Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
WELLINGTON FRENCH is one of the
earliest settlers in Okanogan county that still remains within its borders.
He has always shown the good spirit of the pioneer, and his industry and
sagacity have accumulated for him such a holding of stock, land and personal
property that he is rightly numbered as one of the most prosperous men
of this section.
Wellington French was born in the province
of Quebec, on February 28, 1856, the son of Robert and Harriet (Coman)
French, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The father came
to Canada when a boy and farmed there until his death. He was a prominent
man of his section and held various important county offices. The
mother is still living in Quebec. Our subject is the oldest of a
family of ten children, named as follows, Wellington, Charles W., John
H., Thomas R., James, Mrs. Mary Young, Mrs. Isabella Ross, Mrs. Elizabeth
Cyr, Mrs. Cora Morrison and Mrs. Helen Johnston. Wellington was educated
in his native country and in 1878 stepped forth from the parental roof
to meet the responsibilities for himself. He traveled to various
places in British Columbia, being on the Fraser river, where he did placer
mining. In 1885 he came to the Okanogan country and as soon as the
land was opened settled on his present place, four miles southeast from
Conconully. He selected his present ranch, one of the best in the
entire county. It consists of two hundred acres, well watered and
supplied with plenty of first-class improvements and produces large returns
in the cereals and hay. In addition to this Mr. French owns a ranch
of bunch grass land which is the same size as the home place and is well
improved. He brought some cattle with him from British Columbia and
now has a large band. His entire holding is to be credited to his
earnest and wise endeavors.
On November 11, 1889, Mr. French married Miss
Mary, daughter of Malcom and Mary McCaskill. The father is deceased.
The mother lives at Quebec, and is of Scotch ancestry. Mrs. French
was reared in the same neighborhood as her husband. They now have
three children, Eva G., Katie H., and Robert M.