Marshall F. French, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Marshall F. French
MARSHALL F. FRENCH - President of the French Motor Company of Valparaiso, Marshall F. French was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 1892, the son of George M. and Carrie E. (Forman) French, the former of Chicago and the latter of Cameron, Missouri. To the parents of our subject were born two children; the other was Bessie, who married Dwight Moore of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The parents now reside at St. Joseph, Michigan.
Marshall F. French attended the Calumet High School, and the Lewis Institute of Chicago, where he completed the course in mechanical engineering. In 1918 he entered the service of the Ford Motor Company at their Chicago branch, serving as traveling salesman. In 1921 he became the sales agent at Knox, Indiana, and later disposed of this and removed to Denver, Colorado, where he remained until January 1, 1926, when he came to Valparaiso and assumed charge of the Ford agency at that place. It has enjoyed unusual success under his direction, more cars having been sold in the first eight months of 1926 than were sold during the entire year of 1925. Mrs. French, the wife of our subject, is associated in the enterprise as vice president; a brother-in-law, Harry J. Arnold, is secretary-treasurer of the organization, which is capitalized for $36,000. Aside from the major line of Ford cars, a splendid business is enjoyed in tractors and Lincoln cars.
Mr. French was united in marriage with Lois, daughter of Ira F, and Ella (McDowell) Meader of Chicago, in 1916, at Rensselaer, Indiana. To them were born three daughters: Alice Jeanette, Peggy Lou, and Marion, who died at the age of one year. Mr. French is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Bureau, Rotary Club, Valparaiso lodge of Masons, Izaac Walton League.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 235
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook