F.S. Maxwell, jeweler, Martinsville, was born in Franklin County, Indiana January 15, 1853 to William and Elizabeth Ann Maxwell Maxwell. He (William) was born nine miles from Philadelphia on the Lancaster Pike. He was married to Elizabeth Ann Maxwell June 19, 1836 at her home on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky opposite New Richmond Ohio. He then returned to Philadelphia and worked at his trade of blacksmith for three years and in 1839, moved to a farm in Franklin County Indiana where he remained for twenty years. Then becoming dissatisfied he decided to come further west. After six months' search for a suitable place, they settled in Anderson Township, Clark County Illinois in the fall of 1859. He resided there until his death August 31, 1881 being then sixty-nine years five months and seven days of age. Death to him was simply a change to a brighter world, where he would meet those dear to him in a short time. Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Maxwell, the mother of our subject is still living. They were the parents of five children, of whom our subject is the third. He (Franklin) was educated in the common schools of this and Franklin County Indiana. November 1875 he began his present business of jeweler and has continued in the same since, but has added other lines of trade also, and now besides carrying a stock of jewelry, clocks, watches, etc. He makes his specialty of organs, also of optical goods. December 25, 1875, he was married in his own house in Martinsville Illinois to Martha Jane Ludington, the adopted daughter of David and Sarah (Cook) Humphreys. Martha Ludington was born April 10, 1851 at Warsaw Hancock County Illinois to Ananias and Ellen (Mannis) Ludington. He (Ananias) was born in 1802 in Dutchess County New York. She (Ellen) was born in Ohio. They were married in Franklin County Indiana 1838. He (Ananias) died in Franklin County Indiana in 1874. She (Ellen) died at Dallas Illinois in the spring of 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have two children living and one dead. Their first child, Arilla G. was born September 30th 1876 and died January 20th 1877; Charles A. born January 27th 1878; Cinderella May born December 20th 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Baptist Church of Martinsville. He is Democratic in politics. Through his own industry and energy he has made his own way in life.
Perrin, William Henry, ed.. History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois Chicago, Illinois. O.L. Baskin & Co. (1883) Public Domain
F.S. was injured while attending the Darien School in Orange Township Illinois by being thrown out the school house window during a wrestling match. He was crippled from that day forward and was forced to use crutches.∼Franklin Sylvester Maxwell was a Silversmith and Jeweler by trade having owned a Jewelry Store in Martinsville, Illinois in various places over the years. His first shop was established in the 1870s and was just north of the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot. His last place of business was located on the north east side of Cumberland Street which was heavily damaged by fire and water in 1813.
He walked with crutches for most of his life after becoming severely crippled in a wrestling accident as a boy.