The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-11-22

Mr.. William Augustus fTencn' Que
of the Oldest and most prominent
merchants Of Wilmington, and senior
member Of the firm OF George H.
French & Sons, died suddenly ysster-
day shortly before noon at the nome OF
his son, MI John I. French, about lo
miles from Florence, S. c., in Ians Bay
township. The news of Mr.. Frenchs
death. which was received by relatives
in the city early yesterday afternoon
brought profound grief to d large
number of friends and relatives here.
On Monday of last week, in compa1%
with Captain Toms Of HendersonVllie,
who had been his guest in this city
for q few days, Mr.. French went to
visit his son, near Florence, to enjoy
few days outing and recreation, lie
having made this trip every season
for many years past when the shoot
ing was good, Mr. French having been
an ardent sportsman.
From the details of the death so far
learned, it appears that Mr.. French
had gone to the woods yesterday morn
ing to enjoy a days sport in shoot
ing quail and that suddenly he suffer-
ed 4 stroke of apoplexy and expired be-
fore any help could be given him.
Recently he had seemed to enjoy
unusually splendid health and he was
very active for one of his advanced
years.
The body will be prepared for burial
in Florence and will be brought to
the city today accompanied by his
sons, Messrs. John T. French and w.
A. French, Jr., and l.. H. Burnett, the
latter two having gone to Florence
yesterday The remains will be borne
to the former home of the deceased,
Mo. 1O7 South Fourth street. An
nouncement of the funeral will be
made later.
Mr. French, if he had lived until
the fifteenth of next month, would
have been seventy-two years of age
and practically all his life had been
spent in this city. He was educated
in the old Wilmington Academy, under
the tutelage of the late Mr.. L. Nc
Chimney, and at Wake Forest college,
where he spent several years. After
leaving college, some time in the
fifties, he went into the commission
business with the late Mr.. E. J. Luter-
loh, the firm also acting as agents
for the line of boats which piled be-
tween Wilmington and Fayetteville.
remaining in that business for
slightly more than two years Mr..
French took a position in the shoe
store of Mr.. George r. French, his
father, which had been started in 1922
remaining in that business until his
death. Later his brother, Mr.. George
r. French, Jr, entered the business and
after the death of their father, the
brothers continued the business under
the name of George R. French &
Sons, this progressive business hav-
ing been singularly successful through
out it's long history.
1t is interesting to recall that this
firm was the first to erect a business
house on North Front street. Leaving
their old quarters on Market street
near the river, then the most pronti-
nent business block in the city, the
firm went into a new store erected
for them, now occupied by Chestnut
e Barrentine. This was the only
place of business on North From.
street and predictions were freely
made that the store being so far out OF
the path of trade that its business
would be entirely lost. How far wrong
the predictions were the present has
proved The business remained at
that stand from 1857 until 1872 when
they moved even further north into the
present eligibly located building, which
they have occupied ever since.
Mr.. French was one of the prime
movers in the organization of the Will
mington Cotton Mills and for many
years was president Of the company.
He has been consistent member of
the First Baptist church ever since his |
young manhood and aided generously |
in completing the present handsome I!
house of worship on Fifth and Mar
ket streets. At the time of his death |
Mr.. French was a deacon in the First |
Baptist church
More than half century ago Mr. |
French was married to Miss Harriet !
Timmons of Effingham, S. c., and |
she remains with four children, to suf- !
fer the bereavement that has come to |
them. The surviving children are Mr.. |
James T. French, who conducts !
farm near Fiorehce. s. q; Mr. VA.