Michigan Family Group Sheet for the Joseph Luther FRENCH Family


Husband: Joseph Luther FRENCH (1, 2)
Birthdate: 1832
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (2, 3)
Death date: 27 Jun 1906
Place of death: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (2)
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (2, 4)
Father: Joseph FRENCH (Est 1781-Est 1836) (2, 3)
Mother: Lucy GOVE (Abt 1800-Est 1836) (2, 3, 5)
Other Spouses:

Marriage date: 29 May 1852
Marriage place: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (2, 5)

Wife: Betsey BOYD (2)
Birthdate: Abt 1836 (2)
Birthplace:
Death date: 30 Jan 1920
Place of death: Battle Creek City, Battle Creek Township, Calhoun County, Michigan, USA (2, 5)
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (2, 4, 5)
Father: Enoch BOYD (Abt 1806-????) (5, 9, 10)
Mother: Laura WALTON (Abt 1810-????) (5, 9, 10)
Other Spouses:

CHILDREN

Child No. 1: George FRENCH (5)
Sex: M
Birthdate: Abt 1852
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA
Death date:
Place of death:
Burial:
Marriage date:
Marriage place:
Spouses' names: Climena

Child No. 2: Laura Ann FRENCH (3, 13, 14, 15)
Sex: F
Birthdate: 29 Oct 1854
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (5, 14, 16, 17)
Death date: 29 Jan 1940
Place of death: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (14, 17)
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (4, 17)
Marriage date: 31 Dec 1871
Marriage place: Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (20)
Spouses' names: Nathaniel F. EDMONDS (1848-1931) (14, 18, 19)

Child No. 3: Ida FRENCH
Sex: F
Birthdate: Abt 1857
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (21)
Death date:
Place of death:
Burial:
Marriage date:
Marriage place:
Spouses' names: Mr. GODDARD

Child No. 4: Abby FRENCH (5, 21)
Sex: F
Birthdate: Abt 1859
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (21)
Death date:
Place of death:
Burial:
Marriage date: 1894
Marriage place: Barry County, Michigan, USA (23)
Spouses' names: John BENEDICT

Child No. 5: Alexander Quigley FRENCH (5)
Sex: M
Birthdate: 12 Dec 1861
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (5)
Death date: 20 Jul 1935
Place of death: Richland, Kalamazoo County, Michigan (5, 24)
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (4, 5)
Marriage date: 17 Sep 1880
Marriage place: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA
Spouses' names: Libbie Mae HOOK (1864-1938)

Child No. 6: Wesley Newell FRENCH (3, 25)
Sex: M
Birthdate: 16 May 1866
Birthplace: Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA (3)
Death date: 29 Jun 1946
Place of death: Bellevue, Eaton County, Michigan (3)
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (4)
Marriage date: 23 Nov 1893
Marriage place: Hastings, Hastings Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (3, 26)
Spouses' names: Nellie May REID (1868-1955) (26, 27)

Child No. 7: Gertrude FRENCH (5)
Sex: F
Birthdate: Abt 1867
Birthplace:
Death date:
Place of death:
Burial:
Marriage date: 1 Jan 1888
Marriage place: Barry County, Michigan, USA (30)
Spouses' names: Silas M. GASKILL (Abt 1864-????) (5, 29)

Child No. 8: Linnie E. FRENCH (5)
Sex: F
Birthdate: 1870
Birthplace: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (31)
Death date: 1935
Place of death:
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA
Marriage date: 1890
Marriage place: Barry County, Michigan, USA (32, 33)
Spouses' names: Frank PURSELL (Abt 1863-????)

Child No. 9: Warren FRENCH (5)
Sex: M
Birthdate: 1873
Birthplace: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA
Death date: Abt 1873
Place of death: Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA
Burial: Dowling Cemetery, Baltimore Township, Barry County, Michigan, USA (4)
Marriage date:
Marriage place:
Spouses' names: Never Married
 
