Franklin Fredus FRENCH

FRENCH, DOAN, ROBINSON, WILDER, TYLER, DUNLAP, BESTOW

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/25/2011 at 12:09:20

October 27, 1845 -- April 26, 1917

Franklin Fredus French was born in Metoneme, Fondulac County, Wis., Oct. 27, 1845, being the third son in a family of eight children. While still a mere boy, he, together with his parents, moved to Lemonware, Wis., where they resided for a short time. Later on they moved to a farm near Glendale, Wis., where he spent the most of his boyhood days and from which he enlisted as a volunteer in the war of the rebellion. When he joined the army he was a lad of only eighteen years, but during those dark days he served his country manfully and valiantly, returning to his Wisconsin home at the close of the war. On 24th of March, 1867, he was united in marriage to Eliza Rosalie Tyler at Lake Mills, Wis. From this union there have come five children, one of whom died in infancy, the others growing to manhood and womanhood.

In the winter of 1869 Mr. and Mrs. French came to Iowa, settling on a homestead in Vernon Township, Humboldt county. In the spring of 1880 they moved from the farm to the village of Livermore. While residing here Mr. French was elected Clerk of courts and this necessitated their removal to Humboldt, which has ever since remained their permanent home. While residing on a farm near Renwick, Mr. French was converted and in 1871 was baptized and joined the Baptist church of Renwick. When he came to Humboldt there was no church of his belief here so he, together with his good wife and others interested organized the First Baptist church of this place, of which church he has always been a faithful and consistent member.

On April 26, 1917, he received the summons to come up higher and in obedience to the divine command he now rests from his labors at the age of 71 years, five months, and thirty days. He leaves to mourn his loss the following immediate relatives, besides his faithful wife, four children, Mrs. H. C. Doan, of Humboldt, Mrs. W. L. Robinson, of Hampton, Dr. Royal French, Marshalltown, Iowa, and Mrs. B. H. Wilder, Humboldt. Two sisters, Carrie Tyler, of Goldfield, Iowa, and Naomi Dunlap of Marshfield, Wis., also and adopted sister, Mrs. Bestow of Sparta, Wis.

The funeral was held at the residence on Saturday morning, April 28, Rev. W.J. Robinson, pastor of the Baptist church officiating. Burial at Union cemetery. The Masonic order had charge of the services at the grave.