G. H. French, a well-to-do farmer and stockman of Sycamore township, was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1856, and is a son of Charles H. and Laura French. Mr. French came to Kansas in 1884 and first settled near Abilene. After remaining there two years, he came to Butler county shortly after his marriage in 1886. He first rented land of S. S. Harsh and five years later bought eighty acres of that place. When he bought the place he had about $200 to pay down and he paid the balance in the next five years. He sold this place in 1896 and bought 160 acres where he now lives in Sycamore township. He has added to this and now has a fine farm of 320 acres which is under an excellent state of cultivation, well improved, fenced and stocked. Mr. French has been an extensive raiser of cattle and hogs and has been successful and is one of the prosperous landowners in Sycamore township.

Mr. French was married in 1886, to Miss Evora Holton, a daughter of Reuben and Lorena Holton, natives of Vermont, and of English descent. Mrs. French is one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. Cornelia Smith, Red Wing, Minn.; Mrs. Rose Smith, Cassoday, Kans.; Wallace Holton, DeGraff, Kans.; Charles Holton, Abilene, Kans.; and Mrs. French. Mr. and Mrs. French have reared one adopted daughter, Mrs. Merle Pettyjohn, El Dorado, Kans.

When Mr. and Mrs. French located in Sycamore township, their home was near the old California trail, which passed between where their house and barn are now located. Traffic was very heavy over this trail in the early days and Mr. French has counted as many as eighty-five teams which passed here in one day. Sycamore Springs was a fav-

orite camping place for travelers because of its excellent water. Indians also frequently passed and sometimes in large bands after Mr. French located here.

There were no churches in Sycamore township at that time but services were held in the school houses. Rev. Sears was one of their pioneer preachers. Prairie fires were one of the menaces to the early settlers' peace of mind, and Mr. French has fought prairie fires on many occasions. He is one of Butler county's pioneers who is well entitled to success for he and his noble wife endured the hardships and overcame the difficulties of pioneer life and are the type of people who courageously fought the good fight that, not only built up Butler county but laid the foundation for the great West.

Previous | Main Page | Biography Index | Next

Pages 839-840,