Joseph W. French

As printed in 1906

JOSEPH W. FRENCH. Perhaps no citizen has done more for Three Rivers in the line of material development and prosperity than has Joseph W. French, who for many years was numbered among its most prominent and progressive residents, and now makes his home in Niles. He may well be termed one of the founders of the city, for he has been the promoter of a number of its leading enterprises and the growth and development of a city always depends upon its commercial and industrial activity. His connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has won for himself a reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen. Now he has practically retired from business and since 1905 has been a resident of Niles.

A native of Connecticut, Joseph W. French was born in Oxford township, New Haven county, June 8, 1833, David and Elizabeth (Wooster) French, who were likewise natives of the Charter Oak State. The mother died at Three Rivers, Michigan, at the age of seventy-five years, having long survived her husband, who passed away in Connecticut at the age of fifty years. In their family were five children, of whom four are living.

Joseph W. French, the third member of the family and the only one now residing in Berrien county, was reared in Connecticut and at the age of seventeen years started out in life on his own account, since which time he has depended entirely upon his own resources, and the splendid business record which he has made is therefore very creditable. He taught school for one winter in his native town and afterward went to live with an uncle at Deep River, Connecticut, where he remained for five years, completing his education there at the high school. He afterward learned the trade of making paper boxes and also became a polished of ivory combs. In 1854 he came to Michigan, settling at Three Rivers, where he purchased an interest in the manufacturing business, devoted to the manufacture of spokes and carriage material, also ax handles. Two years later he began the manufacture of wagons, carriages, omnibuses and hearse, and in this enterprise was associated with Julius D. Shailer, of Boston, Massachusetts. The firm was J. W. French & Company and they carried on a very extensive manufacturing enterprise, which brought a gratifying measure of success. Mr. French was thus connected with trade interests until 1857, when he closed out the business and turned his attention to the manufacture of paper. In 1854 Julius D. Shailer, in connection with his associates, had erected a paper mill at Three Rivers, having purchased the water power there and a large amount of real estate. Mr. Shailer appointed Mr. French, with power of attorney, manager of all his (Shailer's) business interests. Previous to this Mr. Shailer sold a half interest to Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago. In 1861 Bradner, Smith & Company purchased a half interest in the business of J. W. French & Company, manufacturers of wagons, carriages, etc. In 1865 Mr. French bought the entire interests of Mr. Shailer at Three Rivers and organized the J. W. French Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of paper. He owned one-half of all the capital stock and the other half was owned by Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago. In 1872 Bradner, Smith & Company, in connection with Mr. French, purchased a third interest in the water power at Niles, having previously manufactured the first wood pulp at Three Rivers. This was the first wood pulp made west of New York. It was after that time that the paper mill was built at Niles. In 1885 Mr. French bought out Bradner, Smith & Company and organized a new company know as the Three Rivers Paper Company. Mr. French retained the greater part of all the stock and was elected president of the company, with Willard W. French as general superintendent, F. J. French as treasurer and J. E. Scott and Mrs. J. W. French as directors. On retiring from the wagon and carriage making business Mr. French began the manufacture of printing paper, erecting a plant and carrying on a very extensive business for twenty years. Prior to that time Mr. French had become interested in flour mills in Three Rivers, continuing his connection therewith until the destruction of the plant by fire. He was also a contractor and builder of the Michigan Air Line from Jackson to South Bend by way of Niles, and as long as he was a resident of Three Rivers he was a director of the Michigan Central system. As before stated, in 1872, in connection with the firm of Bradner, Smith & Company, of Chicago, while they were together as the J. W. French Manufacturing Company, they organized the Michigan Wood Pulp Company and purchased a third of the water power at Niles. They erected here a plant for the manufacture of ground wood pulp and Mr. French also became president of this company. In 1880 the paper mills were erected and were continuously operated until 1905, when the charter having expired a new company was formed under the style of the French Paper Company, the stockholders being Mr. French of this review and his sons. Mr. French became president, W. J. Willits, vice-president, F. J. French, treasurer and J. E. French, secretary. Theirs is one of the largest industries of Berrien county, employing two hundred and fifty skilled workmen, and the plant is operated night and day. Mr. French was also one of the organizers of the Marinette Paper Company, of Wisconsin, of which he became a large stockholder. He also organized the company which established a paper mill at Tippecanoe, Indiana, and became general manager of that business.

Mr. French is a man of resourceful business ability, displaying ready recognition of opportunities and utilizing advantages to the best purpose. He organized the Manufacturers' National Bank at Three Rivers, of which he became the vice-president, while J. B. Willard was president. On selling his interest in that enterprise he organized the Three Rivers National Bank, of which he became president, and on disposing of his stock therein he organized the First State Bank of Three Rivers, of which he became vice-president, while his nephew, W. J. Willits was president. This bank is still being conducted and is in a flourishing condition. Mr. French has retired from the institution and disposed of his stock. His connection with various banking interests has made him well known as a financier and he stands today among those who have wielded a wide influence in commercial, industrial and financial circles. It has been said that a man who each week pays out of his coffers hundreds of employes does much more for the country than he who leads army forces into battle. This Mr. French has done and has contributed in substantial measure to the business development and prosperity of the state as well as to individual success. He has always been just in his treatment of his employes and while demanding faithful and efficient service he has in return given a good wage and has promoted those in his employ as opportunity has offered, thus recognizing able and loyal work. For almost a half century he was connected with every enterprise that had bearing upon the business development, the welfare, progress and prosperity of Three Rivers and in addition to his various corporate interests he also owns extensive coal lands in Virginia, having twenty-two hundred acres and operates coal mines and manufactures coke in the town. He made his home in Three Rivers until 1904 and in the latter part of that year went to California. Upon his return to Michigan he settled in Niles, where he now resides. He has recently erected a comfortable and palatial residence in which to spend his remaining days. It is built in a most attractive style of architecture and its furnishings indicate a refined and cultured taste combined with the evidences of wealth and comfort. Mr. French was happily married in 1856 at Deep River, Connecticut, to Miss Emily J. Wright, a native of that city. They have three sons: Willard W., living at Three Rivers, Michigan, married Alice Blakesley, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and they have four children, Joseph W., Edward B., Edwin V. and Alice Mabel. Frank J., living at Niles and interested in the French Paper Mills, was married to Miss Minnie Craw- ford, of Boston, Massachusetts. They have two children, Aline and Natilie. Joseph E., the youngest son, is living in Niles and is represented elsewhere in this work.

Mr. French is a Republican, and for three years was president of the city council at Three Rivers, Michigan. His attention, however, has been largely given to his business.interests without aspiration for office and he may well be classed among the ''captains of industry' in Michigan, his labors being an important factor in making this state a great productive center. He has been closely associated with its important material industries and his efforts have been discerningly directed along wxU defined lines of labor that always reach the objective point. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, of broad mentality and most mature judgment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world. While not active in the management of any enterprise which he aided to establish and conduct, he yet gives supervision to his invested interests and for years he was a capable factor in the development of the natural resources of the state, contributing in large measure to its material prosperity as well as to his individual success. His business methods, too, have made him an honorable record and he stands foremost in that class of men whose careers excite the admiration and win the respect of their contemporaries.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.