Obit: French, Rinaldo L. (1856? - 1937)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: French, Gates, Stange, Longenecker

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 3 June 1937

French, Rinaldo L. (1856? - 17 May 1937)

Rinaldo L. French, better known as Nal French, passed away Thursday evening May 17, in the Neillsville Hospital at the age of 80. Death was due to old age and gradual weakening of his system.

Mr. French was born in Monroe, Wis., and came here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. French when he was ten years old. He grew up on a farm south of Neillsville and was a young man worked in the logging industry.

In his early life all the timber was felled with axes and he was considered one of the best choppers on the river. He was also one of the last down-river tote teamsters. Before the railroad came to Neillsville in 1881, many of the supplies for logging camps were hauled by teams from Hatfield, Black River Falls and La Crosse, and Mr. French did this arduous worked 5 years for the late Daniel Gates.

Later he carried on his farm work in South Pine Valley, and did chopping and clearing for neighbors in winter.

He took great interest in farming and was a constant student of farm bulletins and papers. Although growing up and working amidst the cruder surroundings of pioneer days, he always remained a quiet, peaceful gentleman in all his ways.

Mr. French never married and leaves no near relatives here. An aged brother lives in La Cross and the late Mrs. Carl Stange was a sister.

Funeral services were held at Schillers Saturday afternoon, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE