FRANKLIN E. PAUL.
Corp. Franklin E. Paul, son of Captain Clark and May (Young) Paul, was born in Dover, N. H., Sept. 14, 1829. He received his education in the public schools of his native town. His father was a sea captain, and followed the sea for over forty years. At the age of fifteen he went to North Bridgewater, now Brockton, Mass., and lived on a farm for about a year, and then learned the trade of boot and shoemaking. After serving faithfully three years as an apprentice, he started out for himself, working in different towns in Massachusetts.
In 1858 he removed to Mansfield, Mass., and in September of that year he married Almira Alger, daughter of Edmund Alger, Esq., of that town. While busy in his calling, the tocsin of war resounded throughout the land, and aroused within him a spirit of loyalty and devotion to country, and he determined to enroll himself among his country’s defenders, and do all in his power to maintain the honor and integrity of free institutions and good government.
Corp. Franklin E. Paul.
On the 29th of September, 1862, he enlisted with five others from Mansfield, in Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, and was mustered into service Oct. 14, 1862. Leaving a good home, a devoted wife, and a little daughter, he offered all upon his country’s altar, and served loyally and faithfully with his battery until the termination of the war. He was promoted to corporal in 1865. He was mustered out with the battery June 28, 1865.
On returning to his home in Mansfield, Mass., he worked at his trade for two years, and then removed to Boston to take charge of a large shoe manufactory on Pearl Street, in that city. He continued in this position until May 27, 1877, when he received an appointment as clerk in the Boston post-office, in which capacity he still remains.
In the year 1892 he was unanimously chosen first vice-president of Battery H Veteran Association, and in August, 1893, was elected to the office of president. On assuming the chair he delivered an excellent address appropriate to the occasion, which was listened to with marked interest and attention. He is also a member of the publication committee on the History of Battery H. He is held in high esteem by his comrades of Battery H, his associates in the Boston post-office, and by his fellow townsmen of Chelsea, Mass., where he now resides.