Life and Times of Ann (Rosealthea) Colegrove French

Presented by Lawrence Stanley (her Great-Great Grandson) May 2010

It may be safe to speculate that women have always constituted approximately fifty percent of the world’s population, and that they have lived through the same historical eras as their male counterparts, however, when researchers investigate primary source documents from any era, the overwhelming majority of these documents record the actions and observations of men. Only in recent memory has an effort been made to obtain and preserve the writings and other historic observations that have been made by, and about, women. The comparative quantity of primary source material, written by women, concerning women’s lives and contributions to history, remain small. Historians are also quick to point out that the sources that are available are usually from the upper crust of society; from literate women with the time and resources available to write down their thoughts in letters and journals; and/or women who achieved notoriety through their wealth or careers and whose thoughts were deemed important enough to record for posterity. It is rare, therefore, to have a written set of historical observations made by a woman who is not wealthy or well educated, about her own life; the life of her mother; and the lifestyle of rural 19^th century America where she lived. Ann Colgrove French was born in Tioga Co., Pennsylvania, a county in the north-central part of the state, on the border with New York. She lived for eighty-three years, from 1845 to 1928, in Tioga County and, in her later years, a few miles south, in Lycoming County. As she was losing her sight, in the 1920’s, she was encouraged to write an autobiographical sketch of her life, possibly by her grandson, Lyle Doane, who often submitted articles to the local newspapers, and who had had a true interest in preserving family history. Ann French wrote in vivid, and sometimes minute, detail a description of her childhood as she grew up on her father’s farm, in pre-Civil War Pennsylvania. Transcribing her thoughts in a free-flowing style, Ann French wrote her story on brown butcher paper that she ironed flat and cut into rough letter-size. Adding commentary about events and issues as she recalled them, Ann French illuminates her memories with subjective perceptions of her era, and makes comparisons with her life in old age. By also providing some information about her parent’s lives, she takes the researcher back an additional generation to a period shortly after the founding of the United States, as Americans were pioneering westward into new territories of the country.

This paper will use excerpts from the autobiographical sketch of Ann Colegrove French as the basis for looking at the lifestyle of a young girl in a rural family and how it might contrast with young women in town/urban areas; the national and local events that influenced Ann French’s life; and how her opinions and attitudes may have been shaped by her ancestors and handed on to her descendants.

Unfortunately, this writer is not in possession of the original manuscript written by Ann French, however, a photocopy of a portion of the work, consisting of the first part of the sketch concerning the early stage of her life, was recovered from the papers of Lyle Doane, after his death. Whether Lyle Doane made a photocopy of the entire biography which he may have acquired, or made a copy of a portion because that was all he had, can’t be known for certain but the latter reason seems more likely. As with many other primary source documents, this one is incomplete, and preserved only as a certifiable duplicate of an originally hand-written work, the value of which may not have been obvious to subsequent owners. This is a dilemma regularly faced by many researchers into the lives of women. Joan Burstyn, in an article from the History of Education Quarterly titled, “History as Image: Changing the Lens” makes the observation, “Because our forebears, both men and women, did not think women’s life experiences were as important as men’s, and because they gave more importance to preserving public than private documents, the records of many women’s lives have been destroyed.” (p 16)

Speaking of source documents concerning the women of the 17^th and 18^th century, Nancy Woloch, in the introduction to the first part of her companion text, “Early American Women: A Documentary History 1600-1900” says, “it is tempting to rely on the output of the literary elite.” (p 1) For the vast majority of hard-working common women, who raised children and kept a home, whether in a farmhouse or a tenement flat, there are very few records of their perceptions of the era in which they lived. Woloch tells us that the writings of men and information from the press are valuable sources because, “To obtain information about ordinary women’s lives, historians have had to delve into a far broader range of data than women alone were able to provide.” (p 1) She cautions, however, “Such documents, while offering far more than the experience of the literary elite, do not necessarily present a complete or accurate picture…of women’s lives.” (p 2) Although Woloch was referring to women of America’s colonial era, her observations about the challenges that historians face when researching ordinary women could be true of any period of history. When good source documents are found that give a female perspective to historical events it is important to incorporate them into any discussion to offer counterpoint to observations made almost exclusively by, and about, men. Joyce Appleby, et al., in their book, “Telling the Truth About History”, tell us, “Historical research on women’s lives revealed differences which threw into sharp relief just how gender-specific was the male ideal that had dominated Western letters since the Greeks.” (p 153) In the autobiography of Ann French there are insights into the mundane aspects of a woman’s life that include descriptions of flowers and trees, and especially the contents of the household, which would likely be absent from any memoir written by a man of her era. By telling the story of her early life as a young girl on a rural farm, and recounting some information about her pioneering parents, she is giving us a glimpse into a world view often missed by male writers of history.

The first half of the nineteenth century, in the northeastern United States, was a period that experienced rapid immigration from Europe (especially Ireland), expansion of manufacturing and the building of textile mills throughout New England, and the westward movement of people out of the over-populated coastal cities and into the undeveloped forests and valleys of the northeast. Although the Susquehanna River provided a main route into the Pennsylvania heartland from Philadelphia, other pioneers followed the Mohawk Valley across New York and then south by way of many smaller rivers (and branches of the Susquehanna) into the northern tier of Pennsylvania. Following the demarcation of the border between New York and Pennsylvania, in 1786-87, the first European settler came to Tioga Co., Pennsylvania in 1787. Further settlement came in groups from various regions as discussed in, "The History of Tioga Co. Pennsylvania" published in 1883, by W. W. Munsell & Co., "They came from New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the central and eastern portion of the old Keystone State—from Lycoming, Northumberland, Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster, Chester and Philadelphia counties." This volume tells us that the county seat of Wellsboro was established in Delmar Township, which was originally named Virdelmar for the inhabitants who came from Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. Many of the earliest settlers had been soldiers in the Revolution who had fought with General Sullivan in his purge of the Iroquois tribes, during the summer of 1779, or who had heard of the rich land from other soldiers and woodsmen. Ann Colegrove French begins her autobiography by explaining the route that her parents took to arrive in Tioga Co.,

