Erastus French (1797 - 1884)

Born 16 Sep 1797 in Litchfield, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Squire) French — married 26 Apr 1819 in Huron, Ohio, United States

Husband of Laura Ann (Pike) French — married 11 Aug 1851 in Erie County, OH

Descendants

Died 12 Mar 1884 at age 86 in Wakeman, Huron, Ohio, United States

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Biography

From History of the Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers; Press of Leader Printing Company, 1879 - Erie County (Ohio)

Page 185: "Erastus French joined the little band in the of Wakeman in the fall of 1817 He was then young man twenty years of age He made the journey with one horse and a light wagon coming way of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania then called southern route On arriving in Wakeman directed his course toward the cabin of Captain Pierce the bright cheerful hearth fire of which could see for some distance through the cracks between the logs When he arrived there was in a sorrowful condition Recent rains had swollen the streams that in order to whether it would be safe to drive into them he first wade through them and thus became wet from head to foot and almost covered with mud And so the first thing in order after his arrival was put himself in a condition for association with civilized people but a bath in a mud puddle near cabin hardly produced the desired eflfect He a location on lot thirty two and began the work improvement but what could a man do in the Vakema n wilderness without a wife For three years young man worked out the problem in this way boarded at Mr Pierce s for a time at two dollars and fifty cents a week but afterwards in order to expense an important consideration with him at time he bought his own provisions and paid Mrs Pierce fifty centy per veek to cook them for him eating his simple meal at a separate table His bill of fare was less varied than wholesome generally of mush milk and corn bread In May 1820 he was united in marriage to Squire daughter of Joab Squire an early settler Florence A short time afterwards he made a visit to Connecticut to obtain some money and performed the entire journey with the exception of eighteen miles by lake which consumed three days alone on foot with his knapsack on his back He averaged nearly forty live miles per day a remarkable pedestrian feat considering the condition of the country much of his course leading through swamp and dense woods But nature provided Ir French with a pair of walkers and few men could keep up with him in his younger days During the journey mentioned he fell in with a traveler whose company was very agreeable but he was unable to keep along with Mr French and after a day or so was left behind His first wife died June 19 184 3 and in 1851 married Mrs William Doughty with whom he is now living a short distance north of his original location aged eighty one."^[1]

6 August 1850: Wakeman, Huron Co., Ohio; Occupation: Farmer; Erastus French 53 Connecticut; Electa French 28 Ohio; Mary French 25 Ohio; Anna French 22 Ohio; Fanny French 18 Ohio; Delia French 14 Ohio;

Sources

1. ↑ [1]

• "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch [2]: 26 August 2019, Erastus French and Ruth Squire, 26 Apr 1819; citing Marriage, Huron, Ohio, United States, v 1 p 11, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
• "United States Census, 1850" , FamilySearch [3]
• "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", FamilySearch [4] Wed Oct 18 16:20:25 UTC 2023), Entry for Erastus French and Laura Ann Doughty, 11 Aug 1851.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch [5] 18 February 2021, [illegible] French in entry for [illegible] French, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1870", FamilySearch [6] Wed Oct 04 04:09:48 UTC 202), Entry for Erastus French and Laura A French, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880", FamilySearch [7] Thu Oct 05 21:03:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Erastus French and Laura French, 1880. Wakeman, Huron, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 158, sheet 270A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1035; FHL microfilm 1,255,035.
• Burial: Wakeman Cemetery in Huron County, Ohio, Find a Grave, database and images [8] accessed 23 January 2024, memorial page for Erastus D. French (16 Sep 1797–12 Mar 1884), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18500817, citing Wakeman Township Cemetery, Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Allen Robison (contributor 47680141).

• Family records of LaVonna Sutherland of Sarasota, Florida (2008)