William French

William French, son of William, Sr., and Mary French, was born in New York City October 18, 1852. Born of emigrant parents he knew and endured all the hardships usual to people of pioneer environment. When a lad of 12 he moved with his parents to the prairie land near Monmouth, IL., and a few years later the family located on a farm near Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. A year later they moved to a farm in Liberty Township where he resided until the fall of 1877.

He was married to Margaret Elizabeth Layton October 25, 1877, and to this union two sons were born, Clarence and Howard. After residing on a farm in Monroe Township for 28 years they came to Kellerton, Iowa in 1905.

Mr. French by his kindness acquired many friends. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Kellerton, Tuesday afternoon by the Rev. Z. M. Bressler. A mixed quartet, composed of Mrs. Frank Seasholtz, Mrs. Weldon Meadows, W.W. Farmer and B.W. Whitson, accompanied by Mrs. Glen Robinson at the piano, sang “Nearer My God to Thee”, “The Last Mile of the Way” and “God Be With You Until We Meet Again.” The pallbearers were R.A. Virden, G.E. Turner, Will Hale, Joe Scott, Frank Seasholtz and Orr Allen. Interment was made in the Kellerton Cemetery.