GEORGE WATSON FRENCH was born in Davenport, Iowa, October 26, 1858, and died in that city November 27, 1934. Burial was in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport. His parents were George Henry and Frances Wood (Morton) French. He received his education in public schools in Davenport and in Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.
At the age of nineteen he became an apprentice in his father's factory, the Eagle Manufacturing Company in Davenport, makers of farm machinery, succeeding to the presidency of the company in 1886. He joined with the Bettendorfs in the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company in 1888 and became president. The French & Hecht Company developed from this with Mr. French as president. In 1896 he and his brother, Nathaniel French, formed the Sylvan Steel Company with the former as president. He was connected with several other corporations.
Besides being an outstanding figure in that industrial center, he had many other activities. In 1878 he joined the Iowa National Guard and rose through different ranks until in 1882 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general of the First Brigade, but resigned in 1897. He gained political prominence and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1916, and 1928. He had a great interest in farming and developed a model farm just east of Bettendorf, purchasing it in about 1910 and centering his attention on Holstein cows.
In 1914 Governor Clarke appointed him a member of the Permanent Iowa Commission to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. He did his part in civic development, was for a time president of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce, and was a liberal contributor to charitable movements. He and Mrs. French gave to St. Luke's Hospital, French Hall, a nurse's home. He took a great interest in Friendly House of Davenport, aiding in its establishment and maintenance.
He was a brother of Alice French (Octave Thanet), noted author, and of Judge Nathaniel French.
From The State Historical Society of Iowa; The Annals of Iowa; Vol 19 Number 8 (Spring 1935)
At the age of nineteen he became an apprentice in his father's factory, the Eagle Manufacturing Company in Davenport, makers of farm machinery, succeeding to the presidency of the company in 1886. He joined with the Bettendorfs in the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company in 1888 and became president. The French & Hecht Company developed from this with Mr. French as president. In 1896 he and his brother, Nathaniel French, formed the Sylvan Steel Company with the former as president. He was connected with several other corporations.
Besides being an outstanding figure in that industrial center, he had many other activities. In 1878 he joined the Iowa National Guard and rose through different ranks until in 1882 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general of the First Brigade, but resigned in 1897. He gained political prominence and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1916, and 1928. He had a great interest in farming and developed a model farm just east of Bettendorf, purchasing it in about 1910 and centering his attention on Holstein cows.
In 1914 Governor Clarke appointed him a member of the Permanent Iowa Commission to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. He did his part in civic development, was for a time president of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce, and was a liberal contributor to charitable movements. He and Mrs. French gave to St. Luke's Hospital, French Hall, a nurse's home. He took a great interest in Friendly House of Davenport, aiding in its establishment and maintenance.
He was a brother of Alice French (Octave Thanet), noted author, and of Judge Nathaniel French.
From The State Historical Society of Iowa; The Annals of Iowa; Vol 19 Number 8 (Spring 1935)
GEORGE WATSON FRENCH was born in Davenport, Iowa, October 26, 1858, and died in that city November 27, 1934. Burial was in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport. His parents were George Henry and Frances Wood (Morton) French. He received his education in public schools in Davenport and in Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.
At the age of nineteen he became an apprentice in his father's factory, the Eagle Manufacturing Company in Davenport, makers of farm machinery, succeeding to the presidency of the company in 1886. He joined with the Bettendorfs in the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company in 1888 and became president. The French & Hecht Company developed from this with Mr. French as president. In 1896 he and his brother, Nathaniel French, formed the Sylvan Steel Company with the former as president. He was connected with several other corporations.
Besides being an outstanding figure in that industrial center, he had many other activities. In 1878 he joined the Iowa National Guard and rose through different ranks until in 1882 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general of the First Brigade, but resigned in 1897. He gained political prominence and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1916, and 1928. He had a great interest in farming and developed a model farm just east of Bettendorf, purchasing it in about 1910 and centering his attention on Holstein cows.
In 1914 Governor Clarke appointed him a member of the Permanent Iowa Commission to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. He did his part in civic development, was for a time president of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce, and was a liberal contributor to charitable movements. He and Mrs. French gave to St. Luke's Hospital, French Hall, a nurse's home. He took a great interest in Friendly House of Davenport, aiding in its establishment and maintenance.
He was a brother of Alice French (Octave Thanet), noted author, and of Judge Nathaniel French.
From The State Historical Society of Iowa; The Annals of Iowa; Vol 19 Number 8 (Spring 1935)
At the age of nineteen he became an apprentice in his father's factory, the Eagle Manufacturing Company in Davenport, makers of farm machinery, succeeding to the presidency of the company in 1886. He joined with the Bettendorfs in the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company in 1888 and became president. The French & Hecht Company developed from this with Mr. French as president. In 1896 he and his brother, Nathaniel French, formed the Sylvan Steel Company with the former as president. He was connected with several other corporations.
Besides being an outstanding figure in that industrial center, he had many other activities. In 1878 he joined the Iowa National Guard and rose through different ranks until in 1882 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general of the First Brigade, but resigned in 1897. He gained political prominence and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1916, and 1928. He had a great interest in farming and developed a model farm just east of Bettendorf, purchasing it in about 1910 and centering his attention on Holstein cows.
In 1914 Governor Clarke appointed him a member of the Permanent Iowa Commission to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. He did his part in civic development, was for a time president of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce, and was a liberal contributor to charitable movements. He and Mrs. French gave to St. Luke's Hospital, French Hall, a nurse's home. He took a great interest in Friendly House of Davenport, aiding in its establishment and maintenance.
He was a brother of Alice French (Octave Thanet), noted author, and of Judge Nathaniel French.
From The State Historical Society of Iowa; The Annals of Iowa; Vol 19 Number 8 (Spring 1935)
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