Eugene Smith French (1862 - 1899)

Born 23 Jan 1862 in Sag Harbor, Suffolk, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Frankie I (Reynolds) French — married 24 Apr 1895 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States

Died 23 Feb 1899 at age 37 in Philippines

Biography

Eugene French was a New Yorker.

Eugene French was a Montanan.

1 Lieutenant Eugene French served with the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: May 05, 1898
Unit(s): 1 Montana Infantry
Service Ended: Feb 24, 1899

Eugene French is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army 1898-1899
Served in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American War Wars

Eugene was born in 1862. He was the son of Stephen B. French^[1] and Mary A. Hand.^[2] His father was the Police Commissioner of New York City at one time.^[3][4] His mother died when he was 3 years old.^[5] Eugene was living with his father in New York City in 1880^[6] and three years later left for Montana.^[7]

In Montana, Eugene was a pioneer surveyor for the Montana Central Railroad.^[7] He was later elected county treasurer of Lewis and Clark County, serving two terms.^[7]

Eugene married Frankie I. Reynolds on 24 April 1895 at Helena, Montana.^[2] They had one child, a son, Hallet Reynolds French, born 14 March 1896.^[8]

Eugene enlisted on 5 May 1898 into Company L, First Montana Infantry, were he was a 2nd Lieutenant.^[9] Eugene was responsible for organizing the company of which he was made lieutenant.^[7]

Lieut. French was killed while battling insurgents outside of Manilla, Philippines on 23 February 1899.^[10][9][7] He was interred with full military honors at Helena, Montana, on 16 April 1899,^[11] at Forestvale Cemetery, Helena, Montana.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNV-NVK7 : 8 March 2021), Eugine French in household of Stephen B French, District 01, Southampton, Suffolk, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 22, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3QS-FGR : 2 March 2021), Eugene S. French and Frankie I. Reynolds, 24 Apr 1895; citing Marriage, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, various county courthouses, Montana; FHL microfilm 1,906,339.
3. ↑ The National Tribune, Washington, D. C., March 2, 1899
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZDR-2C2 : 14 January 2022), Stephen B. French, New York City, New York County, New York, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112031324/mary-ann-french: accessed 15 March 2023), memorial page for Mary Ann Hand French (31 Mar 1837–11 Feb 1865), Find A Grave: Memorial #112031324, citing Oakland Cemetery, Sag Harbor, Suffolk County, New York, USA; Maintained by loonyrich (contributor 47313486).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZDR-2CP : 14 January 2022), Eugene French in household of Stephen B. French, New York City, New York County, New York, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} The Times, Washington, D. C., Friday, February 1899. page 1
8. ↑ "Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKNR-G92Q : 18 February 2021), Eugene S French in entry for Hallett Reynolds French, 14 Mar 1896; citing Birth, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States, various county recorder offices; FHL microfilm 2,314,680.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Montana, Military Records, 1904-1918," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPT3-BN45 : 31 July 2020), Eugene S French, 5 May 1898; citing Military Service, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States, Montana State Historical Society, Helena.
10. ↑ The Evening Times, Washington, D. C. , February 23, 1899
11. ↑ Daily Inter Mountain, Butte, Montana, Monday, October 23, 1899
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105143199/eugene-smith-french_lt: accessed 15 March 2023), memorial page for Eugene Smith French Lt (23 Jan 1862–23 Feb 1899), Find a Grave Memorial ID 105143199, citing Forestvale Cemetery, Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA; Maintained by Dianne & Ron Armstrong (contributor 47354924).

See Also:

• Centograph for Eugene Smith French - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180958912/eugene-smith-french: accessed 15 March 2023), memorial page for Eugene Smith French (23 Jan 1862–23 Feb 1899), Find a Grave Memorial ID 180958912, citing Oakland Cemetery, Sag Harbor, Suffolk County, New York, USA; Maintained by Joy Ann Strasser (contributor 46565016).