Dr. J.J. Franklin died from the effects of an accident. [History of Tuolumne County, 1888]

According to Kenneth Thomson, Sumner County, Tennessee historian (2024) Dr. John Jefferson Franklin was born in 1806 at Bellevue Plantation in Sumner County, Tennessee and died in a buggy wreck in Sonora, CA in 1875.

Link to Lucy Franklin; she was his 3rd wife.

Death: 21 May 1875 - Sonora, Tuolumne, California, United States

Daily Union Democrat newspaper

May 22, 1875

Death of Dr. Franklin

Yesterday our community was shocked when it was whispered, "Dr. Franklin is dead."

Tears moistened the eyes of his old friends and acquaintances as the solemn fact was realized. A few days ago he was among them in vigorous health with the promise of many years of usefulness.

The sudden taking off came with terrible effect upon everybody. There is no man in this county whose loss will be so generally and deeply felt. He was possessed of a warm heart that throbbed for others woes, ever ready to alleviate distress and suffering. Ready at any moment, alike to the call of the rich and the poor, he was regarded the poor man's friend. Many will be the silent tears that fall in memory of his good and kind deeds.

Dr. John Jay Franklin, was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1806. He studied medicine and graduated in the same class with Dr. W. M. Gwin and H. H. Toland [graduated from the medical department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., in 1828].

Commencing practice in his native county he became prominent among the profession of Tennessee. Subsequently he removed to New Orleans where he pursued his profession until coming to California in 1849. Here for some time he engaged in mining; for many years he was leading physician of this county, interrupted only by serving one term as State Senator in 1859 - 1860. He was a student up to the time of his death.

On Sunday last he was attacked with pneumonia, which became acute, terminating his life in five days. His loss is a calamity to this community, creating a void never to be filled in the hearts of his old friends. The gentleman of the old time, actuated by the highest and purest motives in all the relations of life is no more. The death of our friend and counselor fills us with oppressive sadness.

~~~~~

Daily Union Democrat newspaper

May 29, 1875

In Memoriam

Our father, our comrade, our friend - benefactor;

The genial, the patient, the kind, and the true --

Thou art gone from among us. But no malefactor

On earth can be found, to speak evil of you.

Ever ready to answer the call of the weary,

Ever faithful to all, from their birth, to their grave;

Our pilgrimage here, must now seem most dreary,

For FRANKLIN is gone! Who is left that can save?

Can selfishness prompt all the sorrow we witness?

Is it fear for our darlings, that causes our tears?

No -- In love for them and their friend, there is fitness,

Whatever the contrast, in station or years.

And his faults, if he had them, were virtue's excesses,

To drown in their Lethe, recollections of woe;

For greatness of soul never cares who it blesses,

But to hide from the world, what the world should not know.

Let history boast of that Grecian or Roman,

Who devoted his life to his country and fame;

But FRANKLIN is rivaled in goodness by no man,

No incentive of praise can be charged to his name.

His merit, spontaneous sprung from a fountain,

His Heart -- unselfish and pure as the spring

That wells from the base of a tropical mountain,

Life-giving, and crystal, and full to the brim.

Great and good men, whom we read of in story,

Your image shall visit our household -- no more.

Thou art gone -- with our FRANKLIN, to Heaven -- to Glory,

To enjoy those sweet blessings, thou has laid up in store.

Sonora, May 24th