French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Chart #173, Belle French, 1884
Knox Co., TN
Nettleton, Craighead Co., AR

This chart updated by Mara French on 4/29/09. Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2009. Back to FFA Home Page.

Introduction

When I first started numbering FFA charts, I included both male and female lines; hence, this female line of a former FFA member. I’ve decided to keep these female lines in place so as not to confuse the numbering system.

As soon as the FFA finds the parents of Belle, this chart will no longer be maintained, but continue with her parent’s chart. Hopefully, it will connect into another male chart. Belle French’s parents seem not to be found anywhere. If you find more data, please email marafrench@mindspring.com.

History

Belle French was b. 1884 in TN, and later lived in AR and MO. She m. John C. Cox in AR, most probably near Craighead Co., Co., AR ca. 1904. John Cox was b. ca. 1883 in TN. They had at least two children: Nanie, b. 1905 in Arkansas, and Johnnie, b. 1907 in MO.

Tennessee does not have a census for 1890.

In the 1900 census of Knox Co., TN, she is 16, born May 1884 in TN, a niece to the head of household, giving TN as the birthplace of both parents. She is living with head of household, Rufus C. French, age 30, and his wife Florence French, age 23, and their 2 children: Allie M. (age 3), and Robert L. (age 2). Rufus C. French must have been a younger brother of Belle French’s father. By stating in the census that Belle was the niece of Rufus C. French, she could have also been the illegitimate daughter of one of Rufus’ sisters.

Rufus C. French is listed in the 1880 census as born 1872 in Jefferson, TN, age 8, the son of James R. French (37, born 1843), and Sarah French (37). The siblings of Rufus are John H. (11, born Nov 1866 – no child is older than John H. per the 1870 census of TN), Thomas R. (9, born Oct 1870), Rufus C. (8), James A. (5), Beecher (3), Cary J. (2), and Catharine A. (2m). Therefore, Belle French’s father was one of Rufus’ siblings: John H., Thomas R., James A., or Beecher French (b. Dec 1876 in TN). Only 2 are the correct age to have Belle as a daughter: John H. French, born in 1869, and Thomas R. French, born in 1871. Belle was born in 1884. However, after researching all the siblings of Rufus, it seems no one fits.

John H. French and Thomas R. French: In the 1900 census of Civil District 2, Jefferson, TN, John H. French was 31, b. Nov 1868 in TN, both parents were born in TN, he was living with his wife Ida S. French, married in 1891, with 3 children: Haskell (8), Stella M. (5), and Montana V. (2). Also living in this household is John H. French’s brother, Thomas R. French, age 29. Belle would have been 6 years old, and if she were the daughter of one of these men, she would have lived with them. John H. French (listed as John R. H. French) is in the 1870 census as 1 year old, born 1869, living with his parents James R. French (28) and Sarah French (27).

James A. French: In the 1900 census, James A. French was 25, and living with his parents James and Sarah French, and his siblings: Rufus C. (28), James A. (25), Carrie (22, b. Apr 1878), Catherine (20), Louie B. (16), Rex (13), and Wingert (granddaughter) (1).

Beecher French: In the 1900 census, Beecher was 23, born Dec 1876, and his wife Eva L. French was 17, and they lived with their 1 year old daughter Elsie, born in 1899.

Cary J. and Catharine A. French were too young to have children.

By “niece”, they must have meant a more distant relationship.

In the 1870 census of TN, many French families lived very close to one another, including a John A. Cox (born 1868) whom might have been Belle French’s father-in-law.

Three French families lived next to one another in the 1880 census of District 1, Jefferson, TN:

Family 1: William French (59, born in NC and his parents were born in NC) and his wife Elizabeth (35), and their children Marget (16), Charley (14), America (13), Alice M. (2), James D. (7/12).

Family 2: Lafford French (43, born in TN and his parents were both born in NC) and his wife Sarah (39), and their children James (18), William (18), John M. (16), Charles (13), Nancy E. (11), Joseph C. (9), Lafford (6), and George A. (2).

Family 3: James R. French (37, born n TN and his parents were both born in TN), and his wife Sarah (37), and their children John H. (11), Thomas R. (9), Rufus C. (8), James A. (5), Beecher (3), Cary J. (2), and Catharine A. (2m).

In the 1910 census of Lonsdale, Knox Co., TN, Rufus C. French (39) is living with his wife, Florence R. (33), and their children Allie M. (13), Robert L. (12), Gilbert H. (9), and Hetty B. (6).

According to the 1910 census, John and Belle Cox were living in Nettleton, Craighead Co., AR. John (spelled Johm in the census) was 27 (born 1883 in TN), and Belle was 26 (born 1884 in TN). Both of Belle’s parents were born in TN, probably 1860 or before.

In the 1920 census of Knoxville Ward 19, Knox, TN, Rupert (Rufus) C. French (49) is living with his wife Florence (43), and their children: Gilbert (19), Hettie (16), Edd (7), and Lucile (4), and an unnamed child (9/12).

In the 1930 census, most likely Rufus C. French had died. There is a Florence French (48), b. ca. 1882 living in District 9, Lawrence, TN, with her mother-in-law, Jane French, age 74. These are not the correct members of this line because they were both born in OH, and their parents were born in England.

FFA Chart #173 could tie in the FFA Chart #188.

Bibliography

[1] FFA member #332, Karen June Schulz.