" Henry Brightman Colegrove (my father) was born in the town of Hopkins, Washington Co., R.I. Oct. 26^th 1802 + also his ancestors as far as I know. My mother Trinn Ann Fox was born N.Y. Cortland Co., in the town of Traxton Feb 15^th 1805 her ancestors were natives of Conn. her mothers maiden name was Sarah Brooks who had two brothers who were Captains in the Navy in the time of the Revolutionary War one starved to death by the British at that time in Charleston South Carolina. My Fathers parents moved to Cortland Co., N.Y. in 1814 where my parents were married April 1827. They resided there until Feb. 1837 when they moved to Pennsylvania stopping in the Township of Farmington one year on a farm about one mile below Elbridge on the road leading to Buchers Island (now Nelson) then they moved to Middlebury Township locating on Locy Creek on the farm now owned by G. W. Dickinson where they lived until Jan 15^th 1876 when Father died. I was born at this place March 13^th 1845 the youngest of seven children, two sons + five daughters, one daughter Susie, dying at the age of 4 months in Feb. 1840

According to various sources on the RootsWeb internet genealogy site, the Colegrove family emigrated from England (or Wales) at some time in the mid-17^th century and lived for several generations in Rhode Island. Ann Colgrove French's grandfather, William Colegrove, to whom she refers in this passage, may have left Rhode Island because he was the fourth son in a large family which would have been a common reason for a young man to search out new horizons. Ann French says that her parents settled on a "farm", in Middlebury Township, but later describes the conditions of that first home which must have required some hard labor to be able to begin farming, "When they moved to this place there was only clearing large enough that the trees might not fall on their house + the house then was a flat roofed shanty which served them for a home for over a year", but things quickly improved for the couple, "they built them, what was considered quite a commodious, log house, the logs being 18 x 28 ft. it faced south, with a large stone chimney in the west end a pantry in the north west corner + stairway in the southwest corner, there we opened a door find a fine stout ladder which we could easily climb to the chamber, where there was one bed."

Up in the loft were the bins that "contained oats, wheat & buckwheat, & several barrels of grain & the flour barrel & corn meal barrel." Also hanging from the rafters to dry were kept many bags of dried berries and seed, as well as medicinal herbs, "such as mayweed, smartweed, boneset, lobelia, peppermint, pennyroyal, hops, wormwood, senna & a bag of poppy flowers, slippery elm bark & black cherry bark & many other things for the health of our family & the neighbors." Outside this log house was planted a flower garden and hops, as well as current bushes and five cherry trees from which they were willing to share, Ann notes, "right here I must tell you any of the neighbors that did not have these fruits could get them for the picking at our place." Inside the main room of the house was a family table, six splint bottom chairs, two little chairs (for children), two spinning wheels ("the big one for wool the little one for flax") and "Mothers wrocking chair". In contrast to the doorknobs and locks that Ann would live to see become the norm in every home, the door to this house, "had wooden hinges a hickory latch with strings one to shut with & one to open & it was so easy to fasten only to pull in the latch string." The item of which Ann speaks most proudly is the clock that the family owned, "the logs were hewed down a little space on the back of the room sufficient to give room for the Clock with just shelf enough for it to stand on. My Mother paid for it which was $5.00 with woolen socks at 37½ ¢ per pair. Every home in those days did not boast of a clock, a noon mark served very well."

Ann Colegrove French discusses her mother, Trinn Ann Fox Colegrove, admiringly as a woman who, "nearly clothed the family, that is she spun the yarn colored it + always worked to pay for the weaving usually by knitting socks and mittens to sell. Up to this time they raised flax that Father got out + then Mother hetcheled it, spun the flax on the little wheel + the (?) on the big wheel which made our table cloths, towels, bags, straw ticks, + the men folks pants for summer." Ann tells us that her mother, "was an excellent nurse & did at one time set a broken arm for a small boy just to wait until the Doctor arrived but when he came he found it so well done, did not disturb it." Quiet but firm, Trinn Fox Colegrove, "was cool headed & always ready in an emergency, she never spoke loudly but we all understood the first time that when she said yes, or no it was final & no teasing, or arguing was ever indulged in," adding that her mother was familiar with hardship, "she knew what hard usage meant."

Married at the age of twenty-two, Trinn Fox Colegrove spent part of her formative years indentured to several households. Ann French includes in her autobiography a series of anecdotal stories about that period of her mother's life,

"When she was 8 years old her Father died her Mother let her go to live with a newly married couple who she thought would be very kind to her, but she had to work very hard + if she broke a dish, she was given a whipping, she let an iron tea kettle fall + cracked it when they were gone away, she used to tell us how she knealt down + prayed God to let her die before they came home of course she received the flogging when they arrived she was small of her age too, she was not allowed to eat with them + often her meal was corn mush + butter milk when the family were partaking of bread, meat vegetables, pie + dough nuts etc. After spending a year or more there she went to live with another family, that did not whip her + she ate with them but she slept in the attic where Harnesses were kept + her bed was a kersey blanket with half under her + the other half over her on the floor… after that her Mother let her go to live with a Methodist Ministers family, the woman was nice + kind but the Preacher was a Tyrant + ruled with an iron hand but here Mother began to assert herself some for she found out that he was a terrible hypocrite, while living here, he made her stay alone in the sugar bush + boil sap all night at 12 years + the wolves howling + panthers screaming was her company, she knew she must keep a bright fire for in that alone was her safety. Well that summer a school teacher boarded there + Mother discovered the Preacher (Mr. James Baker) frequenting her bedroom, before his wife got up + she told a neighbor girl so it became known, it got to be Feb. 1818 before he learned that Mother had told of it + he proceeded to get two three beach whips to flog her with he had run them through the ashes + fire to toughen, while so doing, a Sleigh drove up + he took the whips + ran out the back door + just then under the steps, well the people who came were Mothers, Mother + Step Father she had married + they came after Mother she went with them + missed the, or rather escaped the whipping."

Trinn Fox Colegrove lived with her mother and new step-father (to whom Ann French refers as “Grandfather Hills”) for several years before getting married, and took in laundry to help support her parents. For the first twenty-five years of her marriage she cooked over an open fireplace, but Ann French tells us that new technology is not always appreciated, “When I was 7 years old Father bought a cook stove, ‘Clinton Air Tight’ drum stove it took Mother a long time to get used to it + she thought it very unhealthy, as the fireplace kept up such a fine ventilation without any cold drafts to either your head or feet as now.” Cooking would be done on a stove, but baking was still done in a separate oven, “About 20 ft from the west end of our home was a large stone oven, which when filled with wood + burned down, then raked out the coals + put in about 10 loaves of bread + then after that was taken out the stones were hot enough to bake pies until nice and brown.” Some of the work on the farm was done in common with other women as a social event. Ann mentions that her father kept fifteen to twenty-five sheep and that, after her mother worked up the wool, “it was customary to have a picking bee when 6 or 8 women were invited to help the same as to a quilting, which were the social gatherings the same as are indulged in now by your ‘Society’ called Ladies with their crochet + imbroidery etc., only then it was helping your neighbor + you did not work three days to get ready to give them salad, wafers or ice cream, but they would have plenty of meat, bread or biscuit or Johnny cake as the case might be mashed potatoes, lettuce + onions + custard pie.”

