George Edmund Franklin, the only child of Lena Mary (Tackaberry) Franklin and William Arthur Franklin, was born at home on 29-3-23 W near Deloraine, Manitoba. His schooling included Thirlstane Elementary, Deloraine High School and the University of Manitoba diploma course in agriculture. His farm career started on his father’s farm in 1930. In 1943, he married Eva Moffat and they raised four children, two boys and two girls.
The Franklin farm was a grain and cattle operation. Because of his concern for soil depletion and the possibility of erosion, he took action to prevent either from happening. He stopped plowing in 1938 and later grew forage crops: brome, alfalfa and clover in rotation with other crops in order to prevent soil depletion. The ‘water runs’ in the fields were planted to grass and he stopped leaving land fallow in 1970. He and his son took part in the zero-tillage experiments in the ’70s. Because of the high cost of chemicals, he reverted to conventional forms of cultivation. He felt that it was very important to pass on the farm in a better condition than when he inherited it.
Some of the agricultural organizations in which Franklin participated and provided leadership were: Deloraine Agricultural Society; Board of Directors of Leighton Co-operative Elevator Association; Manitoba Pool Elevators; and the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture, as well as serving as the chairman of the Great Lakes Waterways Development Association and the public governor of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange. Mr. Franklin, in 1962, served on the Manitoba Trade Mission to Europe and in 1971 on the Canadian Advisory Group to the International Wheat Agreement discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.
Franklin served his community very well. He was an active member of the church, the Young People’s Society and was a teacher of a Sunday School class. He was a fraternal member of the Deloraine Lodge, AF & AM, and served as Deputy Grand Master for southwest Manitoba. He was a worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Franklin was a devoted husband and father. He enjoyed sports and nature and gave his children those admirable characteristics, feelings of security and self-worth. He was a confidante, who could be trusted and who would provide a sense of perspective and common sense that was of tremendous help to anyone who worked with him.