HARVEY FRENCH 1853-1928

PAYNE, FRENCH, DUNDEE, WERTZ, LENNON, SOUTHWARD, KENYON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/24/2005 at 14:08:59

AN OLD RESIDENT OF THIS VICINITY PASSES SUNDAY

Harvey French was born Feb. 14, 1853, in Ripley county, Indiana, and died May 20, 1928, in Postville, Iowa, thus attaining the age of 75 years, three months and six days.

In 1880 he was united in marriage to Orpha Payne. Ten children were born to this union, two of whom preceded their father in death. The eight children who, with the widow, survive are: James French of Freeport, Ill.; Jane of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Will Dundee of Volney, Mrs. Frank Wertz of Elgin, Mrs. Cora Lennon of this city, John French and Evelyn still at home and Leroy of Elkader.

Besides these he is survived by eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and three sisters, Mrs. Jonathan Southward of Glenwood, Minn.; Mrs. Will Kenyon of Cambridge and Mrs. Elizabeth Kenyon of Ortley, S. Dakota.

Mr. French was confined to his bed almost six months with acute arthritis and ofttimes suffered intense agony but he himself was patient. He was an industrious, law abiding citizen and kindly disposed, being held in high esteem by all who knew him. He was baptized February first and received into St. Paul's Lutheran church. Frequently did he pray to God for deliverance from evil, and the night before God took him home he asked his pastor to pray with him, and when he had finished he said, "I am ready." A blessed sleep.

The funeral was held from St. Paul's church in this city at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. Interment in Postville cemetery.

- contributed by Mary Durr