Dr. Seth French (d. 1896), Sanford, Orange County, Florida

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zmomndad@rose.net

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(Ed. Note: This part of Orange County became Seminole County in 1913.)

DEATH OF DR. SETH FRENCH

Sanford, Florida January 26, 1896. Dr. Seth French, residing on Orange Ridge, on 
the outskirts of the city, on Wednesday about noon, sustained a severe paralytic 
stroke, which before the close of the day resulted fatally. The circumstances of 
the case are these: He had hitched his buggy in the alley of the hardware store 
of Mr. George H. Fernald, transacted his business, and the next known of him was 
that he was found under, or by the side of, his buggy totally unconscious. He was 
taken into the office of Mr. Wilson, where he remained in that condition for about 
an hour. Regaining partial consciousness, he was conveyed home. After being removed 
there, the Doctor became fully conscious and was able to converse distinctly with 
those around him. About 5 o'clock, he reported himself as feeling much better, and 
entirely free from pain. At 6 o'clock the end came, as a child drops to sleep. It is 
supposed that there was another stroke. Being a prominent member of the Masonic 
Order and of the G.A.R., he was buried yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock with the 
usual ceremonies of these organizations in the Sanford cemetery.

He was born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. in 1824. He went to Natural Bridge 
where his uncle Elkanah French was a practicing physician and began the study of 
medicine. In 1847 he obtained a diploma from Castleton, Vermont Medical College and 
began to practice his profession at Carthage, where he remained two years. But the 
gold fever attracted him to California and he became a "forty-niner". Returning to 
Carthage the year following, he resumed the practice of his profession and was married 
to Miss Harriet Guyot of Carthage. In 1854 he removed to Redwood. At the breaking out 
of the War, he enlisted as Surgeon of Company I, 35th N.Y. Regiment. After the War, he 
went to Wisconsin and established a profitable pharmaceutical business. Later he became 
interested in the South and invested largely, realizing a fortune in organic groves 
and other lands. His widow and three children survive him - (Adele) Mrs. E. T. Lane, 
Anderson, Indiana; (Harriet) Mrs. W. F. Leavitt, Sanford; and one son, A. V. French of 
Buffalo.

(Note: French Avenue in Sanford was named for Dr. French as was French Avenue in Orange 
City which he founded. He served as Volusia Co. state Senator as well as Florida's 
Commissioner of Immigration inducing settlers to come to Florida.)