The only known son of William and Lydia (Hunt) French, William lived for many years at the northern Chinese coastal city of Tientsin (now Tianjin), where he worked as a customs officer.
He appears on page 200 of the China, Imperial Maritime Customs Gazette for 1898 as “Boat Officer, Tientsin,” listed as deceased on 14 Oct 1898.
###
IN FAR OFF CHINA
Death at Tientsin of a Native of Honolulu.
(Peking Times, October 15.)
“Poor old French is dead!” Such was the greeting of a friend when I entered the club today at noon. “You knew him very well,” said my friend. “Will you write a few lines about him?” I am not at home in print, but I did want to call on old French yesterday, when I heard he was in the hospital. I didn't, and now he is gone!
“You knew him very well?” “Yes, I did. It is very many years since I first made his acquaintance. If I remember aright he was in charge of the Signal Station, his house being in the South Fort at that time...everybody in Taku knew “Fa Hsein-Sheng.” Present day residents in Tienstsin knew him better as “old French.” He was one of the old land-marks at Taku, and when one used to ride down from here in the old days a hearty welcome awaited him from old French.
For many years he was boat officer, going off at night and day to the steamers as they came in and went out. How often have I heard, “How are you French?” when his boat had come safely alongside. It wasn't always safe, and I believe French had more than one narrow escape, and often got wet through, and the water is not warm in the fall of the year at Taku! It did my heart good to see him climb the ladder and feel the grip of his hand when I was homeward bound...to me he has always appeared as the last link binding me to Tientsin. Returning as I have on several occasions, French's face seemed to me like the first glimpse of home.
“Many residents will remember him at our Race Meetings: he missed few, if any; he took a keen interest in them and was never happier than when he was running his 'sweeps.'
“Some residents will remember the visit of King Kalakaua to Tientsin; never before had the king been here, and I was one of the favored few who were introduce to and even shook hands with His Majesty. Quite a flutter of excitement went through the camp when it was discovered that the king knew old French, but such was the case, they had been boys together, at the same school in French's native place, Honolulu. If my memory serves me aright, French applied for a day or two off duty, got permission from his commissioner, and was very happy showing the king, his late schoolfellow, about. This experience made no difference to our friend; he remained the same good fellow, but he was often chaffed about the king's visit. Poor old French!”
Tientsin, October 14, 1898
W. French was a brother of Mrs. C. F. Bush of this place, and was born here September 6, 1839. He was the son of pioneer merchant, William French. --The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii); Saturday, 19 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2; also The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii); Tuesday, 22 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2.
He appears on page 200 of the China, Imperial Maritime Customs Gazette for 1898 as “Boat Officer, Tientsin,” listed as deceased on 14 Oct 1898.
###
IN FAR OFF CHINA
Death at Tientsin of a Native of Honolulu.
(Peking Times, October 15.)
“Poor old French is dead!” Such was the greeting of a friend when I entered the club today at noon. “You knew him very well,” said my friend. “Will you write a few lines about him?” I am not at home in print, but I did want to call on old French yesterday, when I heard he was in the hospital. I didn't, and now he is gone!
“You knew him very well?” “Yes, I did. It is very many years since I first made his acquaintance. If I remember aright he was in charge of the Signal Station, his house being in the South Fort at that time...everybody in Taku knew “Fa Hsein-Sheng.” Present day residents in Tienstsin knew him better as “old French.” He was one of the old land-marks at Taku, and when one used to ride down from here in the old days a hearty welcome awaited him from old French.
For many years he was boat officer, going off at night and day to the steamers as they came in and went out. How often have I heard, “How are you French?” when his boat had come safely alongside. It wasn't always safe, and I believe French had more than one narrow escape, and often got wet through, and the water is not warm in the fall of the year at Taku! It did my heart good to see him climb the ladder and feel the grip of his hand when I was homeward bound...to me he has always appeared as the last link binding me to Tientsin. Returning as I have on several occasions, French's face seemed to me like the first glimpse of home.
“Many residents will remember him at our Race Meetings: he missed few, if any; he took a keen interest in them and was never happier than when he was running his 'sweeps.'
“Some residents will remember the visit of King Kalakaua to Tientsin; never before had the king been here, and I was one of the favored few who were introduce to and even shook hands with His Majesty. Quite a flutter of excitement went through the camp when it was discovered that the king knew old French, but such was the case, they had been boys together, at the same school in French's native place, Honolulu. If my memory serves me aright, French applied for a day or two off duty, got permission from his commissioner, and was very happy showing the king, his late schoolfellow, about. This experience made no difference to our friend; he remained the same good fellow, but he was often chaffed about the king's visit. Poor old French!”
Tientsin, October 14, 1898
W. French was a brother of Mrs. C. F. Bush of this place, and was born here September 6, 1839. He was the son of pioneer merchant, William French. --The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii); Saturday, 19 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2; also The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii); Tuesday, 22 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2.