Trinn Fox Colegrove, and her husband Henry Colegrove, both had strong New England, Protestant roots and, in keeping with their religious beliefs, they placed a high value on literacy for all their children. Ann Colegrove French, her brothers and sisters, learned the basics of reading and math at home then continued their formal education at local schools. Reading at home was focused on religious concerns which is illustrated by the selection of material available in the house, “the library was small, which consisted the large Family Bible, a few Historical Story books, The Northern Christian Advocate + the Country paper beside the school books + the M.E. Hymn books, but with this scanty supply we were taught how to live that we might receive the blessings designed by God for his obedient children.” Ann tells us that the first church services she remembers were held in a log schoolhouse where she also first attended school. Going to school would become easier when her father donated a piece of his land, “When I was seven years old the frame School House on Locey Creek was built, it stood on the corner of Fathers farm.” Ann gives a description of her early education, giving a jab at the craze for physical exercise that was prevalent in schools at the time she was writing her memoir,

“These school terms were three months, in summer beginning first Monday in June, winter first Monday of December. Books were not provided then, I had been taught the rudiments at home I read pretty good at seven years. My first Reader was called “Cobbs Juvenile Reader”, that + my spelling Book were all the first term beside my writing Book which Mother made of foolscap paper she also made the pen I used of a goose quil + she was an expert at that job she also made the ink we used with witch hazle bark + copperas. The next year I advanced + read in what was called the “American Manuel” I read with the first class + the majority was from two to 12 years older than me so I was quite proud of that. I also commenced studying Geography. I had been taught to write numbers, enumerate, add, subtract, Multiply + Short Division at home. The next winter I took an Arithmatic “Davis”. We always read twice per day spelled twice wrote once, recited our Arithmatic in fore noon. Our Geography + Grammer in Afternoon, worked examples anytime, not to interfere with our other studies for we were not expected to study at home or rather required too, only did that as we pleased only so our lessons were good, if not, they had to be repeated, at this time, Spelling Schools were our Entertainment, pupils came from 4 other districts + our people + pupils returned the visits, there was as much strife in the spelling, as now in the Basket Ball games, + my opinion is that there was much more good derived you see we got plenty of exercise in those days, so no ‘gyms’ were needed.”

Self-sufficiency was learned early on a farm in the rural hinterlands so it is not surprising that Ann also mentions that she bought her first geography book with money she earned knitting cotton socks, as well as her “Sanders” 4^th Reader.

Religion was as much an important social activity as it was a prerequisite of faith. Piety was expected of everyone on Sunday, "None of us too small to kneel at this time at family prayer + not one was expected to go anywhere on Sunday except to Church + Sunday School." Sharing information with traveling preachers was a good way to get news from other communities, and could be good entertainment, “My Father + Mother were Methodists of the original type but attended other denominational services just the same + their home was always a stopping place for all, Baptists, Christian + Presbyterian as well as the Methodist, where they partook of such as they had with good cheer added to help them on their way.” Ann adds about the people attending church services that, "they did not go for show, but to praise the Lord + Sun bonnets were more plenty then the Silk or Legorn bonnet of those more fortunate that had them." Again, in a disparaging remark concerning music in church, she compares the old country church of her youth to the contemporary practices of the 1920's when she extols, "the vigor that was given to the singing of “Come ye that love the Lord” or “When I can read my title clear” + “All hail the power of ye”. I thank God for hearing the singing without noise of Organ which destroys the understanding the words to them that are just listening." The western New York border was only a few miles away, and the Finger Lakes region was the home to the new Latter Day Saints of Joseph Smith. Ann dismisses him in this brief comment, “My Father went + heard him preach at a school house soon after he had dug up his wonderful Book revealing Mormonism, he said he was not ordinarily bright (was like Mary Baker Eddy).” The central social and political issue of this era was the slavery question which this family, of transplanted New Englanders, is likely to have addressed on moral and religious grounds. Ann’s father was firm in his politics and had strong feelings which he communicated to his family, “in politics Father was a “Whig” + voted that ticket when he was one of four in Middlebury Township, he also was an Abolitionist in belief too + the belief for Liberty + freedom took deep root in the minds of all us children + slavery was an abomination to us.” Clearly this issue was discussed at home, and probably at school, and in church often enough to take “deep root in the minds” of the children.

Ann Colegrove French’s grandparents all lived in New England towns, and her father was twelve before he left Rhode Island. In many respects, life in this part of rural Pennsylvania resembled colonial village life, with trading posts where goods could be bought and sold, and neighbors near enough to barter any surplus that was grown or made on the self-sufficient farm. Although there would be fewer people passing by the farm house than in a village, there were enough social events associated with church and school to bind families together into a community. This strong sense of community, between the farmers and the rapidly growing population centers in Tioga County, became increasingly important as coal mining was developed as an economic resource. In a 1973 issue of Labor History, Irwin Marcus discusses the coal miner’s struggles in an article titled, “Labor Discontent in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 1865-1905” He tells us that, “By the 1850s a few coal companies controlled most of the increasing coal mining operations in the area.” (p 415) Tioga County had high-quality coal and access to nearby railroads that could transport it cheaply to major markets. Labor unions were established by 1863 and “workers faced a long and bitter strike in 1865.” (p 415) Disruptions and animosity would continue through the nineteenth century, in Tioga County, but the community would rally behind the miners,

“The attitude and behavior of the non-mining segments of the Tioga County citizenry…proved a key factor in the eventual triumph of the miners. Residents of Blossburg, the major town in the area, contributed money, legal aid, and housing to the unemployed miners. Many local businessmen, members of fraternal orders, and farmers also supported them.” (p 416)

The near-wilderness that Henry and Trinn Colegrove had moved into, in 1837, had become a rural farm community by the time Ann Colegrove French was born in 1845. Ann was married, at age 16, in 1861, and Tioga County was undergoing a shift in economics and an increase of population. By the time she died in 1928, the description that she gave of her young life was of a time that had already passed into history, remembered by only a few, and of a seemingly primitive lifestyle to most people living in the early twentieth century.

