JOHN FRANKLIN McALPIN, whose productive farm of seventy-five acres is situated in Staunton Township, on the Troy and Piqua Turnpike Road, three miles northwest of the former city, is one of the township's representative men. He was born May 12, 1863, at Little Rock, Arkansas, and is a son of John Harvey and Rachel J. (Nash) McAlpin.

The father of Mr. McAlpin was born in Tennessee, in July, 1830, but has been a resident of Ohio for forty-five years. Although a southern man by birth and rearing, he was opposed to slavery and was not willing to serve in the Confederate army when his native State was in rebellion against the Union. He was drafted, however, as a soldier and suffered hardship in making his escape. He came to Ohio with his family, from Arkansas, about 1864 settling four and one-half miles northeast of Piqua, where he lived for six years. He then moved on the Mitchell farm, one mile south of Piqua, where he remained for nineteen years. In 1890 he purchased his present farm, which lies three-fourths of a mile from his son's farm. He married Rachel J. Nash, who was born in a southern state, and still survives. The following children were born to them: James M.; Cassandra C., who is the wife of Jotham DeWeese; a babe that died; and John Franklin.

John Franklin McAlpin, known to his friends as Frank, was one year old when his parents came to Miami County. He remembers the first school he ever attended, this being held in a little, brick building near Piqua. He began work on the farm before he was out of boyhood, always living at home until his marriage, with the exception of one year, which he spent in the wilderness of southwestern Kansas. After he returned he was married on January 7, 1886 to Miss Elizabeth J. Maxwell, a daughter of Jonas Maxwell, and they have one son, Earl M. The latter is an expert stenographer, being a graduate of a commercial school at Piqua. After his marriage, Mr. McAlpin rented a farm east of Miami City and resided on it for three years, later rented the home farm for one year, and in 1898 bought his present excellent property from George Edge. He has made many substantial improvements, but the farm residence was already on the place.

Mr. McAlpin is a strong Republican in his political principles. At present he is filling the office of turnpike superintendent. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Troy. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Piqua.