In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1832, Columbiana county
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
JOHN W. FRENCH.
John W. French owes his success in life to his, own efforts and has gained the only title which America confers upon her citizens, that of a self-made man. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November 8, 1832, his parents being Samuel and Rebecca (Welch) French. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born about 1800, and was a son of Irish parentage. His mother died during his early childhood and he was then reared by his maternal grandfather, William McLaughlin, who came to Ohio about the time of the mother's death, settling in Columbiana county, where he took advantage of the offer made by the government to the settlers who could claim land and would develop farms. He built a log cabin and made a home for his large family numbering ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Several sons were veterans of the war of 181 2. Samuel was a captain in the service and Robert loyally aided in the defense of his country, died while on his way home and was buried in the fk >rest of Seneca county, but his grave was unmarked and therefore could never be visited by the family.
The father of our subject was reared in the pioneer home amid the wild scenes of frontier life and early became familiar with the arduous task of clearing and cultivating the fields. In 1844. after his marriage, he removed with his family to Wood county, where he leased a tract of forest land, built a log cabin home and in the succeeding four years cleared about forty acres, driving considerable income from the sale of the wood as well as from his farming operations. In 1848 he came to Crawford county, settling in Lykens township, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1859, when he removed to Huron county, where his death occurred two years later. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and the Democracy received his political support. In early manhood he married Miss Rebecca Welch, who was born in Virginia about 1808 and a daughter of James and Esther (Ada) Welch, both of whom were of Irish extraction. They went to Columbiana county, Ohio, early in the nineteenth century and there the maternal grandfather of our subject built the first double log house ever erected on the site of Wellsville. For many years he conducted a tavern there, entertaining the pioneer settlers. Both he and his wife died in that county. For over a half century he was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church. He was the only member of the family to remove to the eastern part of the state, becoming actively connected with its upbuilding and promotion. His father was the first white settler to locate in Seneca county Ohio, south of the Sandusky river, his nearest neighbor at the time being twenty-three miles distant. One of his sons. John Welch, served as a representative in the state legislature and another son, Hugh, was judge of the county court, while Martin was a Methodist minister. These sons had lint meager educational privileges, being self-made men and exercised a strong influence for good in the community where they resided. Albert G. Welch, a brother of Mrs. French, and an uncle, of our subject, could not write his own name when he left home, but the ambition, determination and energy so characteristic of the family enabled him to advance steadily in knowledge and prominence. Later he became a state senator, was also sheriff of Columbiana county. Ohio, and subsequently was deputy warden of the Ohio State Penintentiary. Mrs. French was a lady of sterling worth and ability and proved to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet on the journey of life. Her death occurred in the year 1875. She was the mother of ten children, but only four are now living, namely: John W-. Joseph, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Elizabeth, widow of.Martin Corbet, of Chicago; and Esther, the widow of Levi Leonard, of Huron county, Ohio.
John W. French was reared to rural life and the work of the fields on the home farm. Flis school privileges were very limited, his only text-books being the testament and a spelling book, but through broad reading, supplemented by a retentive memory he has become a well informed man and continually increases his knowledge by keeping in touch with the advanced thought and progress of the day. At the age of twenty years he left his parents' home and removed to Putnam county, where he worked in a sawmill. After three years he returned to Crawford county, and as he possessed considerable natural mechanical ingenuity he began working at the carpenter's trade in Lykens township. During the succeeding four years, in connection with Comfort Waller, he erected many houses and barns in the township, and thus largely promoted its improvement. In 1856 he went to Tiffin, where he entered the employ of contractor and builder. Scudder Chamberlain, with whom he remained for four years, when, in 1861, he returned to Lykens township.
On the 24th of February of that year occurred one of the most important events of his life, — his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jane Perky, a native of Seneca county. Ohio, and a daughter of David and Mary (Seitz) Perky. Her father was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and her mother of Fairfield county, Ohio, and during their childhood they went with their respective parents to Seneca county, this state. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. French located in Lykens township, where he continued working at his trade until the nth of May, 1864, when he enlisted at the call for troops to serve one hundred days, joining Company E of the One Hundred and Thirtysixth Ohio Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was stationed at Fort Worth, Virginia. In September of the same year Mr. French was mustered out and returned to his home. In the fall of 1866 he removed to Huron county and purchased fifty-three acres of land and continued carpentering, renting his farm. In the spring of 1873 he sold that property and came to Cranberry township, Crawford county, where he has since resided. Upon his arrival here he purchased seventy acres of land and, abandoning his trade, he has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. After some years he added forty-one acres to his farm, so that the home place now comprises one hundred and eleven acres.
