Hunt, Herbert and Floyd C. Kaylor.  Washington: West of the Cascades.  Vol. 
III.  Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917.  pg. 36.

WILLIAM H. FRANCE

	William H. France, cashier of the Montesano State Bank, has occupied 
that position continuously since 1897 and through the intervening period of 
nineteen years has contributed in substantial measure to its upbuilding and 
success.  He came to the coast country from the middle west, being a native 
of Guthrie county, Iowa, where his birth occurred in 1872.  His father, 
George W. France, was born in Ohio and on removing westward settled at 
Guthrie Center.  Later in 1877 he became a resident of Leadville, Colorado, 
where for twelve years he engaged in mining, while in 1889 he removed to 
Spokane, Washington.  The same year, however, he went to Hoquiam, where he 
engaged in the real estate and investment business. When called to his final 
rest he was filling the position of postmaster of Hoquiam, to which office 
he had been appointed under a republican administration,  having long been a 
stalwart supporter of that party and an active worker in its ranks.  He 
married Eva Harlan, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of 
five children: William H.; Minine E., the wife of M. I. Watson, of Hoquiam; 
Ollie E., the wife of John M. Dunning, of Hoqiuam; Earle L., of Elma; and 
George M., a teacher of music in the schools of Renton.  The death of the 
husband and father occurred in 1907, when he was sixty-six years of age, and 
in his passing the community lost a valued and prominent citizen whose worth 
in connection with local progress was widely adknowledged.  The mother is 
still living.
	William H. France obtained the greater part of his education in his 
native city and in 1889 accompanied his parent son their removal from 
Colorado to Washington.  He started out in the business world as a clerk in 
the First National Bank of Hoquiam, remaining in active connection with the 
institution until 1897, when he removed to Montesano and became cashier of 
the Montesano State Bank, which position he has since occupied.  He has 
closely studied the banking business in every phase and has concentrated his 
energies upon the further development and upbuilding of that institution, of 
which is now one of the large stockholders and which has become one of the 
strongest financial concerns of southwest Washington.  He is also a director 
of the Bank of Elma, which he aided in organizing.
	In 1897, in Hoquiam, Mr. France was married to Miss Adelaide 
Rowland, who arrived in Hoquiam in 1889.  The children of this marriage are 
Alda, Rowland, Madgil, Muriel and William.
	Mr. France is well known in fraternal circles as a Scottish Rite 
Mason of high rank, as a Knight of Pythias and as an Odd Fellow.  For 
several years he has been on the school board.  He is always interested in 
affairs relating to the upbuilding and progress of his community, his 
cooperation ever counting as an element for public growth and improvement.  
He and his family are well known socially in Montesano and the hospitality 
of their home is greatly enjoyed by their extensive circle of friends.


Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen