Henry Augustus French was born Jan 31, 1836 and raised in Chenango Forks, Broome Co., New York and was  the third born child and son of five children of Franklin French and Phebe L'Amoureaux.

Mary Dimis Dutcher was born Sept 25, 1838 and raised in Greenwood, Steuben Co., New York and was the  sixth born child and daughter of seven children of John J. Dutcher and Dimis Sanford.

Henry and Mary were married on Nov 8, 1859 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois. They were married one  month shy of 56 years at the time of Henry's death in 1915 in Sheephorn, Eagle Co., Colorado, USA.

Henry and Mary had five children between them of which four survived to adulthood. First born was John  Franklin French born and died in 1863, second born was Henry Harrison "Harry" French born in 1867 and  died in 1954, third born was Phoebe Dimis French born in 1870 and died in 1963, fourth born was Mary  Vistula "Mattie" French born in 1873 and died in 1963, and fifth born was Charles Freeman French born  in 1875 and died 1951.

Henry and Mary began their life in Chenango Forks, Broome Co., New York where Mary met Henry and were  later married in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois in 1859. Here in Peoria, Illinois their first child John  was born a little more then three years later, but only lived for a couple of months. Four years later  their second child Henry was born in La Prairie Centre, La Prairie Township, Marshall Co., Illinois.  Three years later they went back to Greenwood, Steuben Co., New York where Mary had her third child  Phoebe. From there they go west to Prairie, Jasper Co., Iowa where they have their fourth child Mary  just three years after their daughter Phoebe. Two years later, also in Prairie, they have their fifth  child and last, another son name Charles. Sometime, years later, Mary and Henry relocate to the  Sheephorn Valley in Eagle Co., Colorado, north of the Vale, Colorado area. This was wilderness at that  time and they were some of the first pioneers to settle in that part of the state/country. Mary's  husband passed away in 1915 at the age of 79 there in Sheephorn, Eagle Co., Colorado. Mary, sometime  later after her husband's death, relocated and was making her home with her daughter Mary in Florence  Co., Wisconsin. Mary died four months after her 94th birthday in 1933 in Iowa while visiting other  family members.

Mary's husband Henry is buried in the Sheephorn Cemetery in Eagle Co., Colorado near where they lived  in their cabin. I have set up the cemetery on Find A Grave along with a second Sheephorn cemetery and  added all the internments of both cemeteries. Another member of Find A Grave who lives in Colorado,  Kelly, was good enough to take all the grave marker photos and add them to each memorial. The work  continues on. Gigi Monet Jackson

Editorial: (1931-1932)
 Mrs. Mary French was given a surprise party at the Herbert residence on Norway Street last Saturday  afternoon, the occasion being her ninety-fourth birthday anniversary. The afternoon was spent on a  social way, refreshments served and Mrs. French was presented with a number of gifts. To our knowledge  Mrs. French is the oldest living person in Florence County.

Obituary:
 FRENCH, Mrs. Henry - Pioneer Sheephorn Lady Dies in Iowa.
 Mrs. C. B. RUNDELL of Sheephorn recently received news of the death of her mother, Mrs. Henry FRENCH,  January 10. Mrs. FRENCH was making her home with another daughter, Mrs. Mary YATES, at the time of her  death.
 Mrs. FRENCH, with her husband was one of the pioneers of the Sheephorn valley, and was about 96 years  of age when death called her. She is survived by four children, the two daughters, Mrs. YATES and Mrs.  RUNDELL; two sons, Chas. FRENCH, of Glenwood Springs, and Harry FRENCH, now supervisor of the San  Isabel National Forest in Colorado. For many years the latter was supervisor of the Holy Cross Forest  with headquarters at Glenwood Springs.[20 Jan 1933, Eagle Valley Enterprise, p1]