Joseph W. French
June 4, 1833-March 21, 1907
Joseph W. French Crosses the Bar
President of French paper is no more.
A prominent manufacturer For over half a century
Came to Michigan in the year 1854.
Joseph W. French passed peacefully away shortly before noon today at the palatial home on Main Street, aged 74 years. The deceased was born in Stephenson, Conn. June 4, 1833, and was educated in the public schools. In 1854, he came to Three Rivers to take charge of a spoke factory for Eastern capitalists, who had built a dam in the St. Joseph River there. In 1856, he bought a paper mill at Three Rivers, and continued in the business until two and half years ago, when he sold out his interests to the Three Rivers Paper Company. Two years ago Mr. French removed to Niles, where he had acquired extensive interests.
Was at head of French Paper co.
In 1867 a company called the Niles Manufacturing company was organized and commenced building a the present dam in St. Joseph River at that place. The dam was finished in 1871. In 1872 the company sold their interest in the water power on the west side of the river to J.W. French and the late J. B. Millard.
In 1872 the Niles Paper mills purchased considerable portions of the interest of the manufacturing company in the water power on the east side. The interest of the Niles Manufacturing company was purchased in 1877 by the Niles Water Power company, which assumed the debts of the former concern. Messrs French and Millard in 1872 organized the Michigan Wood Pulp company on the west side of the river, which has been in operation ever since. Mr. Millard sold out his interest many years since to Mr. French and sons. Later the company was incorporated under the name of the French Paper company, the largest factory in the city. It employees two hundred men and twenty-five women, has a business amounting to about seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars per year and a pay roll of one hundred and ten thousand dollars per year. The company manufactures ground wood pulp, pulp box boards, pulp pie plates and book and lithograph paper. The officers were J. W. French, president, W.J. Willits, vice-president; F. J. French and J.E. French, secretary.
Married over Fifty Years.
The late Mr. French was married to Miss Emily J. Wright at her home in Deep River, Conn., in 1856, and had since lived happily together. Three children blessed this union, who together with their mother, stood beside the bed of a loving husband and indulgent parent, and watched life’s ebbing tide drifting the love one slowly but surely into the great ocean of eternity. The children are Willard W. French of Three Rivers, and F. J. and J. E. French of this city. The deceased was a Master Mason. He was a life long member of the Baptist church, holding the office of treasurer of the church at Three Rivers for about half a century. He was a charitable and generous man, and his demise will be deeply deplored at his old home, as well as in Niles. To the heart broken mother and sons who sit in sorrow where his footsteps shall never again find echo, the people extent sincerest sympathy.
The funeral will take place from the home at 2:30 o’clock Thursday after noon, the Rev. J.F. Boyden of Kalamazoo conducting the last sad rites. Interment at Silverbrook.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown