France, William Henry

FRANCE, CLARY, PAHR, BUCKLEW, SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/22/2009 at 14:51:25

France, William H.

William H. France was born in Mercer County, Missouri, on December 11, 1858, but most of his life has been spent in Iowa. He is the son of Orville Henry France and Margaret Worth Clary France, the father born in Fulton County, Illinois, on May 23, 1834, and the mother near Louisville, Kentucky, on August 1, 1834. The latter came to Fulton County, Illinois, with her parents, Richard and Ann Clary, from Kentucky in early life and there she grew to womanhood and received her education. The father of the subject also grew up and was educated in the State of Illinois, and there they were married. He began life as a farmer in the Prairie state, but soon after his marriage left there and moved to Iowa, where he remained two years, then went to Missouri where his son, William Henry, of this sketch, was born on a rented farm. Not long afterwards the family went back to Illinois and resumed farming, remaining there until 1860, when they came again to Iowa, locating in Jasper County, the father buying fifty-four acres in Elk Creek Township. Here he got a good start and, by good management and persistent effort, prospered, later adding to his original purchase until he owned two hundred and fifty-four acres and there he farmed on a large scale and raised considerable livestock of various grades. In 1894 he sold out and moved to Clark County, this state, where he owned three excellent farms, which he subsequently sold and then moved to St. Charles, Iowa, where his wife's death occurred in 1906. Then he sold out and removed back to his old boyhood community in Fulton County, Illinois, and this is his present place of abode. He has been successful in his life work beyond the average farmer and now in his old age is enjoying the comforts of life as a result of his former years of activity. Politically, he is a Democrat and in religious matters belongs to the Methodist Protestant Church.

To Orville H. France and wife four sons and three daughters were born, of whom the subject of this biographical review was the fifth in order of birth; the others are, Mrs. Mary M. Pahr, deceased; Ella Belle, deceased; Mrs. Roxy L. Bucklew, Alfonzo W., Leonard W., and a son who died in infancy.

William H. France, of this sketch, attended the district schools of Illinois and Iowa, and he began assisting with the work on the farm when a mere child; at ten years old he began driving a team and a few years later found him a regular farm hand in the harvest fields. He remained under his parental rooftree until he was married. He then purchased forty acres, which forms a part of his present farm and he has continued to reside here to the present time. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has kept well tilled and well improved. He has built all the buildings, which are now to be seen on the place, and they are substantial and convenient, in fact, everything about him indicates good judgment and a fair measure of prosperity. Mr. France was married on April 2, 1884, to Almina Bedora Smith, who was born in Lincoln County, Ohio, on March 21, 1860. She was the daughter of John J. Smith, who first came to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1854. Mrs. France was a woman of many commendable characteristics, and she was called to her reward on November 24, 1909. One son, Loren Wilson France, whose birth occurred on March 28, 1887, was the only child born to the subject and wife and he is now assisting his father on the home place. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 960.