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Biographical sketch of SEWARD F. FRENCH from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Indiana.
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SEWARD F. FRENCH
Descendants of New England stock enter largely into the thrifty, prosperous population of St. Clair county, Michigan. Especially does this apply to those who are engaged in the mercantile business. It comes as natural to the New England Yankee and his descendants to engage in traffic as it does to the sons of Judah to sell male wearing apparel. One of the prosperous merchants of Riley Center, St. Clair county, is Seward F. French, whose father was Ebenezer French, a native of Keene, New Hampshire. The French family was among the early settlers of that state. Ebenezer French was born September 9, 1812, and his youth was spent among the New Hampshire hills. When grown to manhood, he married Miss Susan Cleveland, a member of the same family whence sprang a late president of the United States. Up to this time Mr. French has been engaged in the milling business with flattering success. His father and other members of the family having decided to move to the state of New York, Ebenezer decided to accompany them and, finding land in the Empire state far more fertile than that of their New Hampshire home, all engaged in farming, an occupation which was continued up to the time of the death of the elder Mr. French. His wife having died some time previous, Ebenezer decided to move to Michigan. Before doing so, however, he was married to Eliza Richards, of Weathersfield, New York, daughter of Erastus and Amanda (Howe) Richards. They immediately started for Michigan, arriving in Richmond township, Macomb county, September 1, 1840. For the first three years Mr. French occupied his time in clearing lang and then bought an eighty-acre tract at Romeo, which he improved and lived upon for ten years. Having sold out at what was then considered a good price, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres at Lenox, and ten years more of time and toil were expended on this tract, which greatly enhanced its value. This was also sold and for seven or eight years the family engaged in farming at Belle River. By this time Mr. French, who seems to have been possessed of much Yankee shrewdness, decided to quit farming and engage in the mercnatile business. Interesting his sons with him, he opened a general store at Richmond, Michigan, and operated it with flattering success for five years. Deciding that an increase of patronage might be secured by a removal, he moved his entire stock and fixtures to Riley Center, where the family have continued the business ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. French were the parents of six children, viz: Susan Amanda, born April 21, 1842, married Reuben Burgess, a farmer of New York, and they now reside in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and have a family of three children; one daughter is accomplished in music and another is a teacher in the public schools; Quincy, born April 11, 1844, served as a soldier in the Civil war and died in Kansas a number of years ago; R. Elbert, born March 12, 1849, is interested in farming and the mercantile business in Riley Center; he married Amanda Felker and they are the parents of two bright and interesting children; Mary Dell, born June 12, 1852, married W. Dysinger, who is a prosperous farmer of Riley Center; Seward F.; Lizzie M., born July 21, 1860, is married and lives in St. Louis.
Seward F. French was born at Lenox, Michigan, August 23, 1858. As a youth he was quick, active, bright and intellectual, attended the district school and early showed an aptitude for learning. He was ambitious and persevering, two very necessary qualities to equip the successful man. While his father remained on the farm he aided in its work, and when the mercantile business was established he was one of its very necessary adjuncts. To that branch of business most of his time has been devoted ever since. On September 26, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Bertha E. Lewis, a lady of good education and many accomplishments. To them have been born three children, viz: Neva B., a graduate of the St. Louis (Michigan) high school; Elmer and Melvin Orville.
Mr. French has been a farmer, dealer in real estate and a merchant, besides being interested in various enterprises, both for his own and the public good. He has spent twenty years of his life behind the counter of a mercantile house and has been the architect of his own fortune. Whatever he is or is to be is due to the exertions made by himself. In politics he is a Republican, but liberal in views, believing that in local affairs fitness and not politics should govern in the selection of men for office. Personally he has no ambition to fill public position, though he has been the village postmaster for the past three years. He is popular because he is generous and unselfish, no reasonable favor being solicited at his hands that is not granted. He believes in religion, but has no choice as to denomination, any religion that does not consist chiefly of doing good being looked upon by him as spurious. He is a most worthy and exemplary man, one of whom any community may well be proud.
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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the FRENCH surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community. Therefore, please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above. Thank you.
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