Bio: French, R. W. (1881) 
Poster: Sandra Wright
Email: fool4him2@msn.com

----Source: History of Northern Wisconsin (Ashland County, Wis.) 1881, Page 71 

R. W. French, hardware, Ashland, was born in Dummerston, Windham Co., Vt., March 20, 1830. He went to live in Erie Co., N.Y., where he learned the tinner’s trade. He worked in Buffalo and from there want to Racine, Wis., back to Pennsylvania, then to Ohio, and finally want to La Crosse, Wis., and bought a shop and built a dwelling; but, thinking to do better, he want to St. Paul for a short time, and then returning to La Crosse, sold out and moved at once to Superior City, Wis. In 1872 moved to Ashland and opened store to a good business in hardware and stoves. He now carries a stock of $2,500 and does a business of $4,000 a year. In 1853 he married Miss Rosetta Marr, of Ohio. She died, leaving eight children – Ellen (now Mrs. Tanner), Emma, Eva, Fred, Clara, Mary, Frank and Rosa. In 1873 he married Miss Mary Vosburg, who died in 1874; he then married his present wife, Miss M. J. Hasey, of Maine. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, and is deacon in the Presbyterian Church.  

Contributed by Sandra Wright