The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-18

A. Birum. pall-bearers, and with Red
wood Falls Lodge, A. O. U. w. with
about fifty visiting brethren from
Sleepy Eye, Morgan and other towns,
as an escort, the remains were taken
to their final resting place in the GEM
etery, vast concourse of citizens in
carriages and on foot, following. The
exercises in the cemetery we're brief,
after which the grave was closed on
the remains.
A letter received from the person
who was with Mr.. Francois at the time
of and just before his dissolution, states
that,althodgh Suffering intensely from
pain which he asked to have relieved
by the aid of morphine-his. last
words were of his wife and children.
The circumstances leading to Mr..
Francois death are probably we'll
known to all who knew him. He had
long been suffering from an agravat-
ing type of asthmatic or bronchial
consumption, which he has
fought with stubborn resistance, and
at the same time continued as the act
i've head of the largest general mer-
camille institution in the city. For
several winters prior to the last he
spent his time in California, and there
regained, in a great measure, what he
lostby over exertion here during the
summer. Owing to poor collections
last fall and winter he remained here
until early in February, when de-
cline compelled him to seek warmer
climate. He wanted change and de-
cided to try Florida, making jackson
vile his rendezvous. He remained
there until the middle of April, when
he felt so strong as to warrant his
coming home. But he arrived here
on an exceedingly damp and gloomy
day and was compelled to take to his
bed. Then came those never-to-be
forgotten billiards. and the disagree
able weather, all causing his condition
to again become critical. A change of
climate was again necessitated and
Colorado Springs was decided upon,
but upon arriving in Denver he ascer-
tanned that the atmosphete was. too
damp for him 90 ~that pll6ce and IL
turned his course toward Eureka
Springs, where he arrived little over
two weeks since. The climate was an
agreeable one, and Mr.. Francois rap
idly became acclimated He wrote
cheerfully to his partner and to his
wife, but alas, his wonderful constitu-
ton was worn out, the human ma
chinery refused to work, and he fell a
victim to the grim reaper of death.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Christopher Alexander Francois was
born in Rittersdorf parish, by Treve,
Rhenish Prussia, portion of country
then owned by France, but, wrested
from the country by the Germans in
the memorable Franco German war
of 1871. He was born in November,
1853, and was consequently 40 years
old. He was direct descendant of a
noble family, whose name even now
appears in the records of German and
French history. His father, commenc-
ing life as weaver, is now a writer
for the greatest French and German
periodicals, and formed one of 500
guard to the French king years ago.
His mother was of Swiss extraction.
G. A. was one of family of three
two girls and one boy. His early life
was child reaping the benefits of
compulsory education, and when Is
years old his mind had expanded to
bright American dream land. He bor-
rowed enough money to secure pass
age, and before another year passed
away, he had arrived at the port of
New York, and. was working in green
house belonging to DR.. Beach ,on Long
Island. He was seized with malaria,
and pulled through by Mrs. Beach's
nursing. He remained there two
years, during which time he mastered
the English language. Then he came
west to Eau Claire and "rafted" in