Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 514] of Union township is the widow of the late James French. He was born in Ireland, but was of Scotch descent, as his father and mother were born in Scotland, and settled in Ireland, where their deaths occurred. James French when thirteen years of age came to Philadelphia, and his first business was in the manufacture of ice cream. In 1866, he came to Union township and bought the farm where he resided until his death; the property was known as the R. Sankey farm. He succeeded in a very large degree, and made many valuable improvements to the land, which in the hands of his widow has proved productive. In 1864 he enlisted from Philadelphia in the 29th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and served under Col. Murphy; he contracted cholera in the army, and this caused his discharge from the army for disabilities from the Joe Holt Hospital of Indianapolis. He was never very well afterwards, and died in 1891, aged sixty-three years. In politics he was a Democrat, and in his religious views he was attached to the Episcopal Church. While a resident of Philadelphia he was a member of the I. O. O. F., and in Union township was connected with the G. A. R. organization.
The excellent lady, with whom he united himself for life was Rebecca Boston, daughter of John and Maria (Morrison) Boston. John Boston was born in Butler County, near Portersville, and was engaged in farming all of his life; he settled in Neshannock township on a farm, now owned by George Green, and rounded out his career there, his death taking place at the age of sixty-three, and his wife's at the age of eighty-six. His children that grew up to maturity were: Enoch; Rebecca; Elijah; Julia; and Samuel. John Boston, himself, was a son of John Boston, Sr., to whom the following children were born: George: John; Rebecca; Elizabeth; Catherine; Samuel; Adam; William; Sheffeler [Sheplar?]; and Tinna. John Boston, Sr., came from Winchester, Va., and was among the pioneers of Butler County. He settled on 225 acres of forest land, and built his log-cabin and cleared the land in the style so customary then. He cut a cradle from the body of a large tree, dug it out, and in it rocked all of his children, besides many of his grandchildren. He was a very prosperous and progressive citizen of his community, and did much in bringing about the development and growth of the township. He lived to be over eighty years old. His wife, who was Elizabeth Albert, was eighty-seven or eighty-eight when she was called to her long home. The union of Mr. and Mrs. French was productive of these children: Enoch, a railroad conductor of Gallatin, Tenn., married Amanda Watts, and has two children, Vivian and Elzena; Augustus, who died in his nineteenth year; McClellan, who lived to be eighteen years of age; Julia, who married Charles Coon of Pittsburg; Johnnie, who died at nine years of age; Mamie, who lives at home; and James, who is in the railroad business.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 11 Jul 2001