The only known son of William and Lydia (Hunt) French, William lived for many years at the northern Chinese coastal city of Tientsin (now Tianjin), where he worked as a customs officer.
He appears on page 200 of the China, Imperial Maritime Customs Gazette for 1898 as “Boat Officer, Tientsin,” listed as deceased on 14 Oct 1898.
###
IN FAR OFF CHINA
Death at Tientsin of a Native of Honolulu.
(Peking Times, October 15.)
“Poor old French is dead!” Such was the greeting of a friend when I entered the club today at noon. “You knew him very well,” said my friend. “Will you write a few lines about him?” I am not at home in print, but I did want to call on old French yesterday, when I heard he was in the hospital. I didn't, and now he is gone!
“You knew him very well?” “Yes, I did. It is very many years since I first made his acquaintance. If I remember aright he was in charge of the Signal Station, his house being in the South Fort at that time...everybody in Taku knew “Fa Hsein-Sheng.” Present day residents in Tienstsin knew him better as “old French.” He was one of the old land-marks at Taku, and when one used to ride down from here in the old days a hearty welcome awaited him from old French.
For many years he was boat officer, going off at night and day to the steamers as they came in and went out. How often have I heard, “How are you French?” when his boat had come safely alongside. It wasn't always safe, and I believe French had more than one narrow escape, and often got wet through, and the water is not warm in the fall of the year at Taku! It did my heart good to see him climb the ladder and feel the grip of his hand when I was homeward bound...to me he has always appeared as the last link binding me to Tientsin. Returning as I have on several occasions, French's face seemed to me like the first glimpse of home.
“Many residents will remember him at our Race Meetings: he missed few, if any; he took a keen interest in them and was never happier than when he was running his 'sweeps.'
“Some residents will remember the visit of King Kalakaua to Tientsin; never before had the king been here, and I was one of the favored few who were introduce to and even shook hands with His Majesty. Quite a flutter of excitement went through the camp when it was discovered that the king knew old French, but such was the case, they had been boys together, at the same school in French's native place, Honolulu. If my memory serves me aright, French applied for a day or two off duty, got permission from his commissioner, and was very happy showing the king, his late schoolfellow, about. This experience made no difference to our friend; he remained the same good fellow, but he was often chaffed about the king's visit. Poor old French!”
Tientsin, October 14, 1898
W. French was a brother of Mrs. C. F. Bush of this place, and was born here September 6, 1839. He was the son of pioneer merchant, William French. --The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii); Saturday, 19 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2; also The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii); Tuesday, 22 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2.
He appears on page 200 of the China, Imperial Maritime Customs Gazette for 1898 as “Boat Officer, Tientsin,” listed as deceased on 14 Oct 1898.
###
IN FAR OFF CHINA
Death at Tientsin of a Native of Honolulu.
(Peking Times, October 15.)
“Poor old French is dead!” Such was the greeting of a friend when I entered the club today at noon. “You knew him very well,” said my friend. “Will you write a few lines about him?” I am not at home in print, but I did want to call on old French yesterday, when I heard he was in the hospital. I didn't, and now he is gone!
“You knew him very well?” “Yes, I did. It is very many years since I first made his acquaintance. If I remember aright he was in charge of the Signal Station, his house being in the South Fort at that time...everybody in Taku knew “Fa Hsein-Sheng.” Present day residents in Tienstsin knew him better as “old French.” He was one of the old land-marks at Taku, and when one used to ride down from here in the old days a hearty welcome awaited him from old French.
For many years he was boat officer, going off at night and day to the steamers as they came in and went out. How often have I heard, “How are you French?” when his boat had come safely alongside. It wasn't always safe, and I believe French had more than one narrow escape, and often got wet through, and the water is not warm in the fall of the year at Taku! It did my heart good to see him climb the ladder and feel the grip of his hand when I was homeward bound...to me he has always appeared as the last link binding me to Tientsin. Returning as I have on several occasions, French's face seemed to me like the first glimpse of home.
“Many residents will remember him at our Race Meetings: he missed few, if any; he took a keen interest in them and was never happier than when he was running his 'sweeps.'
“Some residents will remember the visit of King Kalakaua to Tientsin; never before had the king been here, and I was one of the favored few who were introduce to and even shook hands with His Majesty. Quite a flutter of excitement went through the camp when it was discovered that the king knew old French, but such was the case, they had been boys together, at the same school in French's native place, Honolulu. If my memory serves me aright, French applied for a day or two off duty, got permission from his commissioner, and was very happy showing the king, his late schoolfellow, about. This experience made no difference to our friend; he remained the same good fellow, but he was often chaffed about the king's visit. Poor old French!”
Tientsin, October 14, 1898
W. French was a brother of Mrs. C. F. Bush of this place, and was born here September 6, 1839. He was the son of pioneer merchant, William French. --The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii); Saturday, 19 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2; also The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii); Tuesday, 22 Nov 1898; pg. 3, col. 2.
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