Business and Family Life
Franklin D’Olier was born April 28, 1877 in Burlington, NJ, just across the river from Philadelphia.
His father, William D’Olier, emigrated from Ireland to Burlington in 1860 at the age of 16 and went on to found William D’Olier & Co., a cotton-yarn spinning firm based in Philadelphia, in 1869.
After graduating from Princeton University in 1898, D’Olier went to work for his father’s firm, eventually taking over as president when his father retired in 1913.
Under Franklin D'Olier's leadership, the name of the firm was changed to Franklin D’Olier & Co., and it became one of the largest cotton-yarn firms in the United States.
In 1903, he married Helen R. Kitchen.
They lived in Burlington and had four children: Mary, who died in 1910, Anne, Franklin Jr., and Helen.
D’Olier’s successful business and supportive family enabled him to serve his favorite charitable causes generously throughout his life.