French Family Association
The Official Website of the Surname French
Train Depot at Arlington, Washington Co., NE
Chart #159, William B. French, 1802
NYC; Bloomfield, Fillmore Co., MN
Whiteside Co., IL; Arlington, Washington Co., NE
This chart updated by Mara French on 7/13/10. Numbers in brackets [ ] show sources and refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2010.
Contents
Background and History
The earliest notice of this family was at the Dutch Reformed
Church in NYC. This is the same church where Philip French of FFA Chart #131
attended with his family as early as 1693-1727 [1]. It was the North American
branch of the Dutch Reformed Church from 1628-1819 [1]. Chart #131 does not go
beyond the 17th century, so we are unable to connect these two
lines. I did some research on FFA Chart #131 in England in Jun 2010 which I
will add to that chart; however, if someone could research that line further
on, perhaps of Philippus, Farmar, or Adolphus in the Fifth Generation between
1740 where FFA Chart #131 ends and 1802 where FFA Chart #159 begins, perhaps
there will be a connection.
The old Bloomfield cemetery contains a tract of about twelve
acres, but only four acres of this cemetery are located within the limits of
the town of Bloomfield. We are unsure of the exact location of District 37 in
Whiteside County, IL. Former President Ronald W.
Reagan was born in Tampico, Whiteside Co., IL on 6 Feb 1911.
First Generation
1.1* William B. French,
b. 13 Sep 1802, NYC, d. 7 Jun 1862 in Minnesota City, Winona, MN, m. 25 Aug
1824 Leah (Letty) Marcellus at Madison Avenue Dutch
Reformed Church, NYC. Filed for land 26 Sep 1856, Bloomfield, Fillmore Co,
MN, d. 1862 in MN [6].
In the 1850
census, William B. French lived in District 37, Whiteside Co., IL with his
wife, Lette, age 45 and their 5 children: Benjamin F. 20; Adaline 16; Charles
14; Frances A. 12; and Cornelia S. 7. In 1850, William was a cabinet maker
along with his oldest son Benjamin.
1.2 John French.
Second Generation
Children of William and Leah (Marcellus) French, 1.1
2.1 Mary Ann French,
b. 27 Jul 1825, d. 8 Apr 1844, m1. Charles P. Jones and had 3 children: Ada
Jones, Charlie Jones, Cora Jones. She m2. John Thompson. Death date seems quite
young to have married twice and have 3 children – this research could be
incorrect.
2.2 Emerline Amelia French, b. 21 Feb 1827, d. 27 Feb 1832 at age 5 years.
2.3 Elizabeth French,
b. 31 Jul 1828, d. 25 Aug 1828 at age 1 month.
2.4 Benjamin Franklin French, b. 14 Aug 1829 in NY, according to the 1850 census where he was
living in District 37, Whiteside, IL. He d. 25 Feb 1893. He is listed in the
1880 census, age 48, living only with his mother, Letty, age 68. He was a
carpenter and his mother was a housekeeper. They were both born in NY and so
where both of their parents. In another homestead in the same census, is
BenjaminÕs brother Charles, living nearby in Lincoln Precinct, Washington Co.,
NE.
2.5 William Henry French, b. 16 Dec 1831, d. 14 Oct 1834, age 3.
2.6 Adaline or Avaline French, b. 21 Oct 1833 in NY, according to the 1850 census where she was
living in District 37, Whiteside, IL. She d. 4 Sep 1851, age 18.
2.7* Charles Henry French, b. 2 Feb 1835 in MI, m. Sarah Maria Spaulding on 8 Feb 1860, d. 23
Nov 1897 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE [6]. He was 14 years old according to
the 1850 census where he was living in District 37, Whiteside, IL. In the 1880
census, Charles and his wife were living in Lincoln Precinct, Washington Co.,
NE, with their 4 children: William E. 17, Clarence 15, Charles E. 7, and Cora
1. Sarah was b. Jun 1840 in MA, and at age 59 in the 1900 census, she is listed
as a widow. Sarah was born in Massachusetts and lived in Forestville, Fillmore
Co., MIN in the 1860 census with her parents Asoff Spaulding 55 and Martha
Spaulding 50, and her siblings George 18, Linton 16, Walter 12, Chas 8.
Charles Henry French
Charles Henry French and Sarah Maria
Spaulding
Sarah Spaulding French
2.8 Frances Amelia French, b. 18 Feb 1838 in MI. She was 12 years old according to the 1850
census where he was living in District 37, Whiteside, IL. She m. Hiram Bender
on 26 Feb 1857 at age 19, and was living in Walla Walla, Washington in 1880 at
age 42. She had 4 children: Leonard, Mary, Florence, and Charles.
Frances Amelia French
2.9 John Henry French,
b. 15 Sep 1840, d. 10 Mar 1841 in infancy.
2.10 Cornelia Sophia French, b. 10 Sep 1842, in IN, m. Hiram Wallace Clark [6]. She was 7 years
old according to the 1850 census where she was living in District 37, Whiteside,
IL. They had 4 children: Anna, Charlie, Ada S., and Cora Bell.
2.11 Anna Maria French,
b. 10 Sep 1842 in IN, d. 20 Feb 1848, age 5.
