he was carrying a message and his pipe was shot out of his mouth. This caused the messenger boys to be very alert. Franklin rode with Buffalo Bill on different scouting trips in which he would ride 125 miles in a day.General Miles agreed to give him a horse providing that he could ride it and at which he was successful.
In June 25, 1876, His regiment went to Little Big Horn after the Custer massacre. He also knew Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickock,Tom Sherman,Chalk Beeson and other frontier characters.
Franklin told of many perilous situations he was confronted with while serving in the army. After serving in the army for 5 years he returned to Jackson, Ohio where he married Sarah Ann Harry in 1879 and farmed and worked in the railroad shops. In early winter of 1919 his wife died and in 1922 he returned to Kansas and then back to Ohio. He decided to drive back to Kansas with a horse and light wagon. In 1923 reaching Texas county he decided to remain for the winter with his nephew and niece. There he met and married Annis Mercer on March 1, 1924.
One night at the mouth of Mussel Shells near Fort Snelling, Montana he was carrying a message and his pipe was shot out of his mouth. This caused the messenger boys to be very alert. Franklin rode with Buffalo Bill on different scouting trips in which he would ride 125 miles in a day.General Miles agreed to give him a horse providing that he could ride it and at which he was successful.
In June 25, 1876, His regiment went to Little Big Horn after the Custer massacre. He also knew Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickock,Tom Sherman,Chalk Beeson and other frontier characters.
Franklin told of many perilous situations he was confronted with while serving in the army. After serving in the army for 5 years he returned to Jackson, Ohio where he married Sarah Ann Harry in 1879 and farmed and worked in the railroad shops. In early winter of 1919 his wife died and in 1922 he returned to Kansas and then back to Ohio. He decided to drive back to Kansas with a horse and light wagon. In 1923 reaching Texas county he decided to remain for the winter with his nephew and niece. There he met and married Annis Mercer on March 1, 1924.
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