Clark Charles French (1854-1937)

FRENCH, EARL, HARRIS, WARD, STOOKEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal July 6, 1937 (page 1)

Clark French, County Pioneer; Dead; Buried Today

Clark French, 83, one of the pioneers of the farming community northeast of Nevada, died at the family homestead at 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, July 4.

Funeral services will be held at the Morfoot Funeral home here at 3:30 this afternoon, after which the body will be taken to the Murphy cemetery in southeast Richland township for burial by th side of his wife who died November 26, 1934, and of several children who preceded the parents in death.

Since the passing of his wife he had lived with his son Lee and family, who occupy an operate the old family homestead.

Clark French was a son of Charles and Isabell French and was born near Monroe, Iowa, January 1, 1854, and died at his home northeast of Nevada, Sunday, July 4, 1937, at the advanced age of 83 years, 6 months and 3 days.

When a small boy the family moved back to Story county and this was his home during his entire life with the exception of a few years spent in Minnesota.

He was married to Elva Earl, daughter of a neighboring pioneer family, February 9, 1879 and to them thirteen children were born. Of the children six are dead and seven survive.

Those surviving are Lucy Harris of Maxwell, Mrs. Verne Ward of Colo, Mrs. Mable Stookey of Nevada, Guy French of Nevada, Hugh French of Red Stone, Minn., Lee French who lives upon the home place and Earl French of Wycema, Minn.

These four sons and three daughter, with 23 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren are left to mourn the death of this respected Story county pioneer as well as a wide circle of more distant relatives and friends.

Dr. J. O. Simon of Memorial Lutheran church, on vacation at Hubbard, Minn., returned early today to conduct this funeral, as well as that of another member of his congregation.

Mr. French was of one of the oldest and most respected families of the community--being a descendant of the venerable Micah French, Revolutionary war veteran, who lived in that community and whose remains lay in the same country cemetery, which is composed largely of members of the French families and their relatives the Murpheys.