Franklin Haddock was born November 22, 1839 at Capp’s Creek, Barry County, Missouri, the third eldest of ten children born to William Haddock and Mary Collins Haddock. William Haddock’s father, Charles Haddock, Sr., originally from Pitt County, North Carolina, was one of the earliest settlers in the Roaring River area of Barry County, Missouri. At the age of 18, Franklin was baptized and, in 1860, became a member of the New Site Baptist Church near Monett, Missouri.

     Franklin Haddock married Emily Birkes on June 7, 1860 in Barry County. Emily was born February 24, 1839 in Madison County, Arkansas to Silas Birkes and Sally Rogers Birkes. Franklin and Emily began their married life in Barry County, first living with Franklin’s parents on their farm at Capp’s Creek. According to family legend, Emily gave her husband the nickname “Benjamin”, beginning a life-long, but unofficial, addition to his given name. Friends and relatives frequently referred to him as Benjamin Franklin Haddock. On November 15, 1861 in Barry County, Franklin and Emily’s first child Rachel was born.

     Franklin Haddock enlisted in the Union cause on March 24, 1862 at Springfield, Missouri. He was mustered into service as a private on April 19, 1862 in Company H, 14th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry at Springfield. His physical description at the time was as follows: height, 5 feet 8 inches; complexion, fair; color of eyes, blue; color of hair, dark. Farming was listed as his occupation prior to service. Franklin’s military file further states that he had enlisted for the duration of the war in Missouri. He was marked “present” on the company muster rolls for the 14th MSM from April 1862 until March, 1863 when he was transferred to Company M 8th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry.

     During the early months of 1863, Franklin Haddock and his fellow soldiers were engaged in scouting missions and in battle against Marmaduke in the Springfield area. Franklin stated that the weather was extremely cold, often sleeting and raining, and that they were without tents or other suitable quarters while on scouting missions. It was during this time that Franklin contracted bronchitis and a throat condition that left him nearly voiceless for several years. First Sergeant, William W. Lee of Company M, 8th MSM stated in a sworn affidavit to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions that because of his loss of speech, Franklin Haddock was relieved of guard duty. Even in his later years, Franklin never fully recovered from the loss of his voice. Chronic bronchitis also continued to bother him the rest of his life. Franklin Haddock was marked “present” on the muster rolls of the 8th MSM from March 1863 until April 1865, with the exception of September and October 1863 when he was on scouting duty and on November and December 1864 when he was on detached service.

     According to family legend, the Confederates had captured Franklin at some point in his military service. He told his children and grandchildren that he had been allowed to escape unharmed, because both he and his captor were Masons, bound by their laws of brotherhood. However, there is nothing in his official military records at the National Archives to indicate that this actually happened.

     Franklin Haddock was discharged on April 18, 1865 at Springfield, Missouri. He received a pension for his service beginning in 1890 at the rate of $10 per month and ending in 1924 at the rate of $72 per month. His pension file contains several affidavits made on his behalf to the Bureau of Pensions by his fellow soldiers. They include First Sergeant William W. Lee, and privates Matthew T. Kerr, Joseph Walker, Lemuel C. Estes, Benjamin F. Kennedy, Charles H. Lance, Francis M. Henderson, and William Berry. It appears that Franklin Haddock remained on friendly terms with his fellow former soldiers since all the affidavits were made in Barry County or nearby counties and dated between 1896 and 1906.

     After his military service ended, Franklin and his wife Emily became the parents of four more children. They were: Tincy, born June 7, 1865; Louisa, born November 19, 1866; Asa, born December 10, 1868; and Silas Birkes Haddock, born July 28, 1870, all born in Barry County, Missouri. Tincy and Asa died in infancy, but the other children grew to adulthood and later had families of their own. Franklin and Emily Haddock lived most of their lives in Barry County, with the exception of several years spent in Sebastian County, Arkansas during the 1890’s. Franklin continued to farm, but also earned his living as a teamster when he was in poorer health and unable to do heavy farm work. He also served as a preacher for the Baptist faith at the Ione Baptist Church in Ione, Arkansas. Following their daughter Rachel Haddock Yocum Moore’s death in 1894, Franklin and Emily helped to raise her five children.

     Emily Birkes Haddock died May 19, 1911 at Exeter, Barry County, Missouri and was buried at the Maplewood Cemetery there. Following her death, Franklin married Clara Jane Simms Cramer Coon, twice a widow of Union veterans, on November 9, 1911 at Purdy, Missouri. Sometime after their marriage, Franklin and Clara went to live in Dane, Oklahoma with Clara’s relatives, where they stayed until 1923. Between July and November of 1923, Franklin lived in Forgan, Oklahoma with his grandson Earl Moore, while Clara remained with her relatives. Ill health necessitated that Franklin and Clara live separately with relatives who were able to care for them. Later in 1923, Franklin went to live with a granddaughter, Ethel Lance Graper, in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri where he died on February 16, 1924. He was buried next to his first wife Emily at the Maplewood Cemetery, Barry County, Missouri.

Written by: Linda Stokes

Roster Record	Roster Record

Researcher of Private Franklin Haddock.
Linda Stokes

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