Blanche BARNEY FRENCH

Mrs. Blanche BARNEY FRENCH died August 11, 1944, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Guy GRANGER, Norwalk. She was born Apr. 25, 1865, near Berlin Heights on what is now State Route 113,  the third child of Andrew Jackson and Rosetta DALEY BARNEY. When she was eight years old her mother died and shortly after the family moved to Wakeman. When she was twelve her oldest sister Cora, who had tried to take the place of the mother, died leaving Belle and Blanche to carry on. They went to the Wakeman Congregational Church, grammar school and high school where Blanche was in the first graduating class. She went one year to school in Oberlin and was the married on May 19, 1886, to Alvah J. FRENCH at Wakeman. To this union were born four children - Lucie Lillian, Lawton Barney, Leland Waugh and Dorothy Minerva. She lived with her family on the farm southeast of Wakeman for nearly 54 years. In 1940 ill health and failing sight made it imperative to leave the farm and she moved to Norwalk to spend the rest of her life with her youngest child, Mrs. Guy GRANGER.

Blanche BARNEY FRENCH was for years a member of the Congregational Church, the Wakeman Grange and the Riverside Reading Circle. She spent a useful and happy life and at last was granted her wish to leave this earth without becoming totally blind or a burden to any one. Preceding her in death were her husband, her son Lawton and her grandson Theodore GRANGER. She is survived by the son Leland of Wakeman and two daughters, Mrs. WIESE of Cleveland and Mrs. GRANGER; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services were held the afternoon of August 14 at the Granger Funeral home, the Rev. Benjamin COLEMAN officiating. Burial was in Wakeman.

Contributed by:
Mary McGinnes
Tennessee