Person:Louis French (3)

DEATH: 18 Nov 1895, Duluth Minnesota. Obituary of Alderman Louis French.- Duluth NewsTribune. Nov 19, 1995. Cause of death - Brights Disease. ---------------------------------

The Duluth News Tribune  21 Nov 1895

"Ald. French's Funeral.... It will be held this afternoon and the members of the council will attend in a body.... At the meeting of the city officials in the office of Mayor Lewis yesterday morning to take action regarding the funeral of Ald. French, it was decided that they should start tody from the city hall and drive to the house. A large floral pillow will be send by Vice President Howard in behalf of the city council and another floral tribute will be sent by Comptroller Ten Brook in behalf of the other city officials. All the offices in the city hall will close at noon today. Mrs. Sampson Dower, Miss Lily and Sampson Jr of Staples, Minn., mother sister and brothers of Mrs. French, have arrived in the city to attend the funeral."

The Sunday News Tribune 24 Nov 1895

"The Late Ald. French .. He was a Selfmade Man and his Life was a Busy One from Boyhood......Lewis D. Drench was born at Ryde, Isle of Wight, August 14, 1854. He died at his home in Hazelwood Park, Duluth, November 18, 1895 aged 41 years, months and three days..... In 1856, when the deceased was two years of age, his father, Rev. Daniel French, emigrated to Canada. The father died in 1859. In 1863 the widow married W.H. Simmons. In 1864 the family moved to the United States and settled at Loda, Ill, where they made their home until 1870 when they again moved and settled near Brookfield, Renville county, Minn on a farm ...... In 1871 Mr. French came to Duluth and took a position as night clerk in the Clark House, then the leading hotel here. He remained there a year and then spent two seasons on Lake Superior in the boats Metropolis and Manatee. Leaving the lake in 1874 he accepted a position in the flour and feed store of Scoville & White where he remained until the summer of 1876... April 1, 1876 Mr. French was married to Miss Nellie Dower of Duluth. He left Duluth in July of that year for Aldrich, Minn. near which place he purchased a farm and which he worked for several years. During his residence at that place he held several county and township offices. Moving into the village in 1882 he was ap- postmaster. Resigning tht position in 1883, Mr. French in company with Sampson Dower removed to Dower Lake and then platted the townsite of Dower. They also established the mercantile firm of Dower & French, of which the latter was manager. During his residence there Mr. French held the positions of postmaster, town clerk and justice of the peace. He was also commissioner of Todd county for several years. He was tendered a nomination to the state legislature, but declined it......In 1889 the firm moved its store to Staples. That fall Mr. French sold his interest and moved back to Duluth. In January, 1891, he entered the real estate business with his brother-in-law, W.F. Markus. The firm was dissolved in January, 1895.... Mr. French was a member of the West Duluth council in 1893. In 1894 he was elected as an alderman from the Seventh ward to the common council of Duluth. He served one year and was re-elected last February for a two years term..... On the 27th of last month Mr. French was taken ill with typhoid pneumonia. Then complications with a return of Bright's disease set in. Death came at 11:45 p.m, Monday, Nov. 18... A widow and five children mourn the loss of a model husband and father. The children are Lewis D. jr aged 19; Nellie I aged 17; Maud M age  ; Ella M aged 11 and Clarence J aged 4..... The only relatives in the city are W.F. Markus and family, Mfrs. Markus being Mr. French's sister. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs W.H. Simmons, Lynd, Minn; a brother, Edwin M. French of Atwater, Minn, and a sister Mrs. J.D. Hayford of Litchfield, Minn.... The funeral services were held at Hazelwood Park Methoidst Episcopal church last Thursday afternoon. Aside from the family and a large number of friends and neighbors, the city aldermen and officals attended in a body and bestowed upon the remains most appropriate floral tributes. Rev. R.H. Craig and Rev. I.F. Merritt conducted the services and mad appropriate remarks. Six brothers-in-law acted as pall bearers... W.F. Markus, Duluth; Samuel J, John and William Dower, Wadena; and Sampson Dower, Jr Staples. The remains were interred in Forest Hill Cemetery."

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The Duluth News Tribune 1 Jan 1896

"Government"

"There was a vacancy in the council made by the death of Lewis D. French from the Seventh ward. Mr. French's death was universally mourned, both by his personal friends who had become very fond of him and by the public whose interests he so faithfully served while an alderman. He was a real estate man of excellent standing. Though born in England, 1854, he came over to this country a year after that date. He was a thoroughloy self made man having earned his iving since his 16th year. His Minnesota experience dates away back from the year 1871. He was several times entrusted with office by his constituents and was elected each time by heavy majorities. L.A. Barnes was elected to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. French's disease."

CENSUS:  1885  Minnesota State Census  Todd county  Staples    Dower Lake

L.D. French 30

Nellie M. French 27

Lewis D. French Jr 8

Nellie L. French 6

Maude French 2

Ella French 0

Minn State Census: 1875 Duluth St. Louis Co Ward 4

 May 1, 1875   Family #107

Cassius C. Merritt 24 Born PA Both parents born CT Edwin M. French 22 Born Eng Both parents born Eng Louis French 20 Born England Both parents born Eng

RIN: MH:I18

1. ↑ St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight Methodist Circuit. Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan Registry at Paternoster Row register of births and baptisms. (St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight Methodist Circuit. Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan Registry at Paternoster Row register of births and baptisms, 1818-1841.. Loose registration papers, 1825 FHL BRITISH Film 828118).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Birth certificate of Lewis Daniel French. St. Helens, Isle of Wight, England.
3. ↑ Loda twnship. number 185 Iroquois county, Illinois. 1870 census.
4. ↑ Certified copy of an Entry of Birth. - Louis Daniel French. (General Register Office, London (Certified as true copy 11 Oct 1984). Application # R6741).
5. ↑ Obituary of Louis Daniel French. (Duluth News Tribune. Nov. 19, 1895.)
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   Ald. French Dead