Charles Edmund “Charlie” French (1873-1952)

FRENCH, WELLS, COOK, HOLCOMB, BRODIE, WOLF, SMAY, EBY, THIEBEN, SMITH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/2/2025 at 12:31:18

From Nevada Evening Journal November 26, 1952 (page 3)

Last Rites For Charles E. French Held Sunday

Services for Charles E. French were held Saturday at 2 p.m. with Rev. F. A. Smith officiating. Burial was in the family lot in the Nevada cemetery.

Mrs. Norman Dobson, accompanied Fred McLain in two songs "Beyond the Sunset" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

Pallbearers were Ray Chitty, Clarence Hilburn, Arthur Couser, C. S. Swanson, Sam Banks and Harold Handsaker.

There were many beautiful floral offerings as well as gifts of money given in his memory.

The following obituary was read by Rev. Smith.

Obituary

Charles Edmond French, son of Ira and Martha "Wells" French was born near Arope [sic], Nebraska, on September 7, 1873, and died in the Story County hospital, Nevada, Iowa, on November 19, 1952. He was 79 years, two months and 12 days old at the time of his death.

Mr. French spent the early years of his life in Nebraska, coming to Iowa when he was about 20 years of age. From that time on he has lived mostly in Story county and in the Fernald neighborhood. He was a farmer and spent his life in farming. He was married to Nancy Ann Cook on January 3, 1898. His wife and life companion passed away just one year to the day, before his death. To this union 7 children were born. They are: Sylvia Holcomb of Kanawha, Iowa; Russell of Ankeny, Clifford of Fernald, Vernice who died in 1921; Edna Brodie of Nevada, Glenn of Garden City, Iowa and Wilda Wolf of Chattanooga, Tenn.

This family of men and women, who today mourn the loss of their father, have a vivid memory of their home life as lived in the early days when they enjoyed the fellowship of family life. Mr. French was well known as an "Old Fiddler" and much time was spent in the family circle as he entertained them with music. After coming to Iowa he lived with an uncle until his marriage.

He united with the Johnson Grove Methodist church soon after he was married, altho he had been baptized in the First Christian church in Edison, Nebr. when he was about 14 years of age. He never moved his church membership from the Johnson Grove church, where, in his early life, he had served as treasurer of the church and on its official board. He was active in community life, during the active days, serving as a member of the school board and in the Story County Farm Bureau. When he retired from the farm in 1931 he gave up most of his community and church activities.

His home had been in Fernald since retirement. He is survived by his children as listed above, and the following brothers and sisters: Lucy Smay, Alexis French, Mae Eby and a half sister, Winnie Thieben, all of Nebraska and Clarence French of Nevada, Addie Smith, Michael and Orn French preceded him in death. There are seven grand children and many other relatives and friends left to mourn his death and miss him in life.