THE GREENWOOD INN, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - Benjamin Bayless and his son, George Wood Bayless

Last month I told you the story of a hotel that used to be on the northwest corner of Hinman Avenue and Greenwood Boulevard in Evanston, Illinois.  The French House started out as exactly that - the home of businessman Orvis French and his family.  After the Great Chicago Fire in October of 1871 French took displaced family and friends into his home.  Inasmuch as his previous businesses were wiped out by the fire, he decided to expand his house and run it as a hotel on a permanent basis.  French ultimately expanded The French House into a 125 room hotel and ran it to the delight of permanent and transient guests until March of 1892 when he sold The French House to Benjamin Bayless.

Before we look at the French House when it was run by Benjamin Bayless, and the change of name to the Greenwood Inn, let's first take a look at Benjamin Bayless. 

Note:  All throughout the records the family name was spelt both "Bayliss" and "Bayless."  For consistency, I will use "Bayless."

Benjamin Wilhelm Bayless was born February 2, 1844 in Louisville, Kentucky.  He was the first-born of Dr. George Wood Bayless (1817-1873) and Virginia LaFayette Browne (1824-1902).  George and Virginia Bayless had nine children:  Benjamin Wilhelm (1844-1920), Mary Browne/Mrs. Sidney Hobbs (1846-1926), twins Sallie Gault (1847-1915) and Elizabeth Wood/Mrs. John O'Bannon (1847-1913), Martha Bullitt/Mrs. Chas. Boteler (1849-1879), Maria Duren/Mrs. George Lindenberger (1850-1909), George Wood (1852-1912), Virginia (1858-1860),  and Esther Shephard/Mrs. Frederick Earle French (1854-1926).  George Wood Bayless tried his hand at farming but ended up a well-respected physician.  

Benjamin Bayless makes his first appearance in the 1850 US Census.  The family was living in Weston Township, Platte County, Missouri.  The family consisted of:  George W. Bayless (33 years old), Virginia (25), Benjamin (6), Mary (4), Elizabeth (3), Sallie (3) and Martha (1).  George Bayless was not yet a doctor; he reported his occupation as "Farmer."  He also told the census taker his farm was worth $15,000.00 ($556,000 today).

By the time of the 1860 US Census, the Bayless family had moved back to Kentucky, and George Bayless was now a Doctor.  The family consisted of:  George W. Bayless (43 years old), wife Virginia (35), Benjamin (17), Mary (15), Sally (13) and Elizabeth (13) - labelled as "Twins" on the census form, Martha (11), Maria (9), and George (8).  In addition George's mother Elizabeth (79) was living with the family and also Elizabeth Scrugham (19) a Seamstress.  George Bayless was doing quite well financially.  He said he had real estate worth $15,000 ($523,000 today) and personalty worth $30,000 ($1,045,000 today).  Benjamin is listed on the form as a "Clerk."

The 1870 US Census finds the Bayless Family living in the 7th Ward of Louisville, Kentucky, and twenty-seven year old Benjamin still living with his parents.  The family consisted of:  G. W. (53 years old), Virginia (45), Benjamin (27), Sally (23) , Martha (21), Mariah (20), George (18), and Esther (6).  In addition, the family had four people living with them; three housekeepers and a cook.  Benjamin is listed as a "Merchant," with personalty of $3,000 ($66,000 today).  Benjamin's father Dr. Bayless reported real estate of $28,000 ($606,000) and personalty of $25,000 ($552,000 today).

On October 20, 1870, Benjamin Bayless married Wilhelmine Kiameche Crawford (1848-1878) in Louisville.  The groom was twenty-six; the bride was twenty-two.  Benjamin and Wilhelmine had four children:  Charles Thomas (1871-1906), Kiameche Crawford (1873-1873), George Wood (1875-1955) and Wilhelmine (1878-1952).  Wilhelmine the daughter was born March 12, 1878 and her mother died March 22, 1878 probably as a result of complications from childbirth.  In those days "complications from childbirth" was the leading cause of death for women.  They would get an infection from giving birth and their bodies were too weak to fight off the infection in the era before anti-biotics.

Wilhelmine Bayless was buried in the Bayless plot at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville (Section B, Lot 11):

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer babs

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer babs

The 1880 US Census shows Benjamin Bayless living with his three children at 551 Third Street in Louisville, Kentucky.  An office building occupies that space today.  The family consisted of  Benjamin (38 years old), children Charles (8), George (5) and Wilhelmine (2).  In addition, also living with them was Benjamin's mother-in-law Katherine Crawford, and a nurse, a cook and a housekeeper.  Benjamin was listed as an "Importer."

Although Benjamin Bayless started his business career selling Insurance, ultimately he started a company called Bayless Bros. & Co. in Louisville.  Bayless Bros. & Co. became very successful by importing and selling fine china, glassware and queensware, and also made Benjamin Bayless a wealthy man.   

Several times in early 1889 Illinois newspapers reported that Benjamin Bayless and some of his associates came to Illinois from Kentucky looking for investment opportunities.  They visited Decatur, Illinois several times as reported by the Decatur Weekly Republican on May 02, 1889:

On September 18, 1889, Benjamin Bayless married Laura Donelson (1864-1896) in Chicago.  The groom was forty-five; the bride was twenty-five.  Here's how the Chicago Tribune reported it in their September 22, 1989 editions:

Benjamin Bayless made numerous trips to Illinois to pursue business opportunities.  Instead he found a bride for himself.  But Bayless found his best business opportunity in a very roundabout way.  Benjamin Bayless' daughter Wilhelmine married Orvis French's son Frederick (of the horse-drawn bus) on June 1, 1886 in Louisville.   