 
Documentation:
1. HISTORY OF ALLEGAN AND BARRY COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, HISTORY OF ALLEGAN AND BARRY COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, Page 89.
2. Electronic World Wide Web known as www.com, Electronic World Wide Web known as www.com, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jlsmith/.
3. BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, Written and Compiled by the People of Barry County, Michigan, BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas), Page 89.
4. Sexton Records, Cemetery Sexton, Sexton Records, Sue Roush, Dowling Cemetery.
5. BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, Written and Compiled by the People of Barry County, Michigan, BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas).
6. 1860 Census, New Hampshire, Roll: M653_679; Page: 22 & 23.
7. 1880 Census, Barry County, Michigan, Roll: M593_661; Page 10.
8. 1880 Census, Michigan, Roll: T9_570; Sheet 15; Page 186A.
9. 1850 Census, New Hampshire, Roll: M432_438; Page: 28; Sheet 55.
10. 1880 Census, New Hampshire, Roll: T9_768, Sheet 171B, Page 14.
11. 1920 Census Michigan, Roll: T624_640; Sheet: 6A; District: 34.
12. 1920 Census Michigan, Roll: T625_759; Sheet: 3A; District: 41.
13. The Edmonds Genealogy, Max Hosmer, The Edmonds Genealogy, (DATE Originally compiled in 1988 ; Updated 5 Feb 2000), page 9.
14. Anita Belle (Hyatt) Davis, Anita Belle (Hyatt) Davis, (Not Published).
15. Individual Interviewed, Hilda Arabelle (Edmonds) Jackson.
16. Obituaries from the Hastings Banner, Compiled by Floyd K. Bull, Obituaries from the Hastings Banner, (Listed at the Hastings Library as The Bull Scrapbooks, compiled by Floyd K. Bull).
17. Barry County Death Records, Barry County Death Records, Book 1940 Deaths Barry County State File Number 2073 Local File No. 1.
18. The Edmonds Genealogy, Max Hosmer, The Edmonds Genealogy, (DATE Originally compiled in 1988 ; Updated 5 Feb 2000), pages 5 and 9 person number 37.
19. Individual Interviewed, Horace Nathaniel Edmonds.
20. Marriage License, Barry County, Michigan, County Clerk, Marriage License.
21. Electronic World Wide Web known as www.com, Electronic World Wide Web known as www.com,
http://www.familysearch.org/ENG/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp.
22. 1880 Census, Barry County, Michigan, Roll: T9_570; Sheet 15; Page 186A.
23. Barry County Marriage Records, Records Clerk, Barry County Marriage Records, Liber/Page D-97.
24. Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo Gazette, (Daily newpaper), page 2, 21 Jul 1935.
25. Jasper Smith Reid Genealogy, Charles O. Harthy, Some Descendants of Jasper Smith Reid 1808 - 1887, (Grand Haven, Michigan 1978), Generation 3, page 5, spouse of person #8.
26. Jasper Smith Reid Genealogy, Charles O. Harthy, Some Descendants of Jasper Smith Reid 1808 - 1887, (Grand Haven, Michigan 1978), Generation 3, page 5, person #8.
27. BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, Written and Compiled by the People of Barry County, Michigan, BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985, (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas), pages 89 and 283.
28. 1930 Census Michigan, Roll: T626_983; Sheet: 3B; District: 23-2.
29. Reseacher, Gordon Mitchell.
30. Marriage License, Barry County, Michigan, County Clerk, Marriage License, Book_Page: D-13.
31. Barry County Birth Records, Records Clerk, Record of Births, Barry County, State of Michigan, Liber A Page 102.
32. 1930 Census Michigan, Roll: T626_979; Sheet: 2B; District: 13-36.
33. Marriage License, Barry County, Michigan, County Clerk, Marriage License, Book/Page: D-449, Entry 1207152.

Husband's Notes
* Date of burial 1906 Lot 19 Grave 2 I have visited the grave many times.
* History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, published in 1885: page 396;
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
   Not withstanding the fact that a class under the auspices of this church has existed since 1855, repeated interviews with its older members have failed to discover any early records or secure information relative to its history.
   Preaching was for many years held in one of the schoolhouses of the township, and in 1873 measures were taken for the erection of a church edifice, which were successful. In 1874 the building was completed and dedicated. It is a spacious and substantial frame structure, standing on section 21. Services are at present held semi-monthly, and conducted by Elder Janes, of Johnstown. A flourishing Sabbath-school is connected with the church, under the superintendence of A. Heath. The board of trustees are Dr. A. L. Van Horn, Moses Aldrich, Julius Crosby, J. C. Arnold, Joseph L. French, Harrison Mershon.
* BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985: page 89 "Joseph L. French"
   Joseph L. [Luther] French was born in 1832 at Seabrook, New Hampshire, the son of Joseph and Lucy (Gove) French. This small coastal village and its neighbor, Salisbury, Massachusetts, had been home to his ancestors for nearly two centuries prior to his birth.
   On May 29, 1852, Joseph married Betsey Boyd. She was the daughter of Enoch and Laura (Walton) Boyd and was also a descendant of early settlers. Joseph was employed by a local shoe factory and in their first years of marriage they lived with Betsey's grandfather. Seven children were born to this couple while residing at Seabrook: George, Laura, Ida, Abby, Alex, Wesley and Gertrude. Two more were later born in Michigan: Lyney and Warren, who died in infancy.
   In August 1868, Joseph purchased at public auction a 94-acrefarm in section 21 of Baltimore Township, for the sum of $2425. It is believed the family moved to Michigan the following year, after the birth of Gertrude. The farming venture was entered into with a minimum of equipment and a few stock animals.
   Their first crops were corn, wheat and potatoes, with later additions of oats and one hundred apple trees [some of these trees still exist on the farm now owned by Horace Edmonds, a grandson of his daughter Laura, only 54-acres remain in family]. Sheep were raised for wool and cattle for slaughter. All work was done by family members.
   George French eventually returned to the east coast to live. He and his wife, Climena, raised four sons: George, Herbert, Willie and Chester.
   Laura married Nathaniel Edmonds and had three children. Ida married Frank Pursell; they had four children. Gertrude and her husband, Silas Gaskill, had three children. Abby and John Benedict married and had two sons. Lyney wed Frank Pursell and raised two children.
   Wesley French and his wife, Nellie Reid, had a son and four daughters: Sterling, Gladys, Clair, Mildred and Sadie.
   Alex French married Libbie Hook, daughter of neighbors Daniel and Mary Elizabeth (Newton) Hook, on September 17, 1880. They had five children, four of whom lived to maturity: Glenna (1884-1972), married Vern Bivens, Daniel Archie (1888-1969), Bert (1892-1963), married Marion Jarman, and Elzie (1896-1965). The first child, Loyal, died in infancy.
   Mr. and Mrs. French were active members of the Baltimore M. E. Church, were Joseph was Sunday School Superintendent and if needed could and did preach many good sermons.
   Joseph died on June 27, 1906 at his home located one mile north of Dowling. Betsey lived until January 30, 1920, when she died at the home of her grandson in Battle Creek, Michigan. Their graves are located in the Dowling Cemetery beside that of their infant son. (2)

