Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-12
The LATE MAJOR B. B. FRENCH.
HIS. DEATH THIS MORNING.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Arrangements for the Funeral.

by the unexpected announcement that Major b.
\ b. French, who has for several years past held
many important positions Of honor and trust in
| our midst, expired at O'Clock this morning at
his residence, No. I37 East Capitol street. He
has been in i'll health for q few weeks past, but
| 1t was not feared that he was afflicted with q
mortal disease. The immediate cause of death
was disef sc ofthe heart. He leaves q wife and
| two sons, one OF whom is q resident of Boston,
and was with him at the time of his death.
He had been sick for about two weeks, but
| rall1ed SO much that yesterday morning he
arose, dressed, and was SO apparently well that
he played three games OF cri5bage with his eld-
st son, Frank, who had bcen telegraphed for
from Boston. About eleven O'Clock a. IN. he
was taken with pain in the region Of the heart,
which never left him. IL was so severe at times
that he could be heard far outside the premises
moaning with pain. Doctors C. Nj. Ford and
William p. Johnston tried all in their power to
even relieve his excessive suffering without
avail. He was such a strong, hearty man that
only to the most excrucisting agony Of the de-
ceased. The last time he was seen In public
was on the occasion Of the press excursion to
Glymont, few weeks since, when he seemed as
well ae ever. but complsinedof excessive fatigue
in walking home from the boat.
Mr.. trenchs career in the Masonic fraternity
was Lieutenant Grand Commander of the
supreme Council of the Thirty-Third degree,
besides having been Grand Master of the Dis
iIict OF Columbia, and Grand Master of the
name become with Masonry that one of the
most dourishipg lodges in this city bears his
name.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
BENJAMIN b. French was born in Chester,
Rockingham county, New Hampshire, on the
4th day of September, 1900. He was the son of
Daniel and Mercy French. His mothers maiden
name was Brown. She was the daughter OF Ben
jamin Brown, OF Chester, and sister Of Francis
Brown, an eminent divine, who at the time OF
college. Mr.. French was the only child OF his
mother, who Tied when he was eighteen months
Old. His father was lawyer OF high standing,
and was for several years attorney general of the
State OF New Hampshire. He rec lived good
common school and academical education, and
II was the earnest desire of his father and friends
that he should enter college, which he declined
to do: In 1919, he went to Boston with a view
OF going to sea. Disappointed in obtaining a
berth on board a ship, he enlisted as soldier in
the army Of the United States and was station
harbor OF Boston, with a detachment Of the
eighth regiment of infantry. He was, soon after
enlisting, appointed a sergeant and performed
his duty faithfully for about four months, when,
at the earnest solicitation OF his lfiends, who
provided substitute, he left the army on the
18th day Of September, 1919.
He then returned to his fathers and although
contrary to his own inc'inatiOns, commenced
the study Of law, which he pursued with dill
gence, for i've years, that being the tina fixed
by the bar rules of New Hampshire. At the
February term of the court of common pleas
for the county of Rockingham, held at Ports
mouth, in 1925, Mr.. French was admitted an At
torney at law; and in the month of March fol-
lowing, commenced the practice at Hookset, in
the county OF Merrimack, from whence, In Sep
TENDER, he removed to Sutton, and married
Elizabeth s. Richardson, daughter OF the Hon,
supreme court of New Hampshire. MIR. French
entered immed iAtely into fun practice, and with
bis industry and natural business tact, would
probably have taken very respectable place at
the bar had he continued his profession. He
was elected assistant clerk OF the senate of New
Hampshire, in June, 1926. to which office he was
twice reelected. In 1892 he was elected a repre-
sentative from the town Of Newport in his ma
tive State, to which he had removed, and was
reelected for the Two succeeding years. For
three years Of the time Mr.. French resided at
Newport, he was editor OF the New Hampshire
Spectator, democratic paper; and its SUBJ
scr.ption list more than doubled while it was
under his control 1t was afterwards united with
the New Hampshire Argus, and edited by Hon.
Edmund Burke, and IL still published at New
port.
de was appointed an assistant clerk of the U.
5. House OF Representatives in 1888, aud at once
resigned his position in New Hampshire and re-
moved his family to this city. He held the stu
alton of chief clerk under Mr.. Garland and Col.
McNulty, and when the latter left the Office of
Clerk or the House on the 1Sthof January, 1915,
the deceased was elected 10 that office. RE was
also unanimously reelected by the next and
several succeeding Congresses.
He was appointed commissioner of public
buildings under President Pierce, and again
under President Lincoln administration, con-
tinuing in that office until II was abolished I'M
der President Johnson's administration in 1863
since which ,.me, until the first of July, he was
employed in the Treasury Department until a
few weeks since. when he refigned.
Major Z. evinced considerable talent as a poet.
General Schenck, of Ohio, il will be remem
bered, had the Office of Comm ssioner of Public
Building (which Major X. heidi abolished in an
appropriation bill under President Johnson's
administ, alton, styling the deceased :" The Poet
Laureate Of the Administration" he having
short while before published some verses lauda-
tory Of the President under the title ''Andrew
jackson and Andrew Johr son."
Duling his long residence in this city, besides
the National Offices of honor and trust he held,
Major French was for many years President Of
the Boards OF Alderman and Common Co Incil
respectively. He was also member of the Levy
Court, and the Oldest Inhabitants Association.
He was known throughout the country for his
high standing in the Masonic fraternity. He
was Grand Master of the District and Past Most
Eminent Grand Commander Of the Knights
Templar of the United States.
His title Of Major, by which he has always
been known, came from the fact of his having
held a majors commission in the New Hamp-
shire militia.
ARRANGEMRNTs FOR THE FUSERAL.
The funeral will take place on Sunday after
noon, at O'Clock, the interment to be made in
the Congressional Cemetery. Anthony Buchly,
the undertaken, has prepared for the remains a
walnut coffin. covered with black cloth, on the
lid OF which Is a silver plate inscribed: 1" Ben
jamin Brown French. Born September 18th,
1900; died August 18th, 1870" The entire Ma
sonic fraternity will participate.
O
Tho