Born in Worthington, Massachusetts, Franklin Everett was self-educated, “fitting himself for college.” He began his life-long career as a teacher at age 16, while helping on the farm and in the sawmill. He went on to attend Waterville College (Colby University) in Maine and graduated in 1838. He married Thirza Cudworth, of Chesterfield Massachusetts, in 1839 and continued his teaching career in Vermont and New York.

In 1846 Professor Everett, as he came to be known, and his wife and daughter, Cadette, moved to Grand Rapids, where he taught at the three-year-old Grand Rapids Academy, which was located on the site of the old courthouse in Veterans Park. Thirza Everett gave instruction to female students in a small building to the east and, in an 1850 newspaper advertisement, she is listed as “preceptress of female department.” As teacher Franklin Everett became part of the fabric of the village and was elected “city recorder” in 1851. Franklin and Thirza opened the Everett Academy as a private school in 1852 in a small wooden building on Prospect, at the top of the hill just north of Lyon. He quickly became a beloved and inspiring teacher for the young people of the city.

In 1858, he met with a group of old settlers, people who came to the area before statehood in 1847, and they organized an Old Settlers Society. They met informally for many years until 1871, when, at a meeting in Sweet’s Hotel, they reorganized as the Old Residents Association of the Grand River Valley. Again, Professor Everett was present and offered to be the historian, collecting reminiscences of the early settlers and recording them.

In 1874 Franklin and Thirza closed their academy so Franklin could work full time at the task of collecting histories from old Grand River Valley residents. His work led to the publication of the book, "Memorials of the Grand River Valley," in 1877.

Along the way he wrote poetry. Chapman, in "History of Kent County," reprints one of them, a salute to the history of the area. Albert Baxter reprints Cobmoosa’s Lament in his book the History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Everett empathizes with the Native Americans in the valley witnessing the changes that had occurred. His works often display his humor and wit.

In addition to his love of literature and teaching, he was an active member of a society, Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History, organized in 1855. His collection of rocks and minerals and fossils later became part of the Kent Scientific Institute.

Their daughter Cadette married George C. Fitch and had two children. George E. Fitch was the one who saved his grandfather Everett’s works for the Old Residents which later became part of the Grand Rapids Public Library archives.

Other titles in the library include: "Father Lincoln," "Prefernal Conferences," discussions with spirits of an uncle and “Alchohol.” Another hand-written volume includes The Mountain Minstrel, a longer version of Cobmoosa’s Lament, and a series titled The Seasons, “to be spoken by the youngs girls in costumes.” In collection 371, The Old Collection, there are more titles including: "Hermit of the Adirondaks" and "The Doctor."