Wife's Notes
* Lot 19 Grave 1

Notes for Laura Ann FRENCH
* Obituary from Bull Scrapbooks.
   Laura A. Edmonds departed this life January 29 at the home of her son Wesley after a ten day illness, age 85 years and two months. She was the daughter of Joseph and Betsy French and was born Salisbury, Massachusetts, October 29, 1854.
   She came to Barry county with her parents at the age of 14 and resided in Baltimore township the remainder of her life. On December 31, 1871, she was united in marriage to Nathaniel Edmonds. To this union three children were born, Leroy, Anna Maud and Wesley. Leroy, Anna Maud and her husband preceded her in death.
   When a young lady she gave her heart to the Lord and was a member of the Methodist church.
   She leaves to mourn their loss a son, Wesley; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one brother, Wesley French, of Bellevue; two sisters, Mrs. Abbie Benedict of Cedar Creek and Mrs. Gertie Gaskill of Battle Creek; a host of other relatives ans friends.
   She was a helpful, true wife, a fond, loving mother, a good, kind neighbor to all. She bore her burden of life with a loving heart and a warm smile.
* Laura's family can be found in BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985 page 89 "Joseph L. French"
* Her granddaughter Hilda Arabelle (Edmonds) Linderman/Cardinal/Jackson says that Laura said her name was "Annie Laurie."
   Also related by her granddaughter (Hilda) that Laura took care of Maudie after the illness she had as a child that left Maudie as an infant mentally. The doctor that treated Maudie informed her parents that Maudie would die, to which Laura said that she was not going to lose another baby this way. She stayed with Maudie doing all that she could to bring down the fever and praying to GOD to spare her pretty little baby. All her efforts paid off, but Maudie would be a baby for the rest of her life. When Maudie would cry (like an infant for attention or any of the needs of an infant, but with the voice and volume of an adult) that Laura would cradle her in her lap and calm her down and tend her needs until her (Maudie's) death in 1912. (17)

Notes for Ida FRENCH
* BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985 pg 89 : Ida married Frank Pursell; they had four children. Could this be the same Frank Pursell that married her sister Lyney?

Notes for Alexander Quigley FRENCH
* From the Kalamazoo Gazette, page 2, July 21, 1935
ALEX FRENCH OF GULL ROAD DIES
   Alex French, 74, died at his home in Gull Road at 3:35 Saturday afternoon. He is survived by the widow, Libbie; three sons, Archie of Battle Creek, Bert of Richland, and Elzie of Kalamazoo; a daughter, Mrs. Glenna Bivens of Nashville, Mich.; a brother, Wesley French, Bellevue; and five sisters, Mrs. Frank Pursell, Level Park, Mrs. Laura Edmonds, Dowling, Mrs. Silas Gaskill, Lacey, Mrs. Abbie Benedict, Cedar Creek, and Mrs. Ida Goddard, Amesbury, Mass.
* Year of burial 1935 Lot 82 Grave 2
* BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985 page 89 ALEXANDER L. AND LIBBIE HOOK FRENCH

Notes for Wesley Newell FRENCH
* BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985 page 89 & 90 WESLEY AND NELLIE FRENCH.
 

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