FRENCH, CHARLES S., farmer and banker, Chapin, Ill., was born on his father's farm east of that place March 25, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and Martha (Fox) French. (An extended sketch of his father's career will be found elsewhere in this volume). After completing his education in the public schools, he began agricultural operations on a portion of his father's farm, to which he has added from time to time, until he now possesses about 600 acres, all of which, excepting a small timber tract, is under a high state of cultivation. He has carried on general farming and stock raising successfully, and has come to be ranked as one of the most successful agriculturists of Morgan County.

Mr. French is regarded as one of the public spirited and enterprising men of Morgan County, and has always exhibited a deep interest in those affairs pertaining to the advancement of the community in which he resides. He is a strong Republican, and has been actively interested in the success of the men and measures of his party. At various times he has filled local offices, and for some time was a member of the Chapin Village Board. A stanch worker in the cause of temperance, he has been one of the leaders in the fight against the maintenance of saloons in Chapin, which for several years has been successful. He was one of the founders of the State Bank of Chapin, of which he is Vice-President.

On December 31, 1874, Mr. French married Adelia A. Anderson, a native of Bethel, Morgan County, and a daughter of Alexander Anderson. The latter was born in Owensboro, Ky., removed from that State to Ohio, and in 1838 came to Illinois, locating near Meredosia, Morgan County. In 1840 he purchased a portion of the Troy farm two miles west of Chapin, where he spent the remainder of his life. In politics he was a strong and active Republican. Mr. and Mrs. French have had three children, as follows: Rena Mabel, who first married Leonard L. Masters (now deceased), now the wife of J. J. Sheppard, principal of the High School of Commerce, New York; and Clarence Anderson and Laura Frances, both deceased.