WHOSYERDAD-E Who's Your Daddy?
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Charles France, 18651951 (aged 85 years)

Name
Charles /France/
Given names
Charles
Surname
France
Family with Florence Jane Woolfenden
himself
18651951
Birth: 29 December 1865Kewanee, Henry, Illinois, USA
Death: 26 June 1951Blythedale, Harrison, Missouri, USA
wife
18691963
Birth: 22 September 1869 33 32 West Derby, Lancashire, England
Death: 25 April 1963Buchanan, Missouri, USA
Marriage Marriage8 October 1900Beaver, Utah, USA
3 years
daughter
Helene Gracia France 1904-1994.jpg
19041994
Birth: 8 February 1904 38 34 Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa, USA
Death: 14 July 1994Houston, Harris, Texas, USA
3 years
son
19061974
Birth: 15 October 1906 40 37 Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa, USA
Death: 2 December 1974Saint Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, USA
3 years
son
19091983
Birth: 29 June 1909 43 39 Lamoni, Decatur, Iowa, USA
Death: November 1983Browning, Linn, Missouri, USA
Note

Birth: Dec. 29, 1863
Kewanee
Henry County
Illinois, USA
Death: Jun. 26, 1951
Blythedale
Harrison County
Missouri, USA

MOTHER: Alice Carter
FATHER: Thomas William France

WIFE: Florence Jane Woolfenden
m. 8 Oct 1900 Utah

Charles France, the president of the Lamoni Telephone Company, is in active control of that concern and its success is due largely to his able management of its affairs. His birth occurred in Kewanee, Henry county, Illinois, December 29, 1863, and he is a brother of W. A. France, further mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

Charles France received his education in the public schools of Illinois, but in his youth accompanied the family to Decatur county and for about fifteen years resided upon the home farm in Fayette township. He was then for five years engaged in carrying mail to Togo but at the end of that time turned his attention to other pursuits and was for a while connected with a meat market and later was identified with the lumber business in connection with his brother W. A. Upon the discontinuance of that association he became interested in the telephone field and for a number of years has been president of the Lamoni Telephone Company, which has a large number of subscribers and the volume of whose business has shown a steady growth from the time of the organization of the company. Mr. France gives the greater part of his attention to the direction of its affairs and has proved a capable executive, one who does not lose sight of the larger problems of administration and who at the same time is able to keep a close watch on the details of the business. He owns the fine post office building, which he erected, is interested in land and has considerable real estate.

Mr. France married Miss Florence Woolfenden, a native of England, who emigrated to America when but fourteen years of age in company with her widowed mother. They located in Utah and there she met Mr. France. To their union have been born three children, Helene, Charles and Roy Kenneth, all attending school.

Mr. France is a democrat and for twelve years has been a member of the town board and during the past two years he has also served as township trustee. Since attaining his majority he has manifested a Uvely interest in everything relating to the civic welfare and is recognized as a public-spirited citizen. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and the various phases of the activity of the church profit by their cooperation and material aid.

Mr. France rightly ranks among the leading business men of Lamoni and Decatur county and has used his excellent judgment and power of initiative for the benefit of the comnmnity as well as for his individual gain, the Lamoni Telephone Company under his direction giving excellent service at reasonable rates. His fine home in the western part of Lamoni has been lately remodeled and both he and his wife find pleasure in entertaining their friends there. In his early manhood he traveled extensively over the western part of the United States but he found no section that offered greater opportunites than Decatur county, and he has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community.

The Lamoni Telephone Company, which was promoted by W. A. Hopkins, was incorporated in 1897. The line extends through Decatur and Ringgold counties, Iowa, and Harrison county, Missouri, and through its connections with the Bell Telephone Company gives its subscribers long distance as well as local service. The company employs about five girls, a number of linemen and two or three men who assist Mr. France in the office work. The present officers are: Charles France, president; W. A. Grenawalt, vice president; Dr. W. J. Mather, secretary; and G. H. Derry, treasurer. The above named gentlemen also constitute the board of directors.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014

SOURCES:

  1. History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
    Illustrated, Volumne II.
    Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
    Supervising Editors
    The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 296-97. Chicago. 1915.
  2. http://iagenweb.org/decatur/bioDocs/
    1915HistoryBios/bio1915_francechas.htm

Family links:
Parents:
Thomas William France (1832 - 1900)
Alice C Carter France (1834 - 1922)

Spouse:
Florence Jane Woolfenden France (1869 - 1963)

Children:
Infant France (1901 - 1901)*
Roy Kenneth France (1909 - 1983)*

Siblings:
Jane Elizabeth France Stanley (1856 - 1942)*
Margaret M France Ford (1859 - 1945)*
Charles France (1863 - 1951)
William Albert France (1863 - 1934)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Rose Hill Cemetery
Lamoni
Decatur County
Iowa, USA
Plot: Plot 413, Grave 2

Created by: Wally S.
Record added: Apr 07, 2015
Find A Grave Memorial# 144715231