The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-06
FRENCH in AMERICA
Rn FREDERIC l. HASKIN

There are no great kings OF com
,eree or finance among the French in
snerica today, because France has
fktically no emigrant class. Her
Enuy fields arc abundant for her pres
pt population, and whoever heard of
nresent day Partisan who would
ave Paris? During the days of re-
jpious persecution in France thou
Snds of Hugucnots were driven from
he country, and they flocked in large
tmmbcrs TO the American colonies 1ur
Inp the formative period before the
Evolution. But since 1920 less than
10000 Frenchmen have landed on our
hores. Counting those whose French
joscent is not more than twice re-
noyed from the native.born emlgrants,
here are now only $4,000 in the
United States, Among the men Promi-
lent in present. day American life there
pre only ffty-eight of immediate
French extraction.
IAlthough the early French settlers
Merged their identity with the Ameri
ran people until all trace of many of
heir achievements were lost. it is to
he Infusion of their blood that we owe
many Of our boasted national charac.
teristics. The rirst doctor in Manhat-
Ian was Johannes La Montague, who
arrived i'll 1887. The first white peo.
snIe ever in the State of Pennsylvania
were four Young French couples who
vent out from New York in 1925.
French explorers made brilliant rec
,rd in the discovery and settlement of
the West and South. The first two
white men IN Minnesota were Pierre
Hupuenot fur traders. Cadillac, after
Detroit, Mirh. Pittsburg, originally
Fort Duauesne, was founded by Mar
ouis Duqnesne de Menncvillc. Auguste
and Pierre Chouteau founded st. Gouis
and named IT for the last French king.
Many of The Huguenots of colonial
days were people of mnch influence.
lrhe immortal Priscilla was the daugh-
,lcr of Guillaume Molines. the only
Frencbman on the Mayflower. Judith
Bavard. daughter Of Thomas Francis
rBayard. became the wife Of Peter
,Stnyvcsant. Richard Dana was the
people s champion in the fight against
She Stamp Act. James Delanccy gave
New York It's first town clock, which
MAS put in the tower of Trinity church.
he also gave the city its first fire
sngine Peter Faneuil of Boston gave
20 that city Faneuil hall, sfterward
'salled the "Cradle OF American Lib
Hty' There was Huguenot in the
&eetou Tea Party, and the famous
1 i6eeklenburg Declaration was drafted
~ DIR. Ephraim Brevard Frenchman
IN North Carolina.
I Paul Revere was Frcnchman who
leeds no introduction to even the
ymallest American school boy, What
Thc Continental army owes TO Lafay-
stte has never been adequately told,
Although our orators have been irving
for n. century. The brilliant services
rendered by John Laurens earned for
aim the honor of receiving the sword
pf Corvallis The first city treas
prcr of Philadelphia was John Ste
pben Beuezett. Bcaurcgard, the Con-
federate leader. who fired the first shot
OF tho Civil war, was a Frenc Imam. as
sere Admiral Dupont and Rcar.Ad
miral William Reynolds of the Federal
nayy, and Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds
and Gen, John c, Fremont of the army.
Hannibal Hamlin was Vice President
with Abraham Lincoln.
One Of the most unique personages
rn the American continent is the rural
Erench-Canadian Of the province Of
Quebec. The habitant type is one that
all students of human nature have
found worthy of study. Sprjnging
from one race and dwelling among an
othcr, the character Of this frugal far
per aud sturdy backwoodsman seems
y present a mass Of contradictions.
as language is either degraded French
y &pngrel English, he is nearly al
'{aS poor, yet invariably happy; his