BIO: William Caldwell FRENCH, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 410-412. _________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM CALDWELL FRENCH. Conspicuous among the young men of sterling worth in Beaver county, Pa., whom business or professional work has given a wide acquaintance throughout the county, and whose public service is ever highly esteemed, is William Caldwell French, a rising young attorney of Beaver. Mr. French was born in Beaver, Pa., and, after graduating at the high school at that place, he registered as a law student in the office of J. H. Cunningham, one of Beaver county's most noted attorneys. After pursuing his studies very diligently, young French was admitted to the bar, and spent the following three years associated with his preceptor in the practice of his profession. Since that time he has been practicing alone. Our worthy subject is an influential member of the Presbyterian church, and although an active man in the interests of Beaver county, he has never sought office. William Caldwell French is a son of Capt. Samuel B. and Emily (Robinson) French, and grandson of Joseph and Martha (Newton) French. Joseph French was born November 3, 1781, at Brown Mills, Burlington county, New Jersey, and while still a young man, learned the art of making shoes by hand in his native state. In Morristown, New Jersey, he met Martha Newton, a young Quakeress who became his wife. The young folks went west to Beaver county, Pa., shortly after the year 1800, locating in Brighton, which is now Beaver Falls. At that place, Mr. French began the manufacture of boots and shoes, giving employment to several hands. After following that occupation very successfully at Brighton for a period of eight years, he removed to Beaver, where he carried on a similar but more extensive business during the remainder of his life. He made fine, and also coarse, footwear of all kinds not only for the laboring classes, but for the most aristocratic families in Beaver, and townships adjoining. Shortly after moving to Beaver, he purchased a home on the southeast corner of Elk and Second streets, where he and his wife lived until their death. He was a very progressive man and made considerable money, nor was he content to deal in footwear alone; in addition to his very heavy trade in that line, Mr. French also rented several farms, and carried on agricultural pursuits to a considerable extent. Besides rearing a large family, he was exceed- BEAVER COUNTY 411 ingly charitable and assisted many in need, - very often, it is said, to his own disadvantage. Thus he became extremely popular and was much beloved. Several years prior to his death, he was considered a well-to-do man, of his day. His death took place April 2, 1847, and the event caused universal sorrow. His amiable companion was born April 10, 1786, and for nearly eleven years awaited the summons to rejoin her husband, - passing peacefully away June 17, 1858. Their union was blessed with ten children, namely: Newton, born July 17, 1805, and died February 10, 1827; James, born March 27, 1807, and died April 3, 1836; Charles M., born January 4, 1811, and died March 27, 1877; Joseph, born May 21, 1813, and died November 11, 1871; Thomas, born October 4, 1815, and died November 2, 1886; Samuel B., father of the subject hereof; Maria C., born November 22, 1821, and died May 10, 1891; Billings O. P., born August 8, 1823, and died September 22, 1846; Leander, born September 30, 1825; Caroline, born January 12, 1828, - the only one of this numerous family known to be living. The honored father of these children was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife belonged to the good, old Quaker sect. Samuel B. French, William Caldwell's father, was born December 1, 1818, and when a young man, began river life as assistant on a steamboat plying on the Ohio River, between Pittsburg and New Orleans. This life just suited his fancy, and he rapidly rose in the line to be captain, and still later became part owner of several steamboats, among them the "Joseph Pierce," the "Tropic," and the "Shenango." Retiring from river life he engaged in the manufacture of brick under the firm name of French & Quay. He established brick yards and kilns, and was conducting that business at the time of his death. This plant was conveniently located on the south side of the Ohio River, directly opposite Beaver. Shortly after his marriage Mr. French built a large, substantial and handsome brick residence on the northwest corner of Elk and Second streets, where he lived during the rest of his life. This residence is, at the present time, the home of Hon. M. S. Quay. Samuel B. French was a public-spirited man and a Democrat of much influence and great prominence. His active river life prevented his accepting political offices. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of St. Joseph Lodge, No. 457, F. & A. M., of Beaver, and on February 15, 1854, became a member of Commandery, No. 1, of the Knights Templar of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He passed to his final rest January 28, 1874, and was survived by his widow for twenty years. Mrs. French was, before marriage, Emily Robinson; she was a daughter of Hugh Robinson, a native of Beaver county, and was reared in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Beaver. Her death occurred on September 7, 1894, at the age of seventy years. She was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom are still living, and all of whom grew to man- 412 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES hood and womanhood, with the exception of one. Their names are: Martha, Nancy, Thomas, Samuel, Franklin, Eliza, Mary, Emily, Sarah, Katherine, Jeannette, Alice, and William C., the subject of this biographical record.