Do not assume the following information is accurate until you have corroborating evidence. Eli Sampson French -- the 7th son of William French and his 2nd wife, Cassna Cantrel. (see also http://www.edenmartin.com/index.htm) The following info on E S French is from the book: COMBINED HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS published in Philadelphia in 1881 E. S. FRENCH WAS born in Jefferson county, East Tennessee, December 10th, 1829. His grandfather, Lefford French, was born in New Jersey, and moved to South Carolina, where he lived during the Revolutionary war, in which he served as a soldier. Mr. French's father, William French, was born and raised in South Carolina, near the line separating that state from North Carolina, and married, as his second wife, Cassindia Cantrell, who was born in North Carolina. He moved to Jefferson county, East Tennessee, and from there, in the fall of 1842, emigrated to Clinton county, Illinois, where he died in November, 1845. The family in East Tennessee lived in a rough but healthful country, possessing but few school advantages. He was thirteen when he came to this state. He resided in Clinton county till twenty-one years of age. About the year 1850 he came to this part of the state, and for some years was engaged in different occupations. February 14th, 1855, he married Julia Ann Ward, daughter of William L. Ward, who came to Illinois from Shelby county, Kentucky. Mrs. French is a native of the county. Her mother's name, before marriage, was Sallie McKiver. After his marriage, Mr. French went to farming for himself in Moultrie county, and in the spring of 1856 came to Pickaway township, and in 1857 settled where he now resides in section 23. He began improving his present farm in 1856. At that time there were few settlements on the prairie in the township. He has been one of the large farmers of that part of the county, and owns 789 acres of land, 735 of which is in Pickaway township. He has six children: Ada, who married B. P. Deering; Mary, Jennie, Maggie, Ellsworth, and Geneva. Three beside died in infancy. He was brought up a whig, and voted for Fillmore in 1856, but has been a republican since 1860, when he voted for Lincoln. For about twenty years he has been a member of the Methodist church.