George French (1811-1880)

George French, the son of George and Sarah (McBride) French, was born on September 22, 1811 in Dearborn County, Indiana.

George's marriage to Jane Purcell (shown as Percell), on July 27, 1832, in Ripley County was recorded in 'Indiana Marriages to 1850'. George and Jane would have 4 children. After Jane died, George married Hannah Sprague on October 10, 1842, in Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana.

George and his family moved from Indiana to Allamakee County, Iowa just east of Frankville, Winneshiek County about 1864.

The Postville Review of April 10, 1880 published this brief notice:

According to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule, George French died in March, 1880 of consumption. He was then a 68-year-old married farmer.

The last will and testament for George was filed in Post Township on November 15, 1879. In it he stated,

Additionally, he bequeathed to his children; Sarah Ann Sprague, Thomas French, Peter French, John French, Martha M. Bollman, and Julia five dollars each to be paid within three years of his death. He also gave and bequeathed to the following children all of his estate that may have been left following the death of his wife Hannah: Elisabeth Payne, Jane Southward, Edward French, Harry French, Henry French, and Esther Kinyon. He appointed his wife Hannah as the executrix of his estate.

George is buried in the Frankville Cemetery in Frankville, Winneshiek County, Iowa. ( Gravestone photo )

Hannah remarried to John Pixler after George's death. She died in 1895 and is buried with him in the Postville cemetery.
( Obituary ) ( Gravestone photo )

George's children w/Jane & Hannah

-Sarah Ann, b. ca1834, is age 26, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1860 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN.

-Thomas, b. ca1836, is age 14, living w/Benjamin & Nancy Purcell family on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & same place in 1860, age 24, living w/George & Hannah

-John, b. ca1838, is age 12, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & same place in 1860, age 22, living w/George & Hannah

-Peter, b. ca1842, is age 8, living w/Benjamin & Nancy Purcell family on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & & same place in 1860, age 18, living w/George & Hannah

-Dickinson, b. ca1843, is age 7, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & same place in 1860, age 16, living w/George & Hannah

-Margaret Elizabeth, b. ca1848, is age 2, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & & same place in 1860, age 12, as Elizabeth, living w/George & Hannah

-Nancy Jane, b. ca1848, is age 2, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & same place in 1860, age 12, as Jane, living w/George & Hannah & age 20 on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA

-Louisa C., b. ca1850, is age 5 mo., living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1850 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN

-Edward, b. ca1852, is age 8., living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1860 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & age 17 on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA

-Harvey, b. 1853, is age 6, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1860 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & age 16 on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA ( Obituary )

-Henry, b. ca 1857, is age 3, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1860 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & age 12 on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA

-Martha M., b. ca1859, is age 1, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1860 census Johnson twp, Ripley co., IN & age 10 on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA

-Hester 'Hettie', b. ca1862, age 8, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA

-Julia, b. ca1866, age 4, living w/Geo & Hannah on the 1870 census Ludlow twp., Allamakee co. IA & age 15, living with her widowed mother on the 1880 census, Post twp. Allamakee co.

*Note: Census data on this page was compiled by S. Ferrall - please verify to your own satisfaction