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- Victor Mahon French was born at Egan, South Dakota on the 1st of June,1881 to Charles Worthington and Lulu Belle (nee Dewing) French. He was third born and joined two sisters, Lulu Amanda and Lana. In early 1883,the family loaded their covered wagon, and headed west, for the Black Hills. Some very dear friends of theirs, the Hulett family, from Egan,had already decided to settle in the Black Hills, along the Belle Fourcheriver, and had written the French family to see if they would not jointhem. The covered wagon was pulled by two mules, named Bueguard andBonaparte. It took the family six weeks to make the journey. In July,1883, the French family set up their tent in the Hulett’s yard, and livedin it until their log cabin was built, nestled in the trees at the edgeof what now is Hulett. Mr. French set out in search of new frontiers,and the last that was heard of him, he was a guide in NorthernMinnesota. The family never knew what happened to him. Mrs. French rodehorseback to Deadwood, South Dakota, to take an examination, so that shecould teach school, and she became the first teacher in Crook County, in1884. She had to take the children to school with her, and they wouldride one horse, one child in front of her and two behind. Victor Frenchgrew up and attended school in the Hulett area. He was a sixteen yearold boy when he started as a cowboy. He rode for the 3V and the Doutfits, as well as other ranches in the area. He attended businesscollege in Grand Island, Nebraska. French homesteaded in Red Canyon,and in 1907 was married to Grace Coffey. They spent years on the ranch,and some time in Seattle, Washington before moving to Alva to make theirhome. They had three children, Russell, Celia (Mrs. Lee Howard), andGeraldine (Mrs. Willie Beard). Grace French passed away in 1917. In1921, Vic was married to Delia Foley, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.She was the daughter of Morris and Jane Foley. Her parents had bothpassed away when she was young, and she was staying with the John Mahoneyfamily near Alva. Mr and Mrs. French continued to make their home inAlva, Wyoming, and two children were born to them, Eleanor (Mrs. RayEgan) and Jean (Mrs. Ted Rounds). The Frenches were very active in thecommunity, and were always ready to lend a helping hand. Many timesneighbors would call on Vic to help with veterinary problems, when theyhad sick or injured livestock, and he was always glad to help build thelittle community church at Alva. He was foreman on the construction ofthe Forest Service road into the Bear Lodge from the Gordon ranch, andhorse-drawn equipment was used to build the road. For many years, Mrs.French had the telephone exchange in their home and many people wereserved by this, as it was the only telephone in the area, and messageswere delivered this way. The Frenches farmed and ranched at Alva, usingthe brand IV on their horses and cattle. Mr. French passed away inOctober, 1967, in Rapid City, South Dakota. He had been active on theranch right up until the time of his death. Mrs. French passed away inSeptember, 1973, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she had been hospitalized. This account was contributed by Russell French and is stated in thebook - 'Pioneers Of Crook County 1876-1920’, by the Crook CountyHistorical Society, Crook County, Wyoming, copyright 1981. See pages 10,177, 178, 438 and a picture on page 177. Picture of Victor and Delia isin their scrapbooks.
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