Third Generation
Children of Charles Henry and Sarah Maria (Spaulding), 2.7
3.1* William E. French,
b. ca. 1863 in MN, m. Maud M., in the 1910 census he lived in Lincoln,
Washington, NE, with his wife Maud, age 45, and their children: Sadie L., 24;
Freda C., 19; and Charles R., 7. He was a farmer. His father was born in
Michigan and his mother in Massachusetts. In the 1920 census of Lincoln,
Washington, NE, Maud was 55, b. ca. 1865, the wife of W. E. who was living with
her. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Pennsylvania. They were
living with their son Charles R. French, age 26, born in 1903.
3.2* Clarence Milton French, b. 25 Mar 1864 in Marion, IA, d. 14 May 1932 in Arlington, Washington
Co., NE, m. Lena Christina Menking [6]. She was b. 14 Dec 1867 in Cincinnati,
Madison Co., OH, d. 9 Sep 1911 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE. They had 11
children.
3.3 Clarena M. French,
b. 1865, died in infancy; she is not listed in the 1880 U.S. census.
3.4* Charles E. French,
b. 28 Dec 1872 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE, d. 17 Aug 1940 in Lincoln,
Washington Co., NE. He lived in the same location all his life, except he
married Naomi Lenora Johns in Blair, Washington Co., NE on 29 Oct 1903. Naomi
was b. 23 May 1882 in Blair, Washington Co., NE, and d. 12 Jul 1968 in
Youngtown, Maricopa Co., AZ. Charles is listed on the 1885 Nebraska State
Census as age 12. Charles is listed as age 27, single, living with his mother
in the 1900 US Federal Census in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE.
Charles Edward French and Naomi Johns, probably on their
wedding day, 29 Oct 1903.
Grandpa Charles French (right) and family
Grandpa Charles French and family
3.5 Cora H. French,
b. 1878 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE. She was 21 and living with her parents
in the 1900 US Federal Census of Lincoln, Washington Co., NE. She m. William
Craven on 26 Feb 1902 when she was 23. They had 7 children, 6 girls and 1 boy,
among them Mabel, Edna, Etna, and Gladys. By 1920 at age 42, she was living in
Plum Grove, Pierce Co., NE.
Cora H. French
Fourth Generation
Children of William E. and Maud M. French, 3.1
4.1 Sadie L. French,
b. Apr 1886 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE. She is listed in the 1900 census
with her father William 37, mother Maud 35, sister Allison 11, and brother
Freddie 9. In the 1910 census, she was still living at home.
4.2 William Allison French, b. 13 Jun 1888 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE. In 1930, W. Allison
French was living in Richland, Washington Co., NE, m. Nora M., and had children
Alice E. 20, Edna 18, Cleo I. 16, Norma M. 12, and Melvin 2. All children were
born in NE. Allison was a farmer.
William AllisonÕs WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918
4.3 Freddie C. French,
b. Aug 1890 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE.
4.4 Charles R. French,
b. 1903.
Children of Clarence Milton and Lena (Christina) French, 3.2
4.5 Hallie Clarence French, b. 28 Feb 1888 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE, d. 25 Jan 1927 in
Arlington, Washington, ME. He m. Bessie Josephine Wilcox on 5 Jun 1912. In 1920
they lived in Otis, Washington Co., CO. They had children Merle, age 6 in 1920,
and Ray, age ½ year in 1920.
HallieÕs WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918
4.6 Myrtle Lena French,
b. ca. 1890 in NE, d. 14 Oct 1930 in Aurora, Hamilton, NE. She m. Art Matson
after 1920.
4.7* Everett Charles French, b. 5 Feb 1892 in NE, d. 2 Apr 1942 in Lincoln, NE, m. Edith Edna
Spangler and had 5 children [6]. Edith was b. ca. 1896 in OH. In 1930 she was
living in Fremont, Dodge Co., NE.
4.8 Cora I. French,
b. ca. 1894 in NE, d. 4 Jan 1962 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE, m. Fred
Plugge. They had children Muriel Marie, Lyle, Wayne, and Sterling Plugge [5].
4.9 Hazel Luella French,
b. 18 Feb 1896 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE, m1. Raymond Ludwig, m2.
Thurman Burr Spangler who was b. 17 Jan 1893 in OH.
4.10 Emma Mildred French, b. Apr 1898 in NE, d. 28 Sep 1930 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE,
m. Edward Nonnamaker.
4.11 Edith Evelyn French, b. ca. 1901 in NE, d. 17 Jul 1944 in Denver, CO, m. Donald Johnson.
4.12 Leslie Milton French, b. 18 Jul 1903 in NE, d. 20 Oct 1988 in Arlington, Washington Co.,
NE, m. Inez Jeppson.
