Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - FRENCH, Josias

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Pioneer - FRENCH, Josias

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

FRENCH, Josias (d.). The late Josias French, Sr., of Pilkington, was b. in Somersetshire Eng., in 1799. He came to Canada in 1842 and set. in Gwillimbury Tp., and later came to Pilkington, settling on lot 12, con. 1. He was a watchmaker by trade and followed that occupation in this country. He was a member of the English church and a Conservative. He, d. in 1882, at the age of 83. He m. Catharine Wills, who d. in 1863, age 59 . Issue: Mrs. Chas. Trask, set. in Peel; Mrs. Wm. Knox, set. in Morris; Mrs. Richard Boyle, set. in Peel; Mrs. Henry Halls, set. in Pilkington, and Josias.

Josias French, Jr., was b. in Somersetshire, Eng., in 1841, and came with his father, the following year, to Canada. His first residence in Wellington Co. was in Peel, where he lived for six years. He then set. in Pilkington, where he resided until he retired some years ago to Elora. He is a member of the English church and a Conservative. He has held the offices of Councillor, Deputy Reeve and Reeve, and is one of the County Commissioners. He was associated with Squire Reynolds and A.D. Ferrier on the bench. Mr. French's first wife was Elizabeth Hall, of Nichol, who d. in 1884. Issue: Wiliiam, John, m. Regina Harper; Mrs. Harver, set. in Pilkington; Joseph, Albert, m. Anne Howlett, and set. in Pilkington; Ezra, in the hardware business in Elora; and Mary, at home.

William French, son of Josias French, Jr., set. in Pilkington in 1894, on lot 6, con. 2, where he carries on mixed farming, keeping grade cattle, and Yorkshire hogs, and also feeds cattle for export. He is a Presbyterian and a Conservative. His first wife was Ann Davidson Craig, who d. in 1904, at the age of 35. Issue: William and James. His second wife was Alice Allan.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906