EV. WILLIAM H. FRANKS was born in Wake county, North Carolina, in 1823, and died December 1, 1885. He was the son of Rev. Anthony Franks; he had one brother and one sister. About the year 1845 he married Martha Jones, and to them were born eight children.

      In 1843, he made a profession of faith in Christ, and connected himself with the Christian Church. In 1861, at Hanks' chapel he was licensed to preach, and was ordained by the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at Oak Level in Franklin county, in 1866. The ordaining presbytery was composed of Revs. Solomon Apple, John N. Manning, and Henry B. Hayes.

      At the Conference at Salem chapel in Forsyth county, the home mission committee reported Wm. H. Franks to preach at Pleasant Springs, Hayes' chapel, Smyrna, Pleasant Union, and Pleasant Hill in Johnson county, in connection with Revs. H. B. Hayes and Anthony Franks. From 1869 to 1879 he attended five Conferences, at Wake chapel in 1869, at Shallow Well in 1875, at Hanks' chapel in 1874, at Salem chapel in 1876, and at Christian chapel reported "had charge of Pleasant Union and Pleasant Hill (Johnson)." In 1880, he was employed as a home missionary and organized New Hill church, which was received into the Conference at Bethlehem in Alamance county. In 1881, he attended the Conference at Catawba Springs. The last two Conferences that he attended were held at Union, Alamance county, in 1884, and at Hayes' chapel, Wake county, in 1885, respectively.

      For the most part his preaching was confined to the counties of Wake, Chatham, Johnson, and Harnett. While his literary qualifications were rather limited, he was noted for his humility, zeal and piety. [343]

[LCM 343]