FRENCH, George A. - 1914

FRENCH, KIDNER, WEAVER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 02:47:59

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

GEORGE A. FRENCH.

George A. French, well known in Cherokee as an enterprising business man, is successfully engaged in dealing in grain, coal, flour and feed, in which connection he has built up a trade of considerable volume, the result of enterprising methods which neither seek nor require disguise. Mr. French was born in eastern Iowa, March 17, 1874, a son of Isaiah H. and La Vera (Kidner) French, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Ohio. When a young man the father removed westward to Iowa, settling in Buchanan county, where he was living at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the conflict. He then returned home and engaged in farming. When his son, George, was a lad he removed with the family to South Dakota, this being in the year 1881. He afterward returned to Iowa in 1891, settling in Sulpher Springs, where his remaining days were passed, his death occuring in 1909. His widow still survives.

George A. French was only about seven years of age when his parents went to South Dakota, where he was largely educated as a pupil in the public schools. He afterward returned to Iowa and was for twelve years identified with the mercan-tile business in Sulpher Springs. In 1910 he moved to Cherokee and purchased the Western Elevator Company. This building was erected by James Robinson and has been improved by Mr. French who has made it modern and sanitary in every particular. He handles grain, coal, flour and feed and does a large business, for his prices are reasonable and his business methods honorable. In addition to his interests at Cherokee he also owns an elevator at Storm Lake, Iowa, his grain trade interests thus centering at two points. He is likewise the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred acres and a good home in Cherokee.

On the 1st of March 1899, Mr. French married Miss Alice Weaver, a daughter of William Weaver, of Sulpher Springs, and they have two children, Roy and Gladys, who live at home. Fraternally Mr. French is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and he is a devote member of the Presbyterian church. He votes independently and takes an inteligent interest in public affairs, although he is not active as an office seeker. His attention is given almost entirely to the conduct of his business interests and in these he has met with substantial and well deserved success.