The local historians have paid tribute to many of the merchants and professional people. They list among them, J. H. Alsobrook who had a hardware store in 1881, and became expert in working with metal. He specialized in carriages and "wagon-work supplies." This list also included:

J. J. Carter and S. J. Maris - Dealers in Lumber
R. S. Glass & Son - Real Estate and Groceries
Easter & Kellogg - Dry Goods
Wyser & Calvert - Dry Goods and Liquor
Bartholomew & Brown (1885) - Groceries
McMillan & Maris - Drugs and Jewelry
Dr. J. F. Van Pelt - Dentist
Franklin Furniture Store - Furniture and Coffins
James Gilland (1896) - General Store
Miller Bradbury - Petroleum Products
R. M. Duffey - Drugs
Bode Jackson - Jeweler
W. E. Ferguson - Watch and Clock Repair
J. A. Stegall (1916) - Mercantile Business
James B. Truett - Dry Goods
F. D. Andrews (1913) - Bakery
Eli Cobb - Restaurant
Joe Morgan - Blacksmith
Herman Gode - Saloon
Ben Love - Abstracter
Bob Hodge - Barber
Tom Hawkins - Livery Stable
Pierce Davlin - Livery Stable
W. I. Shaw - Cotton Gin
Henry Lumpkin - Dance Hall and Movies
Mary Jane Lane - Nurse
J. P. Truett - County Farm Manager

The first board of school trustees in Franklin was composed of H. P. Kellogg, I. R. Overall, W. C. Pierce, I. B. Ellison, G. M. D. Patterson, T. P. Calvert, A. Griffin, and S. J. Lipscomb.

The first school building was a frame structure built in 1881. The teachers in 1882 were G. F. Cohron, principal, Mamie Burns, Nina Jamison, and Mrs. Annie Cohron. The philosophy of the school was published as follows: "We believe pupils should be taught taste and refinement, and in view of this, neither means nor pains have been spared to make our building pleasant and attractive, as well suitable for scientific thought." The school was on Greenwood and Center Streets and the building was two stories, furnished with the latest improved furniture and apparatus.

Notices were sent to parents on student conduct, such as:

Students will be kept in strict discipline, firm and parental, rather than tyrannical. Pupils attending dances or visiting saloons will be summoned before the trustees, subject to expulsion. Only those who desire to improve themselves are invited to our seats, while those seeking pleasure would do well to go elsewhere where amusements are more varied. This school is a model one. All apparatus necessary for the development of either mind or body has been purchased, and great care will be taken to prepare students for teaching in the free schools of the state. For simplicity in dress and economy to parents, so far as is practicable, pupils are required to wear uniforms.