Mae Ellen Rogers Franklin was born on August 13, 1883 to Hubert Rogers and Jennie Adams Rogers of Preston, Chenango County, New York. An only child, Mae was also known as May or Mai. In 1900 Mae’s father passed away and Mae and her mother remained in Preston after her father’s death. Mae’s mother Jennie supported them by running her husband’s store. At the age of twenty-two Mae married Elmer Horace Franklin, also from Preston. They were wed on November 22, 1905.

Elmer, born on January 6, 1886 to Horace D. and Louise Franklin grew up on the family dairy farm in Preston. Elmer initially worked as a teamster for the Borden Company in Norwich, then later as a farmer. Mae helped Elmer with the operation of the farm. Elmer was also the enumerator for the 1930 census. Elmer’s final occupation was operating a general store in Preston. It is possible that he either took over his mother-in-law’s store shortly before her death in 1932. Elmer was a member of the Preston Grange and the Chenango County Farm Bureau. Mae and Elmer resided in Preston for their entire life and had one child, Marie, born September 20, 1910. Mae died on December 30, 1950 and Elmer died four years later, on November 23, 1954. Both are buried in the Lewis Cemtery in Preston, New York.