Mr. and Mrs. French became the parents of four children, of whom two are vet living, namely: Sherman L., a farmer of Cranberry township, and David P., who is operating the home farm. Imogene and Martin, the eines: and youngest of the family, are now deceased. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. French is a Democrat in his political faith. He is an example of the boys who educate themselves and secure thenown start in life, — determined, self-reliant boys, willing to work for advantages which others secure through inheritance, destined by sheer force of character to succeed in the face of all opposition and to push to the front in one important branch of enterprise or another. As a man his business ability has been constantly manifested in one phase or another and he has gained an excellent success, a just reward for his meritorious and honorable effort, which commands the respect and admiration of all.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN W. FRENCH, who is a well known citizen of Crawford county, O., and a respected retired resident of Cranberry township, residing on his valuable farm of 11 1 acres, situated in section 11, on the west side of the north and south road, was born at Columbiana county, O., Nov. 8, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Welch) French.
Samuel French was born in Columbiana county, O., and there was reared and married Rebecca Welch, who was born at Wellsville, on the Ohio river, a daughter of James Welch. Her grandfather, Erastus Welch, was born in Ireland and was the first white man to settle near Rocky Creek church in Seneca county, O., not far from Tiffin. After marriage Samuel French and wife came to Crawford county, with the family, in 1848, and settled in Lykens township and lived there for 12 years and then moved to Huron county, O., and he died on his farm there at the age of 57 years, his widow surviving to the age of 65 years and their burial was in Seneca county. They were members of the Presbyterian church. At the time of death Samuel French owned no land in Crawford county. They had the following children: Rebecca and Katherine, both of whom died in Wood county; James, who lived and died in Seneca county; John W.; Joseph; Reason, who died in Crawford county; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Martin Corbett, and lives at Chicago Junction; and Esther, who died in Huron county.
John W. French wasi eight years old when. his parents moved to Wood county, and after that he had no chance to attend school and when he was 24 years of age educated himself by using the school books of his younger brothers and sisters. He was the only one of the sons to learn a trade, becoming a skilled carpenter, and for a number of years worked with a Mr. Waller in general building, particin Lykens township and was in partnership ularly barns. When Mr. Waller married, Mr. French went to Tiffin and there was engaged with a Mr. Chamberlain, a contractor there. In 1 86 1 he married and then settled in Lykens township once more, in 1866 moving to Huron county. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in a home guard organization, Co. E, 136th Regiment and served for four months, when he returned to Lykens township and went to farming. His health broke down two years later so that work at his ' trade was impossible but after moving to Huron county he steadily at the same for six years. He then sold his interests in Huron county and bought his present farm in Cranberry township. He again resumed carpenter i work and continued had some of-the clearing and considerable draining to do and put up the present substantial.farm buildings and has a valuable property.
On Feb. 24, 1861, Mr. French was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Perky, who was born in Seneca county, O., Nov. 17, 1837 and prior to marriage was a teacher in Crawford county. Her parents were David and Mary (Seitz) Perky, the former of whom was born April I, 181 1, in Westmorland county. Pa., and died Feb. 13, 1896. He came to Seneca county in 1827 and married Mary Seitz, who was born March 3, 1814, in Fairfield county, O., and died July 15, 1853, a daughter of John and Madelene Seitz. After their marriage they lived in Seneca county until 1848 and then moved to Lykens township, Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Perky had eleven children, two of whom are living: Mrs. French and Mrs. Abigail Corey, who lives in Stone county, Mo. Four of the sons served in the Civil war, two in the 55th O. Vol. Inf., one in the 25th and the other in the 136th and the only one who returned was the one who belonged to the 25th regiment. Ohio sent many volunteers into the Civil war and in the school district in which
Mr. French then Hved, 28 men offered their services.
Two sons were born to jSIr. and ]Mrs. French: Sherman L. and David P. The latter resides on the home farm. He married Cora Cummins, a daughter of WilHam and Matilda Cummins and they have two daughters: Mary Elizabeth and Esther Matilda. Mr. French and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has always been a good, law-abiding citizen but prefers to cast an independent vote, not identifying himself with any political party and has never accepted any office except that of school director.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.