Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 126-129 Includes portrait JOSHUA W. FRENCH A detailed account of the life and experiences of Joshua W. French, now deceased, would present a most accurate description of pioneer life of the northwest. For many years, he resided in this section of the country, becoming one of the early merchants of the state and also one of the pioneer bankers. He was born in Holland, Vermont, September 13, 1830, a son of Joshua and Polly (Meade) French. The son acquired his education in the common schools and remained on the old homestead farm in New England until he had, attained his majority. He afterward spent a year in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and on the 10th of January, 1852, in company with his cousin, Daniel Meade, sailed from New York for San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama. During fourteen days of their long and arduous trip they subsisted solely on hard tack and stale corned beef. On the 11th of February 1852, they arrived in San Francisco, at which time Mr. French was the possessor of a lone picayune. After making several unsuccessful attempts to secure employment of various kinds he approached a gang of men with teams and persuaded the boss to let him work enough to earn something to eat. He was a powerful man physically and a willing worker and he performed his task so capably and efficiently that the superintendent kept him and soon put him on as foreman. He made enough money on that job to pay his expenses to the gold mines and for a time met with success in his operations in the gold fields. Subsequently he went to Calaveras county, California, and operated a ferry on the Stanislaus river in connection with his brother Daniel. In 1861 Joshua and Daniel French returned to San Francisco, where they engaged in taking contracts for mastic roofing, Joshua French superintending the placing of the first roof on the Russ House and the Occidental Hotel and also on many other prominent buildings of that time. When the Civil war broke out materials advanced so greatly in price that the firm could no longer realize a profit on their business and sold out. In January, 1862, through the influence of his cousin W. S. Ladd of Portland, Mr. French with his two brothers Daniel and Joseph and also with Granville Gilman, formed a partnership and engaged in merchandising at The Dalles, Oregon, conducting the business under the firm name of Gilman, French & Company. At that time there were no freight teams leaving The Dalles, owing to the scarcity of horses in the northwest. All freight was hauled to Canyon City and interior towns on pack mules, the goods being placed in casks and a cask lashed on each side of a mule, while the animal at times carried three casks. It was an interesting but not an unusual sight to see a train of eighty mules leaving the store packed with casks. The goods were paid for in gold dust and the scales which were used in weighing the gold dust for the firm are now in possession of the French & Company Bank at The Dalles. The partners, after acquiring a sufficient amount of gold dust, would then ship it to the mint in San Francisco to be coined. At one time Mr. French and his brother Daniel had a line of steamers plying between Portland and The Dalles and a contract to carry the United States mail as well as freight and passengers. In the year in which the partnership was formed Mr. French went to Umatilla where he superintended the work of erecting a stone building in which the company established a branch store, supplying it with goods from The Dalles establishment, his brother Daniel then taking charge of and conducting the store. In 1867 Mr. French and his brother Daniel bought out the business and in connection with their mercantile interests established a bank, which was the first one in eastern Oregon. They conducted their affairs under the firm style of French & Company and met with success in both their commercial and financial undertakings. In 1875 they disposed of the mercantile business to the firm of Brooks & McFarland but continued in the banking business. In 1876 they removed to their building on the north side of Second street and three years later completed a building at the corner of Second and Washington streets, which has been occupied and known as the French & Company Bank from that time until the present, the business being still carried on under the firm name. On the death of Daniel M. French in 1902 Joshua W. French became the head and general manager of the bank of French & Company. He was also the president of the Condon National Bank and president of the Arlington National Bank and the Eastern Oregon Banking Company at Shaniko. He was interested in and was a director of the Wasco Warehouse Milling Company at The Dalles, also the Butler Banking Company at Hood River and was one of the principal owners in the Gilman-French Land & Live Stock Company in eastern Oregon. In 1861 at San Francisco, Mr. French was united in marriage to Miss Laura Ellen Burke, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Ellis) Burke. She was born at Charleston, Maine, and it was in the year 1861 that she made her way to the Pacific coast with a brother and an elder sister to live with them in San Francisco. She was in her younger years a teacher in the public schools of her native state. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, three of whom are living: Mrs. Nellie J. French Bolton, Edward H. and Vivian H. Mr. French loved his home, being a devoted husband and father, counting no personal effort nor sacrifice on his part too great if it would promote the happiness of his family. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity of which he was an active member and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. He was prominently identified with all things pertaining to the upbuilding and betterment of his town, county and state. He passed away December 23, 1907, after long years of connection with the coast country, during which he had witnessed much of its growth and progress. His cooperation was never sought in vain when matters of public welfare were under consideration. He gave his endorsement and support to all plans for the general good and in many ways his labors were of decided advantage to the state, particularly in the development of business leading to the present-day progress and prosperity of Oregon. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.