"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical Publishing Company, Publishers, 1904. FRANKLIN PIERCE FRENCH, real estate and insurance man of Ritzville and one of the most extensive wheat farmers of Adams county, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, November 4, 1854 - the day upon which Franklin Pierce, for whom he was named, was elected president. His father, James French, was a native of Connecticut, as were also his parents, though the family originally came from England. They were early New England settlers, and prominent in the Revolution and the War of 1812. The mother of Mr. French was Elizabeth (Cronk) French, born in New York of old Knickerbocker stock. The father of our subject was a carriage maker by trade, and died in 1888 in Eaton county, Michigan, where also the mother died. Until five years of age Franklin P. French was reared in Ohio, from which state the family removed to Michigan, where Mr. French remained until twenty-five years of age, acquiring a common school education. He went to California in February, 1877, and worked at contracting and building eight months, then removed to Klickitat county, Washington, where he remained three years, employed meanwhile, by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation company as a carpenter. He also fought Indians in this county, and was made deputy sheriff, which office he held for two years. He then returned to Michigan on a visit and just prior to starting on this trip he was married to Mary F. Mescher, born near Silverton, Oregon, daughter of William and Ann (Moores) Mescher, both of whom are dead. The father and mother were natives of Missouri and crossed the plains to Oregon in an early day,-about 1850. Upon his return from this visit Mr. French rented a farm near Silverton, and also followed his trade there for four years, after which he came to Ritzville in April, 1886. He filed on a homestead fifteen miles west of town and engaged in the cattle business, but owing to the severity of the winters following this venture he lost so heavily that he abandoned the business after three years of poor success. He was elected sheriff of Adams county on the Republican ticket in 1889, served his term and also took the census of his county in 1890. In 1891 he was elected assessor of the county. After completing his term he retired to his farm and commenced raising wheat. After harvesting one crop he rented his land, removed to town and was appointed United States court commissioner, which office he held eight years. He now gives most of his attention to farming. He has three thousand acres of land, two-thirds of which is sown to wheat. The principal portion of his land is rented to others. In Ritzville he has a lot upon which his one-story frame office stands, and one of the handsomest homes in the city on Knob Hill. In January, 1888, Mr. French lost his wife by death. One daughter was left; Edna A., aged sixteen, an exceptionally promising high school girl. On March 17, 1892, Mr. French was again married, his wife being Alice C. Cunningham, daughter of William R. Cunningham, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this book. Mrs. French was born in Kentucky, August 17, 1869, and was educated principally in Lexington, Missouri. She is now United States court commissioner of Adams county, being the only lady commissioner in the state. To this union has been born one child; Elsworth C., aged six years. Franklin P. French is a member of the Republican party, and has at different times been delegated to state and county conventions. He is a charter member of the Ritzville lodge of Odd Fellows; and is the only charter member in the county at this time. There were only five members in the county at the time of the lodgeís organization. Mr. French has been through all the chairs of the order and has represented his lodge in grand lodge. Both he and Mrs. French are Rebekahs, of which lodge the latter is present noble grand. Both are ardent and liberal members of the Church of Christ. After a long litigation, Mr. French has finally secured the title to the old homestead in Ohio, where he was born. Aside from his children, Mr. French is the only member of the family that now bears the name. Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net