Life of Ann R. Colegrove French

Mother of Ettie French Doane who was the mother of Anna Beatrice Doane Wolf who was the mother of Phyllis M. Wolf Stanley who is the mother of Lawrence Stanley, the father of Christopher Stanley & Jessica Stanley Culligan, who are the parents of Ella Culligan and Adelyn Stanley

Additional information about Henry B. Colegrove from James Gibbs, posted on RootsWeb:

Anna Fox was the wife of Henry Brightman Colegrove, whose line of descent
from the immigrant is, if my records are correct, as copied below.

Note that this would be in the controversial line of the immigrant's son
Eli, who may or may not have been the eldest son who died in battle at Cape
Breton (Nova Scotia). The line as I show it below assumes that there was another unknown eldest son who died, and that Eli(ezar) was in fact the immigrant's son Eli. The only other reasonable possibility in my mind is that this Eleazer was the son of Eli (that is, Francis grandson). But the land records overwhelmingly suggest that Eliezar was the brother of the other sons of the immigrant.

If anyone is a direct descendant of Henry Brightman Colegrove, please dig through your family records for anything that might resolve the issue of Eli(ezar).

1 Francis Colgrove b: Bet. 1640 - 1675 in (possibly) Woodstock,
Oxfordshire, England d: Bet. 1726 - 1727 in (of) Shannock in that part of Westerly that
is now Richmond, Kings/Washington Co., RI
.. +Ann ??? b: Bet. 1650 - 1675 in (of) RI d: 1718 in (of) Shannock in that
part of Westerly that is now Richmond, Kings/Washington Co., RI m: Bet. 1675
- 1688 in Warwick or Kingstown, RI
2 Eli(ezar) Colgrove b: Bet. 1682 - 1705 in (possibly) Westerly,
Kings/Washington Co., RI d: Bet. 05 December 1753 - 21 October 1759 in (of) Exeter,
Kings/Washington Co., RI
... +Ann ??? b: Bet. 1680 - 1690 in RI? d: in RI m: Aft. 1700 in RI
. 3 Oliver Colgrove b: Bet. 1730 - 1747 in (of) that part of Westerly
which became Charlestown in 1738, Kings/Washington Co., RI d: Bet. 1800 - 1802 in
Richmond, Washington Co., RI
..... +Esther Tefft b: 06 August 1743 in that part of Charlestown that was
separated in 1747 as Richmond, Kings/Washington Co., RI d: 15 February 1806
in (of) Richmond, Kings/Washington Co., RI m: 28 April 1765 in Second Freewill
Baptist Church?, Richmond, Kings/Washington Co., RI Father: Joseph Tefft
Mother: Esther Brownell
... 4 William Colgrove b: 14 September 1774 in Richmond, Kings/Washington
Co., RI d: Aft. 1830 in Truxton, Cortland Co., NY
....... +Susan Brightman b: Aft. 1775 m: Aft. 1801
..... 5 Henry Brightman Colegrove b: Aft. 1802 in Truxton, Cortland Co.,
NY d: Bet. 1876 - 1877 in Locey Creek, PA

Additional Background about the French and Colegrove Families from an article by Rhoda English Ladd:

Journey to Day Before Yesterday

with Rhoda English Ladd

Off the main road, Route 249 between Keeneyville and Little Marsh, is a road that winds up around the hills into an area well known as French Hill. To the north is Farmington Township and to the west, Chatham Township. French Hill was named for the French family. There was French Hill School and French Hill Cemetery. In 1919 a series of stories was written by one calling himself “old Chathamer.” This early history is important because several persons are collecting data on this pioneer family. French Hill was first settled by Moses French in 1833. In 1834 his brother, William, came. Both were sons of Jeremiah French, a Revolutionary War soldier. This family moved from Northumberland County up the Susquehanna River to Bradford County, and later settled on the Chemung River near Elmira, where William French was born, June 3, 1790. Besides these two sons, there were daughters. Needed is burial place of Jeremiah French, his wife’s name, and a complete list of their children. These pioneers erected log houses, cleared the land, and made homes for themselves that were quite comfortable. In addition to farming, Moses French raised honey. He had two sons, Moses, Jr. and William. He also had daughters. His farm was located just below the school house (see Middlebury Township in the 1874 atlas). The farm in 1919 was owned by N.T. (Nathan Towner) French. Near this farm was the one owned by William French.

William French married Esther Martin, a daughter of Gideon and Tanner Martin. They had three sons, Nehemiah, William, Jr., and John W.; three daughters, Mariah, Louise and Lucretia. William French was something of a genius. He was a cooper, a carpenter, a farmer, a hunter, a crackshot, and a great worker. When he needed cloth, he built a loom in which to weave it. He built a spinning wheel, spun the yarn, and wove the cloth. When he needed a barrel, a wash tub or a sap bucket, he made it. He also made a keeler to wash dishes in and a piggin for buckwheat batter. When he needed a threshing machine, he made that. He always worked in the field all day without a hat and he never ate butter. He never used a dog on his hunting trips; he simply took the track of a deer and followed it. William French died in 1881 just a few days before his 91^st birthday. The school house on French Hill was built in 1859. The French Hill Cemetery Association was incorporated 24 Sep. 1894 by A.D. Shaff, S.J. Roe, N.T. French, P.D. Shaff, John Brown, and James Shaff. It is located in the northwest part of Middlebury Township. Many stones no longer exist.

Back to French Hill: John Gideon Martin, an Irishman, came to America about 1765 and settled in the New England states. He was a scout at the battle of Oriskany, and was with Arnold and the 800 Massachusetts troops who drove the enemy back to Lake Ontario. After that, he served as a scout with General Sullivan when he swept the Seneca Lake country with sword and torch. John and his wife, Tanner, came to French Hill with their son-in-law, William French. He lived there until his death in 1845. There is no monument to mark his grave, but he is buried in French Hill Cemetery.

One of our correspondents recently sent the following, taken from her great grandmother French’s diary. Great grandmother French would be Ann Roseltha Colegrove, who married John W. French, son of William French and Hester Martin. (Written prior to 1928) Grandma French’s parents came into Pennsylvania from Cortland County, New York, in 1837. Later they moved to Middlebury Township and located on Locy Creek. As a little girl Grandma French lived in a log cabin 18 x 28 feet long which her parents had built. The family got up into the loft by using a ladder. They had no stairs. There was but one bed; children slept on the floor. Among their foodstuffs there were barrels of wheat, buckwheat, and oats, as well as flour and cornmeal. The medical herbs and others akin to them were mayweed, senna, smartweed, boneset, lobella, peppermint, pennyroyal, hops, wormwood, poppy flowers, slippery elm bark. They also kept dried berries, flaxseed, and millet seed and onions. On the main floor there was a pork barrel and a deep trough in which they kept their Chinese asters, marigolds, batchelor buttons, grass pinks, mullen pinks stars of Bethlehem. The fruit trees were cherry, apple, and currant bushes. The oven for making bread was about 20 feet from the west side of the cabin, large enough for ten loaves of bread; and wood was burned in it. Once the bread was baked, there was enough heat left to bake pies.

