Nathan E. Franklin (Term 1914 - 1918)

Nathan E. Franklin (December 15, 1870 – March 1, 1940) was a pharmacist, banker, businessman and Mayor of Deadwood.  Born on December 15, 1870 in Iowa, Nathan was the only child of Harris and Anna Franklin.  In 1877, Harris Franklin and his family settled in Deadwood Gulch and became one of Deadwood’s most prominent businessmen.

Nathan during his formative years attended and graduated from the Deadwood public school system in 1887.  After high school, he was accepted and attended University of Notre Dame in Indiana.  During summer breaks, Nathan apprenticed in the pharmaceutical business under the supervision of Kirk G. Phillips in Deadwood.  In 1891 at the age of 21, Nathan graduated from Notre Dame and returned to Deadwood and opened the Palace Pharmacy at 649 Main Street.  Eleven years later in 1902, Nathan sold his business and worked as a bank cashier at the First National Bank of Deadwood.  In 1905, First National Bank and American National Bank merged and Nathan was made bank president of First National Bank.  While bank president, Nathan was instrumental in organizing and incorporating the Consolidated Power & Light Company of Lead and Deadwood and served as the vice-president of this organization.  In the civic arena, Nathan was a member and served as the director of the Deadwood Business Men’s Club for eight years.  In 1914, he was elected as Mayor f Deadwood and served two terms in this capacity.  In 1919, Nathan and his wife Ada relocated to New York City, New York where he remained until his death on March 1, 1940.  Nathan was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.