Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-06-03
Lunenburg.

b. DIED, ia Lewiston, Me, May 80, 1876,
NATHANIEL W. FRENCH, In the Goth year.
of his age.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Tamworth, N. II. Nov 20, 1907 His faith
er moved to this town in 1928, on to the
old "French farm" where Moses Eastman
now lives. Here, by dint of hard labor
and making the best of his opportunities,
young French acquired education suf1i-
cicnt to teach, which he did successfully
for several terms, in this and other towns.
In this he was contemporary with Judge
Weeks of Lancaster After the days of
his minority he went to Bangor, Me. re-
turning after three years, he entered the
mercantile business, which he successfully
followed for thirty years in all its varied
changes and growth. Here Mr.. French
displayed that energy-that spirit of push
that is so necessary in all business men.
Beginning small, he built up trade that
demanded more room, and many years
ago he built a large and tasty store, now
occupied by j. G. Bowker & Son. He
held the Post Office for many years, in
connection with his other business, which
extended to farming and starch-making.
His store, his house, his farm and all that
he did displayed that spirit of neatness,
tidiness and thoroughness so characters
It's of the man. Mr.. French was q
thorough democrat, honest and out-spok-
en-, and although living in a county large
ly wing, and in latter days republican, yet
he was High Sheriff for several years.
Assistant Judge of the court, and Sena-
tor. He was member of the last Coun-
Gil of Censors, and strongly advocated
the changes then adopted. He held the
confidence of his townsmen, who honored
his faithfulneSs by elccting him many
times to the various town offices. He
united with the Congrc gational church in
1899. and was always very active and lib
cral In promoting its interests. Here he
gave with no stinginess. Our tidy church
and parsonage tell of his love and libcr-
ality; and here was his home that he loved
when without q minister we were not
without service, for he was always
ready with a good sermon to read. A
few years ago his sons sold out their mer-
camille business here which they purchas-
ed of their father in 1868, and went to
Lewiston, Maine. In December, 1874,
Mr.. and Mrs. French went there and re-
manned through the winter with their
sons, spending the summer Of 1875 here.
Last December they went again to spend
the winter. In January last, Mr.. French
was sick of inflammation of the bowels,
which resulted in an abscesS that grad
ually wore his life away.
His social qualities endeared him to a
wide circle of friends. He was a man OF
fine grain, detestins coarseness, doing
what be could to uplift men and to make
the world better, ambitious to be always
doing something, saying "that he wanted
to be able to work so long as he had life
Mrs. French has the sympathy of wide
circle Of friends. They buried their only
daughter in 1860.
The funeral was largely attended by bic
old friends and townsmen on the first daE
of June, so beautiful and bright, bloom
ing into summer, and they laid him away
with the faith that he had entered that
surprisingly higher, more beautiful, eter.
nal summer, where the eye will not din
nor the beauty fade, but all is brightness
and youth forevermore.