Franklin Tompkins of Belford died of dropsy in a Newark hospital on Saturday and was buried from the hospital on Monday. Mr. Tompkins had lived at Belford for the past ten years. He was at one time very rich, the fortune left him by his parents being nearly $100,000. He lost this money in business and shortly after his financial reverses occurred he moved to Belford, where he opened a lime kiln. Money had been advanced to him from time to time by the people of the locality. Capt. Benjamin Griggs had loaned him $700 three years ago and Mr. Tompkins gave him a life insurance policy of $1,000 as security. The payments made by Capt. Griggs on the policy since it was turned over to him and the interest on the loan will about equal the face of the policy. Mr. Tompkins left only a very small estate. He was a widower and left no children.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, March 8, 1899