ELI FRENCH
Son of Samuel and Sally (Gates) French, was born in Dummerston, Vt., September 8, 1800. He was prepared for college under the tuition of Rev. Hosea Beckley of Dummerston. He left college at the beginning of the Junior year; taught school in Dover, N. H., until 1828 ; was afterwards engaged in the book-selling business, in Dover, until February, 1832 ; in Philadelphia, Pa., from that date until September, 1833; and subsequently in New York City, until his decease.
He received his degree upon examination, in 1828.
He was married, May 26, 1835, to Miss Hannah Rogers Draper, of Dover, N.H., where she now resides; and had five children, of whom four are living ; one daughter, Hannah Draper, wife of Dr. James H. Wheeler, of Dover, N. H.; and three sons, William Rogers, Samuel Gates, and George Rogers, all of whom are now engaged in business in the City of New York. William Rogers served four and a half years in the army during the late war, rising from the ranks to the office of Lieut. Colonel, and afterwards breveted Colonel.
In the latter part of June, 1868, Mr. French went to Dover, N.H., hoping that a change of air and distance from business responsibilities would promote his recovery from a disease under which he had been laboring for some weeks previous, biliary calculi ; but, soon after his arrival, his disease assumed a more aggravated form, and, after an experience of much pain and suffering, death came to his relief on the 21st day of July following.
“Love of books being his ruling passion, he devoted himself to supplying public and private libraries with the choicest works, his fine scholarship and thorough knowledge of literature rendering him peculiarly fitted for this work. As a collector of rare books at home and abroad, he was unequalled, and in the prosecution of his duties he was brought in contact with many of the leading scholars in this country. He was a man of a cheerful, happy nature, of indefatigable industry, and of remarkable purity of character.” — American Annual Cyclopaedia for 1868