4.13* Clarence Raymond French, b. ca. 1906 in NE, d. 10 Jan 1980 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE,
m. Pearl Maurine Black. In 1924, the Svendgaard
family from Denmark bought 80 from the Clarence French Estates in the March
School District on the rural farm. Earlier in 1912 the Svendgaard family
purchased 120 adjacent areas to the Clarence French Estate from the Voorhees
Family in March School District and built a new house in 1916. The connection to
the Voorhees family is quite interesting, in that the French family of NYC, FFA Chart #131,
was connected to the Voorhees family also and maybe ClarenceÕs family will
eventually tie into that chart. The Svendgaard family came over in the 1880Õs
about the same time as the Plugge family arrived.
4.14 Viola G. French,
b. ca. 1908 in NE.
4.15 Harley Elwyn French, b. 20 Apr 1911 in Arlington, Washington Co., NE, d. 7 Jun 1972 in
Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA, no spouse or children.
Children of Charles E. and Naomi Lenora (Johns) French, 3.4
4.16 Charles Harold French, b. 13 Oct 1904 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE, d. 21 Nov 1995. He m.
Drusilla Ruth Love on 5 Feb 1926 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was b. 19 Jun
1906 in NE, d. 10 Jun 1983 in Blair, Washington Co., NE. They had 5 children (3
girls and 2 boys).
Harold and Drusilla French
4.17 Raymond J. French,
b. 3 Jun 1907 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE, d. 16 Jun 1989 in Peoria,
Maricopa Co., AZ. During the 1930 census, Raymond was living at home with his
parents.
Irene, Harold, Ethel, Gifford, and Raymond
4.18 Ethel A. French,
b. 1909 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE. She was not living with her parents on
the 1930 US Federal Census.
Ethel A. French
4.19 Irene I. French,
b. 1912
4.20 Gifford E. French,
b. 20 Oct 1914 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE, d. 9 May 1996 in Arlington,
Washington Co., NE, according to the Social Security Death Index.
Raymond French, Charles Harold French, Ethel French,
Gifford French, and Irene French, children of Charles E. and Naomi L. French.
4.21 Willard H. French,
b. 10 Jan 1922, d. Jan 1922. This child was born 8 years after the previous
child. Research to be done?
4.22 Lila Ruth French,
b. 3 Sep 1923 in Lincoln, Washington Co., NE, d. 30 Jun 1930 at age 6.
Lila Ruth French ca. 1924.
Fifth Generation
Children of William Allison and Nora M. French, 4.2
5.1 Alice E. French,
b. 1910 in NE.
5.2 Edna French, b.
1912 in NE.
5.3 Cleo I. French,
b. 1914 in NE.
5.4 Norma M. French,
b. 1918 in NE.
5.5 Melvin Allison French, b. 10 Apr 1927 in NE, d. 13 Aug 1999 in Omaha, NE.
Children of Everett Charles and Edith Edna (Spangler) French,
4.7
5.6 Edith French, m.
Melvon Leroy Ireland [6] and had son Daniel.
Children of Clarence R. and Pearl Maurine (Black) French,
4.13
5.7 Robert Duane French
living in Arlington, Washington Co., NE, m. Yvonne Louise Carmichael who was b.
1 Sep 1939 in Blair, Washington Co., NE, d. 20 Nov 1985 in Arlington,
Washington Co., NE, the dau. of George Gustav Carmichael and Mardell M. Hansen.
They have 2 children: Michael Duane French and Steven Paul French [4].
Bibliography
[1] Dutch Reformed Church in NYC, Baptisms beginning 1639,
website: http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/nn/church/rdcbapt.shtml
and http://www.altlaw.com/edball/dutchbap.htm and http://www.greenapple.com/~cshart/chny.html.
[2] Jaclyn Helfrey, email: creek9@verizon.net (email good in 2010).
[3] Website on ancestry.com: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/10428383/person/-640197558, owned by Carlissaf1 in Greybull, WY.
[4] Jimmy Carmichael, email: Carmichael.genealogy@ntlworld.com (email good in 2009). Website: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carmichael.world/jimstree/jimstree.htm
[5] Descendants of Hans Heinrich Rahlfs, website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/r/u/Dianne-K-Krueger/GENE5-0008.html.
[6] FFA Member Daniel R. Ireland, #318. 2806 Colter Ave.,
Bozeman, MT 59538, 406-587-0421. Family names: MARCELLUS, KAJAN, SPAULDING,
MENKING, SPANGLER. Connection: Chart #159, William B. French, b. ca. 1805, NYC.
William (1), Charles (2), Clarence Milton (3) m. Lena Christina; Everett
Charles (4) m. Edith Edna Spangler, Edith (5) m. Melvon Leroy Ireland; Daniel
(6). Query: Seek ancestors of William B. French, b. at NY, NY, ca. 1805, d. ?
in MN, m. 25 Aug 1824 Leah Marcellus at Madison Ave Dutch Ref Church, NYC.
Filed for land 26 Sep 1856, Fillmore Co, MN. Brother was John. Aunt was Annie
Kajan. Children of William and Leah were Benjamin Franklin; Charles Henry m.
Sarah Spaulding; Frances; and Cornelia Sophia m. Wallace Clark, all supposedly
born in NY. Need verification.