My Genealogy Hound

WILLARD B. FRENCH, an experienced agriculturist and successful stock-raiser of Bertrand Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a prominent citizen and for forty years has been intimately associated with the growth and progress of his home locality. The birthplace of Mr. French was upon a farm of Onondaga County, N. Y., where he was born April 6, 1847. His paternal grandfather, Titus French, was of English descent. Born in the Empire State, he made his lifetime home within its borders and married and reared a family, his son, Samuel French, being the father of our subject. The mother, Mrs. Sarah Bliss French, was of English ancestry, but was born in New York, where she married, and with her husband located upon a farm within a short distance of the familiar scenes of childhood. In 1853 the parents emigrated to Michigan and settled in Bertrand Township, from that time then continuous residence until their death. Energetic, industrious and upright in character, they were esteemed by all who knew them.

Into their pleasant home had come seven children, three daughters and four sons. Willard B. was the third child and third son, and was six years of age when he accompanied the other members of the family to the West. He attended the school of the home district at first, but later enjoyed the benefit of instruction in the schools of Buchanan. Until twenty-one years of age he remained with his parents and then began life for himself, at first engaging for eight months in the hardware business in Buchanan, in company with his brother Henry C. In September, 1869, Mr. French was married to Miss Ellen Davenport, daughter of William R. and Laura Davenport. Mrs. French was a native of New England and was born in Vermont. With her husband she located upon section 1, Bertrand Township, where, with the exception of one year spent in Buchanan Township, they have since continued to reside. Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of two daughters and three sons. Fannie is the wife of a prosperous farmer, Isaac Wills, of Bertrand Township; Fred E., Grace, George W. and Robert W. are all at home.

Mr. French has a valuable and productive farm of one hundred and fifty-seven and a-half acres and also owns six acres of timber in Buchanan Township. Aside from the duties of general farming he profitably handles, in partnership with his brother, a high grade of horses, principally Percherons, and also makes a specialty of choice cattle. Politically he is a Republican and has ably discharged the duties of local office, having been Treasurer of the township, Treasurer of the school fund and Assessor. Our subject has for ten years been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Buchanan and has been active in church work and the extension of religious influence. He has shared in the labors of the Sunday-school, and as Chairman of the Church Building Committee did invaluable service in the erection of the new house of worship completed in 1892 in Buchanan. The edifice cost $8,000, to which sum Mr. French was a liberal contributor as well as devoting much time to its building. The beautiful home of our subject and his family is the abode of hospitality, and upon the old farm a large circle of friends finds ready welcome.