Fred E. French
Flathead County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

among the many men in Montana who have started in life 
with practically nothing and have attained success in 
spite of the handicap, Fred E. French should be given a 
prominent place.  He has been a resident of the state of 
Montana for twenty-six years and in this time has taken 
an active part in the up building of the state and of 
the towns in which he has lived in various times.  
Allegan County Michigan was the place of the birth 
of Fred E. French, the date being the 4th of March 
1861.  He was the son of William H. French, who was 
a native of New York State.  The father was a pioneer 
settler in the state of Michigan, moving here about 
1849 and settling upon a farm in Alagan County. He was 
primarily a farmer but in those days men were able to 
turn their hands to practically anything and he took 
a prominent part in many of the pioneer activities of 
the day.  Among these was the first railway built in 
Michigan which he helped to construct.  With the 
outbreak of the Civil War he laid down his peaceful 
farmer's life to enlist as a private in the Twenty-
first Michigan Infantry. He served in this regiment 
for three years, taking part in the battles of 
Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and in many 
other minor engagements and he was one of those 
who followed General Sherman on his famous march 
to the sea.  The death of the brave old veteran 
occurred in 1897, at the age of sixty-nine, in 
the old home in Barry County.  He married in 
Alagan County Michigan in 1854, Sarah E. Hooker 
who was a native of Connecticut.  She only lived 
two years after the death of her husband, dying 
in 1899 at the age of sixty-nine. Nine children 
were born to this union, five sons and four 
daughters and of these three are residents of 
the state of Montana.  The latter are Fred E.; 
William H., and Mrs. Carrie Hanlon, all of whom 
live in Kalispell.  Fred E. was the fourth child 
and his brother William was the youngest.

The education of the French boys was had in the 
common schools of their native state.  At the age 
of eighteen Fred E. French said good-bye to his 
school days and spent the next three years on the 
farm, helping his father.  He then determined to 
start out for himself and thinking it wise that 
everyone should know some trade, he selected the 
barber's at which he soon became adept.  He 
followed this trade for eighteen years and in 
1886 he came to Montana.  On his arrival, he 
first settled in Helena and there engaged in 
business with William Hartwig, a partnership 
which lasted for two years and in which Mr. 
French gained much valuable experience.  The 
next three years he was in business alone and 
at the end of this time he removed from Helena 
to Great Falls and there engaged in business.  
He was quite successful in Great Falls and 
remained here for nine years, but determining 
that Kalispell offered greater opportunities 
of the sort for which he was looking, and he 
removed there in 1900.  Immediately after his 
arrival he organized the business in which he 
is interested at present, the American Laundry 
Company.  This is the second business of its 
kind to be established in Kalispell, and is 
operated on the co-partnership plan, the firm 
being known as the French Brothers, Fred E. 
and William H. being the sole proprietors.  
When the business was started it was quite 
modest but has grown to large proportions.  
It is housed in a building 25 to 142 feet and 
the equipment is of the latest and most up-to-
date machinery.  No small part of the profit 
from this business is derived from the out of 
town trade, for the laundry receives patronage 
from as far west as Troy and as far east as Shelby.

Mr. French has been twice married.  His first wife was 
Miss S.A. Willerton, a daughter of Daniel Willerton, of 
Sauk County, Wisconsin.  This marriage took place in 
1887 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and one son, Ralph was 
born of this marriage his birth occurring in Helena 
Montana on the 17th of January 1890.  His second 
marriage was on the 18th of September 1912 in 
Portland Oregon and his wife was Miss A.C. Thompson, 
a daughter of a Mr. Thompson of Bradford Pennsylvania.  
They reside at 641 Second Avenue East and the laundry 
is located at 37 Main Street.