Closely associated with the French family we find the name of Shaff. John Shaff, b. about 1776 m. Anne McCarty, and came to French Hill about 1839. They had at least 11 children: Margaret married Nehemiah French, and her sister Rosanna, married Moses French, Jr.: other children were Nancy, Stephen, Betsey, William, Jane, Angeline, Lucinda, Wellington, and John II. Need parents of John Shaff and Anne McCarty.

This transcription that I have made from a Photostat copy of a portion of that autobiography which was made, I believe, by my uncle, Lyle Kibbe Doane (Grandson of Ann R. Colegrove French) that I found among his papers taken from his home in Jersey Sore, PA. - Lawrence Stanley

Phyllis Wolf Stanley notes:

The "memory" that was written by Grandma French was/is in her own handwriting, on brown Kraft paper that had been ironed smooth by Grandma Ettie. Fortunately, she was able to do this before she went to Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia for cataract removal, the success of which was destroyed when she was joggled too soon (having been packed around with sand bags). One of Aunt Edith (French) Hawley's daughters took the booklet away from Grandma's house in the (19)40's and we were told that it was donated to a museum--presumably somewhere near Rochester, N.Y.

In her own words - Life of Ann R. Colegrove French

Henry Brightman Colegrove (my father) was born in the town of Hopkins, Washington Co., R.I. Oct. 26^th 1802 + also his ancestors as far as I know. My mother Trinn Ann Fox was born N.Y. Cortland Co., in the town of Traxton Feb 15^th 1805 her ancestors were natives of Conn. her mothers maiden name was Sarah Brooks who had two brothers who were Captains in the Navy in the time of the Revolutionary War one starved to death by the British at that time in Charleston South Carolina. My Fathers parents moved to Cortland Co., N.Y. in 1814 where my parents were married April 1827. They resided there until Feb. 1837 when they moved to Pennsylvania stoping in the Township of Farmington one year on a farm about one mile below Elbridge on the road leading to Buchers Island (now Nelson) then they moved to Middlebury Township locating on Locy Creek on the farm now owned by G. W. Dickinson where they lived until Jan 15^th 1876 when Father died.

I was born at this place March 13^th 1845 the youngest of seven children, two sons + five daughters, one daughter Susie, dying at the age of 4 months in Feb. 1840

