Hon. Franklin B. Galbraith, M. D., was one of the most prominent citizens of Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, whose distinguished both as a statesman in a physician and a surgeon, he died in Pontiac, February 21, 1903.

Dr. Galbraith was born near Port Huron, Sanilac County, Michigan, December 26, 1840, and came from honorable and substantial ancestry. His grandfather, John Galbraith , was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and later became a resident of Canada, where his son, the father of our subject, Dr. John Galbraith , was born and where he married Nancy Humphrey, who is also of Canadian birth, but of Irish ancestry. Dr. John Galbraith was for many years a practicing physician in Sanilac County Michigan, where he died in 1880. The mother of Dr. Galbraith passed away in 1878. The paternal family comprised of seven children. One son A. G. Galbraith , was a soldier in the Civil War and was captain of the 22nd Regiment, Michigan volunteer infantry, he underwent all the horrors of war, and was wounded in the Battle of Chattanooga and lay for 17 months in the terrible prisons of Libby in Andersonville, finally being sent home on parole by dying soon after from the effects of his terrible experiences. in his yearly use Dr. Franklin B. Galbraith attended the schools in the vicinity of his home, but in the age of 13 years accepted a clerical position in a village store. His inclinations were the direction the medicine and was only 17 years old when he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. There he was graduated at the age of 21. In 1860 he went to New York and attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, from when she was graduated in the following year; immediately after, he commenced his practice at Lexington, Michigan, where he remained until the succeeding October when he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 10th Regiment, Michigan volunteer infantry, and in April, 1862, he was sent to Tennessee. On a count of failing health, Dr. Galbraith resigned and returned to Port Huron, where he took charge of the practice of Dr. C. M. Stockwell, who went into the Army. In 1863 Dr. Galbraith was appointed surgeon of the board of enrollment, with headquarters at Pontiac, and at a later date was commissioned surgeon of the 31st Regiment, Michigan volunteer infantry, which however, did not go out as an organization, but was broken into fragments which which replenish other organizations are ready in the field. He was transferred to the 4th Regiment, Michigan volunteer Calvary, and with that organization went to the front and participated in active warfare. Dr.Galbraith remained until almost the close of the war, and after his resignation was accepted , located at Pontiac, to which city, its people, its development and its varied interests, he devoted the remainder of his life.

For over 30 years Dr. Galbraith was an honored citizen of Pontiac and was thrice chosen as mayor of the city. His election was considered a triumph by his Republican friends, but the wise, just an economic administration of municipal affairs but in the support of all factions. In 1889 he was his party's choice for the state Senate and was elected from the 14th Senatorial District by a large Republican majority. his attitude in the Senate was characterized by the same dignity, sincerity and thoughtfulness that had marked him as a physician and a soldier. Although he was thoroughly identified with the Republican Party, he pursued a policy so manly and consistent that he seldom felt the lash of his party criticism. To all the stress of public life, Dr. Galbraith retained his love of literature and the devotion to the acquisition of knowledge which had been a characteristic of childhood. His attention was ever claimed by good books, literary excellence on any subject and by all those discoveries which have placed his profession on such and exalted plane. He was an honored member of the Oakland County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His fraternal associations included the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and Pontiac Lodge number 21, F. & A. M.

Dr. Galbraith was united in marriage in 1865 to Marie Smith of Pontiac,, although a native of New York, has passed almost her entire life in Oakland County. The two children born of this marriage are: Grace G. And Dr. Stewart E., the latter of whom graduated in 1891 in the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, and from the medical department of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1899, and is now engaged in medical practice at Pontiac.

The death of Dr. Galbraith brought grief to a large circle outside his own bereaved family. His personality was strong and of him it may be truly said as of another: "he earned honor respect in public life as well is affection and veneration and private."