The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1899-12-11
SPRING PARK
The Friends of Hon. ]. G.. French Aid
Him in Celebrating his 18th
Birthday

Birthday
II. c. Packham and wife arrived on
Thanksgiving Day and are arranging
things in their Prospect Heights.
Farmers are busy making syrup.
NJ. F. Gowdy and wife, who have
spent two winters in our midst have
"pitched their tent" in Ocala this win
ter, much to the regret of their friends
here, who were most ageeeably sur
prised when they put in an appearance,
in company with c. L. Bittinger and
wife of Ocala, whose presence at tho
birthday party of J. c. French added
much to the pleasure of the occasion.
A VETERAN HONORED
The celebration of the seventy-eigh.h
anniversary Of the birth of Hon. J. c.
French at his coy home at Spring
Park last w sdnesday night, was very
pleasant and enjoyable affair.
The large concOurse of neighbors
and friends and their hearty congratu-
lations attested the high esteem and
love in which Mr.. French and his esti-
mable wife are held by all who know
their many virtues, kindness of heart
and generous natures.
BY the time all had arrived, the social
atmosphere had greatly developed, and
Mr.. French, to add his mite to the
evenings pleasures, brought forth his
gramophone, had it reproduce songs,
recitals, humorous, laughable; senti-
mental, patriotic and religious, in So
los, duets and quartets, and executed
them with distinctness and tone that
| captured every heart, especially the
story of the "Raggety Man." Express
sion was unanimous that it was the fin
est thing of the kind they had ever
enjoyed.
After this treat came one of a gas
tronOmjc kind, in which Mesdames
French, mother and daughter-in-law,
and Mrs. Sears did the honors, and so
acceptably were they performed that
they captured all hearts and filled
every aching void in the anatomy of
those In evidence.
Then c. L. Bittinger, the editor of
the Ocala Star, was called on for re-
marks, to which he responded in a con-
gratulatory vein, and dwelt on the
long, useful and industrious life which
Mr.. French had lived, of comfort and
success to himself and of pleasure to
the mary friends he had made in these
past years of vigorous, robust, honest
and honorable life, and with the success
that had come to him his greatest and
dearest oy was in the reflection that
through the best and happiest years of
his life his beloved wife had been his
inspiration and stay, and together they
were passing down the sunny slope of
life, hand in hand-a picture for young
er mated ones to pattern after.
Mr.. George Young then entertained
the company by reading an original
ditty, entitled "Topics of the Day." to
the great pleasure and delight of his
hearers.
B. F. Hopper then read beautiful
production, communicative of the
"Hand That Supports
Mr.. Hopper was followed by the read
ing Of an interesting friendly letter,
written by Mr.. William Woodward,
cashier of one of the national banks of
Worcester, Mass to Mr.. French, in
which the latter has been a deposition
for some forty years and transacted
millions of dollars Of business.
After which, the hour having grown
late, the guests expressed the hope that
Mr.. and Mrs. French would be spared
many years longer to celebrate Mr..
French's coming birthdays, and that
all present could again be participants,
and withdrew.
Those present were c. L. Bittinger
and wife and M. F. Gowdy and wife
of Ocala, A. Y. Strunk and wife and
Miss Bertha Strunk, Mrs. w. =. Martin
and Miss Inez Martin, Mrs. NJ. E. Sears,
Mrs. S. S. Hall, Chas. F.. French and
wife, B. F. Hopper, George Young,
Duncan Martin, Warren Ferguson,
Robert Stevens and Willie Stevens.
BIOGRAPHICAL
Hon. J. c. French wss born at Plain
field, Conn, Nov. 20, 1921; went to
| Worcester, Mass in the fall of 1910,
! and learned the carpenters trade. He
| joined the Baptist church in 1912. He
was married to Miss Ann Mason Of
Worcester, June ~, 1s43. He began
work carpenter and builder in 1850
| and carried on the business for forty
years or more, employing at times from