When they moved to this place there was only clearing large enough that the trees might not fall on their house + the house then was a flat roofed shanty which served them for a home for over a year, when they built them, what was considered quite a commodious, log house, the logs being 18 x 28 ft. it faced south, with a large stone chimney in the west end a pantry in the north west corner + stairway in the southwest corner, there we opened a door find a fine stout ladder which we could easily climb to the chamber, where there was one bed. In the east gable, was a window hole, which closed with a sliding board, in one side was bins which contained oats, wheat + buckwheat, + several barrels of grain + the flour barrel + corn meal barrel. Close to the landing from the ladder was the Pork barrel + a deep trough which contained the soap, also a barrel of salt. Suspended on the rafters, were bags of dried berries + pumpkin, flax, millet seed + onions + row upon row of herbs such as mayweed, smartweed, boneset, lobelia, peppermint, pennyroyal, hops, wormwood, senna + a bag of poppy flowers, slippery elm bark + black cherry bark + many other things for the health of our family + the neighbors, in the northwest corner of the ground floor was a bed with long curtains from a teester (tuster?) frame above + foot-curtains of the same, beneath this bed was a trundle bed, where my brother slept when pulled out, in the South East corner was my parents bed, with valincies instead of long curtains + foot curtains both white at the foot of this was a partition making a sort of a bedsink + beneath this was another trundle-bed where two of my sisters slept at this time. I was 3 years old + I slept with my Father + Mother, this summer of 1848 was the date my memory commences. This log-house home did not have shingles roof but slabs, it was over 7 ft between florrs. At the East End grew a very tall + large sweetbrier interspersed + around the corner were tall trees, Malice (they called it) they ranged from 5 to 10 ft with most beautiful large green fluted leaves, morning glory strung clear up to the roof under the eaves china asters (single) + marigolds, ragged sailors bachelor buttons, grass pinks + mullen pinks, Holy thistles, + Star of Bethlehem I think completed the flower garden plenty of hops grew on the several poles scarted about. There was five large cherry trees, which gave us an ample supply for preserves + drying, a row of current bushes in the front of the garden against a log fence + right here I must tell you any of the neighbors that did not have these fruits could get them for the picking at our place. To go back a little that you can see my home inside more clearly, the logs were hewed down a little space on the back of the room sufficient to give room for the Clock with just shelf enough for it to stand on. My Mother paid for it which was $5.00 with woolen socks at 37½ ¢ per pair. Evry home in those days did not boast of a clock, a noon mark served very well. At the left of the clock was the family table + between that + the pantry was a very good pine sink with leader out through the logs + the logs were beautiful. Two on this side was birds eye maple which glistened when washed, the bark was taken off in the inside, one window gave the light which was on the left of door on the South side. The door had wooden hinges a hickory latch with strings one to shut with + one to open + it was so easy to fasten only to pull in the latch string. The only other furniture was 6 splint bottom chairs two little ones Ems and Hi’s + and Mothers wrocking chair. I might almost count the spinning wheels as furniture as they were nearly always in evidence the big wheel for wool the little one for flax, also Swifts + Reel + Mothers cards, these she carded wool on if she could not wait for it to be taken to the Carding Mill. There was always a cheery fire in the fireplace + a big one on cold days. the library was small, which consisted the large Family Bible, a few Historical Story books, The Northern Christian Advocate + the Country paper beside the school books + the M.E. Hymn books, but with this scanty supply we were taught how to live that we might receive the blessings designed by God for his obedient children. None of us too small to kneel at this time at family prayer + not one was expected to go anywhere on Sunday except to Church + Sunday School. The first Church Services I remember were in a Log Schoolhouse there was a pine table on one side that answered well for the preachers desk the seats were slabs, with the round side down + wooden legs put in + the writing desks were of the same fastened to side of the house. There was a large fireplace in one end, which at the time I first remember being there it was filled with green maple bushes + ferns. I can almost smell them now + how much more invigorating Perfume that any bottled from the market these days. I remember the Preacher very well too, his name was Montagne a Free Baptist + English, he said the Lord willing there would be preaching there again in a fortnight, if there were’nt Hymn books enough he was quite proficient in lineing it to them (now I think the people were good singers or they could not remember the tune) but they did not go for show, but to praise the Lord + Sun bonnets were more plenty then the Silk or Legorn bonnet of those more fortunate that had them + the vigor that was given to the singing of “Come ye that love the Lord” or “When I can read my title clear” + “All hail the power of ye”. I thank God for hearing the singing without noise of Organ which destroys the understanding the words to them that are just listening. To go back a little My Father + Mother were Methodists of the original type but attended other denominational services just the same + their home was always a stopping place for all, Baptists, Christian + Presbyterian as well as the Methodist, where they partook of such as they had with good cheer added to help them on their way, in politics Father was a “Whig” + voted that ticket when he was one of four in Middlebury Township, he also was an Abolitionist in belief too + the belief for Liberty + freedom took deep root in the minds of all us children + slavery was an abomination to us. I must return to the story of my home + its surroundings back in 1848. About 20 ft from the west end of our home was a large stone oven, which when filled with wood + burned down, then raked out the coals + put in about 10 loaves of bread + then after that was taken out the stones were hot enough to bake pies until nice and brown. Perhaps 50 ft farther was the stone milk house built into the ground, here all good things to eat were kept Father had no barn yet but a flat-roofed stable + stacked his hay, one thing to first impress my mind was when Father let my brother Amos + I go with him in the field to pull flax + we pulled a little and started to the house when we got to the bars I climbed over and Amos set on top of them a minute fell off striking on a stone + breaking his arm that is the first time I remember seeing the Doctor (Harvey Leach) I know Father + Mother were ready to go on a visit to Tompkins Co., N.Y. + postponed a rew weeks + when they came home they brought what looked to one like the largest apples I ever saw + at this writing I only lack a few days of being 75 years old. I attended school in the Log School house I have already described, my first Teacher was Nancy Clark (after Mrs. Dan Churchill) we were taught to be very quiet + civil especially when people were passing. At this time we had a lovely bunch of Hollyhocks that grew along the log fence next to the road by the garden they were deep red + perfectly double. My oldest sister found a little wild apple tree growing in the woods when she was hunting the cows, brought it home + Mother set it out between the roots of a stump in the front yard where it grew to a very nice shaped tree + bore an immence lot of very good size + flavored apples. In 1849 Father built a good sized log barn I well remember the day it was raised (or rolled up) + standing around + watching the man shave the shingles for its roof. Another event to me was that winter John Cassidy taught the school + all the children but me went to School. Mr Cassidy was a poor boy, a fine teacher very jolly + I enjoyed his coming because he would help me knit. He went west settled in Wisconsin about the year 1870 he became Governor of the State + served two terms, he was a native of Middlebury. The next spring my sister Em attended School at the old Union Academy, the following summer she taught school in Farmington. The “Gee” School (now called Elbridge) the next winter she + my brother Hi both attended the same School together with Sim Spaulding + Sister Laura. I guess the next event was Aug. 28^th 1850 when my Sister Mary Jane and Abram Day were married it was a little home wedding, there must have been 25 or 30 present I think, all of them but myself have long since gone home, I can remember my grand parents, Mrs. Day Abes mother, three brothers two with wives + children, Mr + Mrs Ormsby, Rhoda Beard, Sarah Ormsby + brother Hi stood up with them. When I was 7 years old Father bought a cook stove, “Clinton Air Tight” drum stove it took Mother a long time to get used to it + she thought it very unhealthy, as the fireplace kept up such a fine ventilation without any cold drafts to either your head or feet as now. The same year they tore down + removed the fire place chimney it left room when ceiled large enough for a bed + with curtains was quite comly at the same time we had a window put in the east end of the house altogether was quite an improvement. Mother, I might say, nearly clothed the family, that is she spun the yarn colored it + always worked to pay for the weaving usually by knitting socks and mittens to sell. Up to this time they raised flax that Father got out + then Mother hetcheled it, spun the flax on the little wheel + the (?) on the big wheel which made our table cloths, towels, bags, straw ticks, + the men folks pants for summer, she did not make sheeting after I could remember. Father always kept a medium sized flock of sheep 15 to 25 + whenever they felt they wanted mutton they did not seem to think any more to kill a sheep then a chicken + always killed two or more a season. The wool Mother worked up, it was customary to have a picking bee when 6 or 8 women were invited to help the same as to a quilting, which were the social gatherings the same as are indulged in now by your “Society” called Ladies with their crochet + imbroidery etc., only then it was helping your neighbor + you did not work three days to get ready to give them salad, wafers or ice cream, but they would have plenty of meat, bread or biscuit or Johnny cake as the case might be mashed potatoes, lettuce + onions + custard pie. My Mother was an excellent nurse + did at one time set a broken arm for a small boy just to wait until the Doctor arrived but when he came he found it so well done, did not disturb it, she was cool headed + always ready in an emergency, she never spoke loudly but we all understood the first time that when she said yes, or no it was final + no teasing, or arguing was ever indulged in, she knew what hard usage meant, when she was 8 years old her Father died her Mother let her go to live with a newly married couple who she thought would be very kind to her, but she had to work very hard + if she broke a dish, she was given a whipping, she let an iron tea kettle fall + cracked it when they were gone away, she used to tell us how she knealt down + prayed God to let her die before they came home of course she received the flogging when they arrived she was small of her age too, she was not allowed to eat with them + often her meal was corn mush + butter milk when the family were partaking of bread, meat vegetables, pie + dough nuts etc. After spending a year or more there she went to live with another family, that did not whip her + she ate with them but she slept in the attic where Harnesses were kept + her bed was a kersey blanket with half under her + the other half over her on the floor, by accident she went to the Fathers of this mans to stay while they were away, she had washed her own clothes to the first place, there was a colored woman lived there + her son, she said she was never more happy slept with Aunt Cloe + she washed + ironed her clothes beautifully or seemed so to her, that year the Slaves that were in New York State were set free + she + her son attended the celebrating of their freedom on July 5^th she never went back to the sons continued with the old people two or three years, after that her Mother let her go to live with a Methodist Ministers family, the woman was nice + kind but the Preacher was a Tyrant + ruled with an iron hand but here Mother began to assert herself some for she found out that he was a terrible hypocrite, while living here, he made her stay alone in the sugar bush + boil sap all night at 12 years + the wolves howling + panthers screaming was her company, she knew she must keep a bright fire for in that alone was her safety. Well that summer a school teacher boarded there + Mother discovered the Preacher (Mr. James Baker) frequenting her bedroom, before his wife got up + she told a neighbor girl so it became known, it got to be Feb. 1818 before he learned that Mother had told of it + he proceeded to get two three beach whips to flog her with he had run them through the ashes + fire to toughen, while so doing, a Sleigh drove up + he took the whips + ran out the back door + just then under the steps, well the people who came were Mothers, Mother + Step Father she had married + they came after Mother she went with them + missed the, or rather escaped the whipping. She found her Step Father, Mr. Hills, a kind man. Grandfather Hills had a grand daughter that went away with Joe Smith + his following. My Father went + heard him preach at a school house soon after he had dug up his wonderful Book revealing Mormonism, he said he was not ordinarily bright (was like Mary Baker Eddy). I think Mother was at home most of the time until her Step Father died about five years later, then she worked out at house work or spinning until she was married April 1^st 1827.

