THE LATE MICHAEL FRENCH
Renfrew Mercury
October 3, 1903
Another of the earliest residents of Renfrew was laid to rest this week. After a gradual decline of physical strength extended over some years and which for the last six months has confined him to his room, Michael French passed away on Sunday, September 28th. He was a mere child when his father, Francis French, emigrated from County Mayo, Ireland, in 1845.
After a short stay in Bytown, the family went on to Perth, where they remained a year, and then on to Lanark village, where they remained until 1858. The late Rev. Dr. Campbell in his portion of the Story of Renfrew relates that in those days Mr. French’s was the only Roman Catholic family in the place, but he formed many enduring friendships with his Scotch neighbors amongst whom he was held in “high esteem for his honorable dealing and genial bearing. He often told with delight in his later days how they always respected his religious convictions going so far as to provide him with means of a conveyance rather than see him walk the twelve long miles over bad roads to Perth to attend the Sunday services.” And it may be added, the same warm friendships with their Protestant neighbors have continued with their descendants.
Removing to Renfrew County in 1858 the family settled on a farm beyond the Pinnacle, near to the Devines. There Francis French, Sr., with his sons Thomas and Michael cleared the land; the other son Francis becoming a resident of the then forming village. The father retired from the farm in 1870, and Michael continued to work it till 1874. Then the growth of the place, after the arrival of the railway, attracted Michael from the farm also.
For some years he carried on a grocery. Later, finding indoors work irksome, he was for eighteen years a representative of the Noxon Bros. and other agricultural implement makers. Since his retirement he has lived with his son John. F. He was a member of the village council in 1884; 1888 and 1889, and was a Separate School trustee for several years. He was also a member of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, and it was with the honors of that society that he was buried.
At the church of St. Francis Xavier, mass was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryan, assisted by Rev. Fathers Frank French of Brudenell and Isaiah French of Killaloe, (nephews of the deceased) and John Ryan of Mt. St. Patrick. Rev. Father Dowdall of Eganville was also in the sanctuary. The pallbearers were; Messrs. Martin McDonell, John Devine, John Brady, A. Ritza, John Sullivan and M. Imbleau.
Mrs. French died some years ago, and there survive five sons and one daughter. John F. of Renfrew, Thomas and James in the west; Andrew of Pembroke and Mac of Winnipeg; and Miss Mary of Renfrew. Two brothers also survive – Francis for some time past confined to the hospital in Pembroke and John of Sturgeon Falls, who also has been in a hospital at St Michael’s, Toronto – undergoing an operation and was unable to be present at his brother’s funeral. Andrew and Mac were able to get to Renfrew in time for the funeral. Mr. French was 70 years of age.