A. E. French, the veteran operator who held down the keys at the passenger depot in this city for over 23 years, fell dead at the Wm. Fick corner Monday forenoon at about 11 o’clock as he was on his way to the train to go to Omaha. Jos. Gochenoeur saw him fall and ran to his assistance. His wife was sent for but he was dead before she arrived.

The funeral will be held at the Methodist Church at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, Elder W. Sherrig, of Omaha, officiating. It was thought at first that the body would be sent to his old home in Peabody, Mass., for burial, but Mrs. French concluded that this had been their home so long that she would have him buried here. The Masons will have charge of the services at the cemetery.

Mr. French was born in Pembroke, Mass., Dec. 16th, 1857, and was therefore just past 58 years of age. He lost his left leg by being cut with a scythe while at work in a hay field when a small boy. He learned telegraphy in his home town, then came west and worked as Western Union operator in Chicago for a time. Later he went to the C.M. & St. Paul Ry., then to the Iowa Central, then to the Northwestern, holding a position at Arlington for three years before being transferred to this city in 1892. He was retired o a pension last Christmas day because of failing health, his heart bothering him a good deal. He and Mrs. French returned recently from an eastern trip, which he took with difficulty. He carried $5,000 insurance in the O.R.T, Railway Protective Association, Modern Woodman and Fraternal Union. He was made a Mason while at Arlington. He was married to Miss Margaret Singer at Albion, Ia., thirty years ago, but no children were born to them. Besides the wife he leaves one brother, who is a druggist at Peabody, Mass., and their aged mother who lives with him. Mr. French was a good citizen and was well liked by everyone. He served as member of the city council for one term.

#2 Printed in the March 17, 1916 Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska

Sudden Death of A. E. French

Telegraph Operator Here Nearly Quarter Century

Shortly after eleven o’clock on Monday news spread around the city that Veteran Telegraph Operator A. E. French had fallen on the street and suddenly expired. He had started from his home for the railway passenger station, intending to take the 11:05 train for Omaha to transact some business, and when opposite the Fick Rooming House, fell, with the above results. Joe Goehenour saw him fall and hastened to his assistance, and with others, carried him to his home, but he expired before reaching there.

Arthur E. French was born Dec. 16, 1857, at Pembroke, New Hampshire, and was married 30 years ago to Miss Margaret Singer, at Albion, Iowa. When only a small boy he had the misfortune to lose one of his lower limbs, which was severed by a scythe in a hay field. He learned telegraphy and for several years was in the employ of the Western Union, in Chicago. He came to Nebraska and was in the employ of the Northwestern Railway Company at Arlington and Blair, having held the position of operator at Blair for 23 years and 9 months. He retired from the service last fall and was pensioned by the railway company in whose service he had been engaged for so many years. He was a man who was well liked and much respected by his fellow workmen, associates and acquaintances generally said although in poor health of the past several years, he was of a cheerful disposition and always ready for a social conversation with his callers and friends.

He was a member of the Adventist Church, the Order of Railway Telegraphers, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic Lodges, and carried $5,000 life insurance.

The funeral was held at the Methodist Church on Thursday afternoon, Elder Sherrig, of the Adventist Church of Omaha, preaching the sermon and the Blair Masonic Lodge then taking charge of the services. Burial was made in the cemetery at Blair.

Besides the widow, deceased leaves an aged mother and one brother, who is a druggist both living at Peabody, Mass., and a brother-in-law, Christian Singer, who has made his home with Mr. and Mrs. French for several years.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library~~~