A ‘great’ but now nearly forgotten 1868 Franklin rally will finally have its story shared

Local historians Bob Bowman and Charlie Chamberlain will present the “Story of the ‘Great’ 1868 Schenck-Stanton Rally Held in Franklin Township” at the Franklin Area Historical Society’s February program.

The program will be at 7 p.m. today at the Deardoff Senior Center, 605 S. River St.

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The event, which has been nearly forgotten locally, was a campaign rally for Franklin-born General Robert Cumming Schenck (1809-1890), an attorney and former Civil War officer who was running as a Republican for re-election to the third congressional district (Butler, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren counties).

Schenck was the son of one of Franklin’s founders, William C. Schenck.

The rally is mentioned in biographies of Edwin Stanton, who was Lincoln’s Secretary of War during the U.S. Civil War, but is not covered in local history books.

The program will include an in-depth summary of the event, background information on General Schenck and Mr. Stanton, the location of the rally held between Franklin and Carlisle, a brief history of the railroad systems in Warren County, the content of the Schenck Rally, and results of the 1868 election.

Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge.

For more information about the program or Franklin Area Historical Society, call 937-746-8295.

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