To resume my own story the next event to mention was Mar 4^th 1854 when my brother Hiram was married another little home wedding at out home, he married Eliza Rundel of Chathans. there was about the same ones in attendance he was married by one Mr. Peters J.P. of Farmington. When I was seven years old the frame School House on Locey Creek was built, it stood on the corner of Fathers farm. The first to teach there was Miss Roana Goodwin (after wife of Walter Briggs) that was my first winter at School. The next summer Eliza Borden taught, the next winter Harriet Amesbury of Pine Creek, she was considered Extra + ten or twelve pupils came from Keeneyville so we had about sixty most of the time. The next summer Eliza Borden taught again, the next winter Diantha Drew taught, the summer Janet Silcox, the next winter Mort Potter, the next summer Angelia Aiken, the next winter Mary Getchell, next summer Angie Dartt, next winter Francis Blair, next summer Jerusha Keeney next winter Jerusha Keeney, next summer Esther Cloos, next fall and winter Stephen Martin. the winter of 1860 + 61 Jacob Briggs taught, my last school. These school terms were three months, in summer beginning first Monday in June, winter first Monday of December. Books were not provided then, I had been taught the rudiments at home I read pretty good at seven years. My first Reader was called “Cobbs Juvenile Reader”, that + my spelling Book were all the first term beside my writing Book which Mother made of foolscap paper she also made the pen I used of a goose quil + she was an expert at that job she also made the ink we used with witch hazle bark + copperas. The next year I advanced + read in what was called the “American Manuel” I read with the first class + the majority was from two to 12 years older than me so I was quite proud of that. I also commenced studying Geography. I had been taught to write numbers, enumerate, add, subtract, Multiply + Short Division at home. The next winter I took an Arithmatic “Davis”. We always read twice per day spelled twice wrote once, recited our Arithmatic in fore noon. Our Geography + Grammer in Afternoon, worked examples anytime, not to interfere with our other studies for we were not expected to study at home or rather required too, only did that as we pleased only so our lessons were good, if not, they had to be repeated, at this time, Spelling Schools were our Entertainment, pupils came from 4 other districts + our people + pupils returned the visits, there was as much strife in the spelling, as now in the Basket Ball games, + my opinion is that there was much more good derived you see we got plenty of exercise in those days, so no “gyms” were needed.

I must go back now to my home life again at this time I could do much knitting + knit my own stockings from the time I was 7 years old when I was 8 I knit cotton socks (after Mother doubled twisted + colored the yarn indigo blue clouded) that I sold + bought my first Geography + the next year I bought my “Sanders” 4^th Reader.

The first death in our family was the wife of my Brother Hi on Aug. 1^st 1855, on the 25^th of Sept following my oldest Sister

End of transcript

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Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/military/cwbios6.htm

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=040738-80&id=I36060
Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen, Tioga Co., PA - Civil War
JOHN W. FRENCH
A native of Middlebury, Tioga Co., Pa., was born Jan. 13, 1835; he is the son of William and Esther (Martin) French, both deceased; he was married in Wellsboro, Pa., Sept 7, 1861, to Ann Colegrove, a native of Middlebury. She is the daughter of Henry D. and Trinn (Fox) Colegrove. Their family numbers seven: John E., Etta, Mary K., Mabyn E., Henry W., Edith A. and Tacie I. Comrade French enlisted as a private Sept. 10, 1862, in Co. D, 16th Pa. V.I.; he took part in several minor engagements and at the battle of Shepardstown, Va., he received a gunshot through both thighs, was captured, held as`prisoner in the hospital, same place about six weeks; was granted a furlough for thirty days, which was extended from time to time for five months; was transferred to Findlay general hospital at Washington, D.C., where he was held about two months; he had the measles in Camp Stoneman, Va., and sent to Giesboro hospital for three weeks when he was granted a furlough of thirty days; he then acted as ward master during which time he suffered with intermittent and typhoid fevers and jaundice; he received his honorable discharge Mayd27, 1865, at Harrisburg, Pa. Mrs. A. R. French is a charter member of Alfred Toles Corps, 28, and president of the W.R.C. at Little Marsh; her brothers, H.L. Colegrove, served in Co. C. 7th Pa. V.G., and Co. D, 136th Pa. V.I. and Amos in Co. C, 7th Pa. V.C. Her uncles, George Fox and Amos Daniels, served in the U.W. army, War of 1812. The maternal grandfather of our comrade, Gideon Martin, served in the Revolutmonary War. Comrade French has been J. of P., town clerk, auditor, and school director of Chatham township, Tioga county, Pa.; he is also a member of Alfred Toles Post, 320, in which he is Past Adjt. and Quartermasterl and his address is Little Marsh, Tioga Co., Pa.

