Posted on: Green Co. Wi Obituaries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Wi/GreenObits/10474 Surname: Francis ------------------------- Albany, Green County, Wisconsin, Vindicator, Thursday, May 9, 1889 In Memoriam The death of William Francis, which occurred on Thursday, May 2, 1889, removes an old settler who will be much missed in the community, and whose death is much regretted by all who knew him. He was born in Shropshire, England, May 3, 1798, and had he lived one day longer, would have reached his 91st birthday. In June, 1855, he left his home at "Cwmgwyn Hall", Beguildy, Radnorshire, Wales, and came to Madison, in this state. The same year, he settled on the farm on which he died, that being his only permanent residence in this country. He had nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and three daughters survive him. In 1865, he sustained the severe loss of his wife, beside whose grave he is buried. William Francis came to this country too late in life to thoroughly adapt himself to the ways and manners of this place, and he retained his old country ways and habits to the last and consequently was not personally known to as large a circle as he would have been had he been younger when he came here, but all who knew him, and they were many, esteemed him highly and all speak in the most tender and respectful manner of his worth and gentleness. Though he lived to the extreme old age of nearly 91 years, he kept his faculties to the last. He was a man of genuine piety, having in 1858 been baptized and united with the Baptist Church, but of late years, his leanings were towards the Seventh Day Advent Church, to which all five of his children are adherents. The funeral, which was conducted by Rev. R.N. Martin, of Albany, took place Saturday afternoon, May 4, 1889. The Union Church at the English settlement, was crowded with relatives and friends who gathered to pay their last respects to a pure and worthy man. The interment was in the cemetery of the settlement. "Life's race well run Life's work well done; Life's crown well won, Now comes rest" NOTE: The children of William Francis were: Mary, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, George, James, Henry, Ann Link: Meinert Family Genealogy URL: <http://pubweb.nwu.edu/~osmun>