Willis W. French Biography


	This biography appears on pages 565-566 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIS W. FRENCH. 

	Willis W. French, an attorney at law of Tundall, was born in 
Yankton, the capital of the old territory, in 1882, a son of Levi B. 
French, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work. The 
father removed from Michigan to Yankton when South Dakota was still a 
territory. 

	Willis W. French graduated from Yankton high school and then took 
a three years' course at Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating from the law 
department of the State University of Michigan in June, 1904. He 
returned to Yankton but on January 1, 1907, he accepted a position in 
the editorial department of the West Publishing Company of St. Paul, a 
firm issuing law books. He remained in their employ for three years and 
in December, 1909, came to Tyndall, where he opened a law of lice. In 
1912 he was elected prosecuting attorney and discharged the duties of 
that position with fidelity and ability. In partnership with Dr. Herm 
Klima and C. C. Puckett he purchased the Tyndall Tribune, Mr. Puckett 
being the editor and Mr. French taking charge of the business 
management of the publication. The Tribune is a well edited and well 
managed journal and exerts a wide influence throughout Bon Homme 
county. Much of the credit for its success must be given to Mr. French, 
who is a systematic and efficient business man and is aggressive in his 
efforts to increase the circulation of his paper and to secure 
legitimate advertising. 

	Mr. French was married July 8, 1913, to Miss Emma Chladek, a 
native of Tabor, Bon Homme county, and a daughter of Louis and Louisa 
(Vyborny) Chladek. Her father is a native of Sadska, Bohemia. Her 
mother is also a native of Bohemia and when four years of age was 
brought by her parents to the vicinity of Tabor, Bon Homme county. Mrs. 
French is the eldest in a family of four children. 

	Mr. French attends the Congregational church and fraternally is 
identified with the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges of Tyndall. 
He is one of the alert young business men of the town, and his friends 
prophesy for him a career of increasing usefulness and success.