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Burial site of Trinn Ann Fox Colegrove and Henry Brightman Colegrove - Locey Creek / Middlebury Union Cemetery, also known as the Day-Colegrove Family Cemetery, located in http://middleburyunioncemetery.com/index.php?page=Locey_Creek

Obituary of John Elmer French, son of Ann Colegrove French and John W. French

JOHN ELMER FRENCH  One of the pioneer families of Middlebury Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, was that of William and Esther French and another one was that of Henry B. and Anna Colegrove.  The youngest child of each family, John W. French and Ann R. Colegrove, were married in September 1861.  The young couple began housekeeping on a little farm not far from Keeneyville and here on October 18, 1862, their first child John Elmer, was born.  The father, however, had enlisted in the service of his country and the young mother returned with her little son to the home of her parents, where they remained until the close of the war, when broken in health and suffering from the effects of a gunshot wound the soldier returned.  In 1868, he removed his family to a small farm which he had purchased in Chatham, and here they lived until Elmer was twelve years of age.  For this little home he always cherished the fondest memories; to him it was and ideal spot and in letters and verse he often alluded to this “Happy Day Land” of his childhood

In October 1885 he was married to Dora Wood, of Keeneyville, and to them was born one son, George E.  His education was received in the public schools, one year at the Soldiers’ Orphan School and two terms at the State Normal School at Mansfield.  When nineteen years of age he began teaching and for twelve years taught in the schools of Chatham and Middlebury; then he removed to Costello, where he taught five years and was two years principal of the Galeton High.  Following this he was engaged by a large manufacturing firm as its representative and for a number of years he travelled through the Central and Western States from Ohio to Texas.  In 1912 he became ill while in the West and returned to his home in Westfield, where he suffered a long illness, from the effects of which he never fully recovered.
In 1918 he came to Elmira to take a position in the offices of the Willys-Morrow Co.  Six years later he accepted the position of bookkeeper for the Elmira Building Units Co., where he was employed at the time of his death.  He was a member of the Elmira Council U. C. T. and of the Westfield F. and A. M.  He united with the Methodist Church at Little Marsh when nineteen years of age and took an active interest in Christian work and for many years was leader of the choir.  He also composed both words and music of many hymns for church use.

After an illness of only three weeks he passed on his rest on the morning of the annivesary of the birth of Lincoln, the one for whom his heart was full of devotion.

“Tho the voice of the singer
Forever is still,
His songs linger here
Mid memories dear
From the lips of the zephyrs,
The trees and the rill,
I hear them again,
I hear them again.”
From “The Little Brown Apple.”
By J.E.F

 To those who have known him best, his memory will remain as a priceless benediction.  A man of simple  and refined tastes, he loved the smiling scenes of Nature, the comforts of home and the inspirations of friendship.
 He was ever a student , and never missed an opportunity to learn something worth learning, feeling he might some time have need of just that bit of knowledge.  Never content with merely memorizing facts, he meditated on, weighed and analyzed them.  He not only did things, but he did them in the best way of which he was capable, originating ideas, methods and facilities; working with a tireless energy which characterized him in everything in which he took an interest.  As a teacher, he was pre-eminently successful; giving directions with clearness and accuracy, and developing in the lives of his pupils high ideals that are uinperishably  associated with their recollections of him.
 He was a skilled mechanic, having learned the carpenter's trade, and during his years of teaching when school was not in session he followed this occupation.  In this he was painstaking and accurate, fashioning his work with his soul in his job as a "workman that needeth not be ashamed."  He was an ardent lover of his country and wrote and sang words that kindled patriotism in many hearts.  When travelling he always visited all places of historical interest and could describe them with the vividness and charm if the real story teller.
 To his friends he was generous, constant and loyal, and many have felt that human touch upon the heart strings that has cheered and helped them through seasons of darkeness when the spoken words of sympathy or a timely letter written has been to them "like apples of gold in the pictures of silver."  And when in the pilgrimage of life he sometimes came to a place where the road was blocked, he kept his faith and courage and always found the way round.
 His literary ability was of no mean quality, short articles and poems having appeared in various periodicals.  the three following of his own bits of verse were read as part of the service on the morning when he was borne to his place of rest back near the old home in Pennsylvania he loved so well.

THAT LITTLE WHITE CHURCH
 No other church in all this land,
  To me is half so dear;
 No other friends that I have known,
  Can ever seem so near;
 For in the days of hope and love,
  How oft' I 've lingered there;
 To join in fervent songs of praise,
  Or bow in silent prayer.

 In childhood days i saw this church,
  Spring from verdant sod;
 The pride of all who sought a place
  In which to worship God.
 I've heard the clanging of the bell'
  That swings beneath the spire,
 And here I've learned the Gospel Truth,
  And here I've trained the choir.

 'Tis here my mother loves to come,
  Although she cannot see,
 She hears the story once again,
  And lisps a prayer for me.
 While all deplore her bitter fate,
  And hearts with pity  swell.
 She murmurs not, but clings to Him,
  "Whodoeth all things well."

 O!  when my day of toll is o'er,
  And all my sorrows past,
 And I have laid me down to rest
  In peace and joy at last,
 May Heaven smile unpon this church,
  And may the angels keep
 Watch o'er this little flock and fold,
  While I shall sleep and sleep.
   (John Elmer French)  J. E. F.

THE COMMON MAN
 He wanted good food; and hastened to the field
To gather fruit; but found the withered vines
 Plucked from the earth; and all the golden yield
 Lay trampled in the dust.  He saw signs;
 Footprints of Greed; deep dented in the sand'
  But did not understand.
 He wanted clothes; and turned to find the flocks
 That once did graze in pastures on the hill
 Had perished; and nearby guilty rocks
 Where bleached their silent bones, he saw there still
 Footprints of Greed; deep dented in the sand;
  But did not understand.
 He wanted shelter; and where once the trees
Sprang majestic beauty from the fen,
 He found but withered leaves; upon the breeze
 Dark fog and odors rose.  He saw again
 Footprints of Greed, deep dented in the sands;
  But now he understands.
   J. E. F.

LIFE
 Life -
 "Tis but a breath,
  A morning breeze,
  A sighing wind
  Among the trees -
  Then all is calm.

 Life -
 'Tis but a thread
That spans between
 The present and
 The great unseen -
 A slender cord

 Life-
 'Tis but a mist,
 A summer shower,
 A bursting storm,
 A silent hour,
 Then sweet repose.
  J.E.F.

In looking through some papers in his room this little poem was discovered which doubtless was written a short time before his death.

WHEN I SHALL FALL TO SLEEP

"Twill not be long ere I shall fall to sleep.
And friend I love beside my bier shall weep;
But my poor soul will not be there,
To see their tears or hear their whispered prayer.

Whene'er that day shall come, let me not fear
To close my eyes, or long to linger here;
But give me faith to say, "God knowest best."
Then when I fall to sleep, I'll sweetly rest.

Upon my breast lay but a withered leaf,
A symbol of the end of life and grief;
Weave me no floral wreath of roses red;
A rose can bring no joy when I am dead.
   J. E. F.