Franklin was born to Tobias and Mary Schantz on January 12, 1874 in Hawkesville, Waterloo County and raised alongside his seven siblings; Orpheus Moyer Schantz, Etta Lydia Mary Schantz, Sophie Emma Schantz, Austin Tobias Schantz, Arthur Benjamin Schantz, Florence Annie Catherine Schantz, and Herbert Cecil Palmer Schantz.

In 1877 Franklin and his family moved to Conestogo, Waterloo County. In 1884, Franklin and his family moved to Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario and he attended Central School.

Franklin left school at the age of thirteen. Subsequently he worked as a clerk in dry goods stores including R.D. Lang Dry Goods and the Smythe Brothers Dry Goods. Franklin continued to work for R.D. Lang Dry Goods located on King Street West for the majority of his career and was eventually promoted to Head of the home furnishings department.

Franklin’s sister Etta died from complications of childbirth in 1900. Afterwards, Franklin took care of the family, especially Etta’s infant daughter Dorothy Etta Russell (nee White). He helped to pay off the family’s debts and eventually his mother Mary deeded ownership of the house at 43 Schneider Avenue to him in 1901.

In 1908, Franklin stayed with his siblings Arthur, Austin and Florence in Alberta for several months.

In 1917 Franklin was summoned by a letter from Military District No.1 to appear under the national registration at a recruiting office. He joined the 108th Militia Battalion and trained in the local barracks in the Williams Greene and Rome Company factory on Queen Street South in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario.

Franklin joined the Waterloo Historical Society, which met in the Kitchener Public Library. Franklin was also an avid stamp collector and member of the K-W Philatelic Society. In addition, Franklin had a lifelong interest in nature. He was particularly interested in birds and often gave talks on the subjects and led nature walks.

Franklin retired from his work in the dry goods business in the 1930s but continued to work part time elsewhere. During World War II, he worked as a night watchman at a power station on Breithaupt Street. Later, he delivered accounts for the Public Utilities Commission to Kitchener homes.

Franklin served as Secretary-Treasurer of the KW Orphanage Board from 1918 to 1942. He was elected to the Kitchener Public School Board as a Trustee between 1933 and 1940.

Franklin died of stroke on October 2, 1962 at the age of 88 and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.