FRANCE, Charles

FRANCE, WOOLFENDEN, HOPKINS, GRENAWALT MATHER, DERRY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2014 at 07:10:53

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 296-97. Chicago. 1915.

CHARLES FRANCE

Charles France, the president of the Lamoni Telephone Company, is in active control of that concern and its success is due largely to his able management of its affairs. His birth occurred in Kewanee, Henry county, Illinois, December 29, 1863, and he is a brother of W. A. France, further mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

Charles France received his education in the public schools of Illinois, but in his youth accompanied the family to Decatur county and for about fifteen years resided upon the home farm in Fayette township. He was then for five years engaged in carrying mail to Togo but at the end of that time turned his attention to other pursuits and was for a while connected with a meat market and later was identified with the lumber business in connection with his brother W. A. Upon the discontinuance of that association he became interested in the telephone field and for a number of years has been president of the Lamoni Telephone Company, which has a large number of subscribers and the volume of whose business has shown a steady growth from the time of the organization of the company. Mr. France gives the greater part of his attention to the direction of its affairs and has proved a capable executive, one who does not lose sight of the larger problems of administration and who at the same time is able to keep a close watch on the details of the business. He owns the fine postoffice building, which he erected, is interested in land and has considerable real estate.

Mr. France married Miss Florence Woolfenden, a native of England, who emigrated to America when but fourteen years of age in company with her widowed mother. They located in Utah and there she met Mr. France. To their union have been born three children, Helene, Charles and Roy Kenneth, all attending school.

Mr. France is a democrat and for twelve years has been a member of the town board and during the past two years he has also served as township trustee. Since attaining his majority he has manifested a Uvely interest in everything relating to the civic welfare and is recognized as a public-spirited citizen. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and the various phases of the activity of the church profit by their cooperation and material aid. Mr. France rightly ranks among the leading business men of Lamoni and Decatur county and has used his excellent judgment and power of initiative for the benefit of the comnmnity as well as for his individual gain, the Lamoni Telephone Company under his direction giving excellent service at reasonable rates. His fine home in the western part of Lamoni has been lately remodeled and both he and his wife find pleasure in entertaining their friends there. In his early manhood he traveled extensively over the western part of the United States but he found no section that offered greater opportunites than Decatur county, and he has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community.

The Lamoni Telephone Company, which was promoted by W. A. Hopkins, was incorporated in 1897. The line extends through Decatur and Ringgold counties, Iowa, and Harrison county, Missouri, and through its connections with the Bell Telephone Company gives its subscribers long distance as well as local service. The company employs about five girls, a number of linemen and two or three men who assist Mr. France in the ofiice work. The present officers are: Charles France, president; W. A. Grenawalt, vice president; Dr. W. J. Mather, secretary; and G. H. Derry, treasurer. The above named gentlemen also constitute the board of directors.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014