John O French (1827-1887)

FRENCH

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Story City News, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Friday, October 28th, 1887.

A worthless loafer named Perry Akers shot and killed J. O. French, the mayor of Maxwell, last Saturday evening and wounded T. B. Smeltzer. He afterwards shot himself, and ended his miserable career. He began his work in the the wrong way for had he first committed suicide it would have been a commendable deed. Akers had been arrested last summer for some petty offense and these men whom he shot were the officers before whom he was taken at that time. Mr. French lived about an hour but the assassin died instantly. Mr. Smeltzer is comfortable and his recovery is expected. The funeral of Mr. French was held on Monday afternoon attended by a large number of friends and relatives.

Posters Note: J. O. French was buried in the Maxwell cemetery. He marker reads John O French died Oct 22 1887 aged 60 ys & 7 ds (IOOF)