Nathan E. Franklin (December 15, 1870 – March 1, 1940) was a pharmacist, banker, businessman and Mayor of Deadwood.  Born on December 15, 1870 in Iowa, Nathan was the only child of Harris and Anna Franklin.  In 1877 Harris Franklin and his family settled in Deadwood Gulch and became one of Deadwood’s most prominent businessmen.
During his formative years Nathan attended and graduated from the Deadwood public school system in 1887.  After high school he was accepted and attended University of Notre Dame in Indiana.  During summer breaks Nathan apprenticed in the pharmaceutical business under the supervision of Kirk G. Phillips in Deadwood.  In 1891, at the age of 21, Nathan graduated from Notre Dame and returned to Deadwood and opened the Palace Pharmacy at 649 Main Street.  Eleven years later, in 1902, Nathan sold his business and worked as a bank cashier at the First National Bank of Deadwood.  In 1905 First National Bank and American National Bank merged and Nathan was made bank president of First National Bank.  While bank president, Nathan was instrumental in organizing and incorporating the Consolidated Power & Light Company of Lead and Deadwood and served as the vice-president of this organization.  In the civic arena, Nathan was a member and served as the director of the Deadwood Business Men’s Club for eight years.  In 1914 he was elected as Mayor of Deadwood and served two terms in this capacity.  In 1919 Nathan and his wife Ada relocated to New York City, New York where he remained until his death on March 1, 1940.  Nathan was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.