It is not beyond possibility that Orvis French might have mentioned at some point that he was thinking of selling the hotel.  Frederick French would have known that his father-in-law was looking for business opportunities and may have brought the two parties together.  We do know that it was a shock on March 26, 1892 when the sale of The French House was announced:

After the sale had closed, and the French family had moved out, Benjamin Bayless made the decision to try to keep everything exactly as it had been when Orvis French ran the house.  Try as he might to keep this moving along on a even keel, sometimes it did not work out that way - as evidenced by the Chicago Tribune of December 26, 1895:

In early 1896, Benjamin Bayless felt that it was time for a change.  He changed the name of The French House to The Greenwood Inn.  Here is a photo of the hotel from that time:

Unfortunately life got in the way, as it sometimes seems to.  Bayless' second wife, Laura Donelson Bayless died on October 12, 1896 in Evanston.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune from October 13, 1896:

and here is her obituary from the Evanston News-Index of October 17, 1896:

Laura Donelson Bayless was buried in the Bayless Family Plot in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville:

The 1900 US Census finds widower Benjamin Bayless and his family living in The Greenwood Inn.  The family consisted of:  Benjamin Bayless (56 years old), son George (25), daughter Wilhelmina (22), Benjamin's mother Virginia (75), brother-in-law Sidney Hobbs (59) sister Mary B. (52) and niece Virginia B. (25).  There were also fourteen "Servants" who acted as cooks, maids, etc.  In addition, on the day of the census, June 12, 1900 there were forty-two guests staying at The Greenwood Inn.   The guests were Lawyers, Engineers, Private Secretaries, Auditors, etc.  Definitely an "upper-class" crowd.

Benjamin reported that he was a Widower, that he was fifty-six years old, that the was the Owner of The Greenwood Inn, and that he owned it free-and-clear.  He also said that he could read and write, and that he spoke English, as did all the staff and guests of the hotel.  Here's another photo of The Greenwood Inn from that era:

And here is a "side shot" which shows how far back the hotel went along Greenwood Boulevard:

There are many photos of the outside of The Greenwood Inn.  Here are two rare pictures from inside - the Dining Room:

and the Sun Room:

Benjamin Bayless did not like being unmarried.  He had been married twice; unfortunately he was widowed twice.  He decided to try again and on June 24, 1902 he married Maud Marie Rice.  The groom was fifty-eight; the bride was thirty-five.  Here is how one newspaper, the Chicago Inter-Ocean, reported the wedding on June 29, 1902:

The Chicago Tribune was a little more sedate in the way they reported the marriage on June 29, 1902:

Here is a photo of Maud Rice Bayless from her passport application:

After his marriage, Benjamin Bayless moved out of the Greenwood Inn and bought a house at 1033 Hinman Avenue in Evanston:

1033 Hinman Avenue Evanston, Illinois

In 1908 when Benjamin Bayless was sixty-four years old he decided to retire and turned over the daily management of The Greenwood Inn to his son George who had been the Head Bookkeeper for the hotel.  As is often the case, George made a few changes.  He built a double house annex across the street and a cottage added to the main structure.  Other than those changes, life at the Greenwood Inn remained the same as it had for years, which was one of the things guests found most appealing. 

The 1910 US Census provides some mysterious information about the Bayless family and the Greenwood Inn.  At the time of the 1910 US Census, Benjamin and Maud Bayless were still living at The Greenwood Inn.  Benjamin stated that he was sixty-five years old, was on marriage #3 and that he had been married to his present wife for eight years.  He said he was a "Hotel Owner" and that he owned the hotel free and clear.  The first mysterious item on the 1910 Census concerns Benjamin's wife Maude.  She said she was forty-six years old, that this was her first marriage, and that she too had been married for eight years.  But then she revealed that she had given birth to one child, and that the child was not still living in 1910.  I was unable to uncover any additional information about the deceased child of Benjamin and Maud Bayless.

The second mysterious item concerns fifty year old Alice Adams.  She too, is living at the Greenwood Inn, but she lists her occupation as "Hotel Lessee."  I was not able to uncover any additional information about who Alice Adams was, or what she was doing at the Greenwood Inn.     

In addition to the Bayless family and the mysterious Alice Adams, there were thirty-two staff members living at the Inn, and sixty guests of the hotel on April 16, 1910 when the census taker came to call.

One change that George Bayless did make was that he started to advertise.  In the past, The Greenwood Inn relied on word-of-mouth advertising, but George decided that ads in the Chicago Tribune might help spread the word.  Here's one from the Chicago Tribune June 9, 1908:

  
Through the years The Greenwood Inn also advertised jobs that were available - waitresses, busboys, cooks, a pastry chef, maids and housekeepers, etc.  The ads were pretty standard - each offered a salary plus room and board at the Inn.  Typically the positions were advertised for a particular race - both whites and blacks were accepted, but in 1919 this ad appeared for the first time:

During this period the hotel itself received no publicity, and I'm sure that's the way that George Bayless wanted it.  There were the usual mentions of local people coming and going, an occasional wedding that took place there, and the parents who were permanent residents who lost a son in World War I.  

Sometime prior to 1920, Benjamin and Maude Bayless bought a house at 720 Milburn Street in Evanston:

720 Milburn Street, Evanston, Illinois

Benjamin Bayless died July 28, 1920 in Evanston.  He was seventy-six years old.  Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune:

As you can imagine, the obituary in the Evanston News-Index was much larger:

Benjamin Bayless' death record said he would be buried at Chicago's Graceland Cemetery, but Graceland's online index did not show an entry for him.  I checked Find a Grave, and it turns out that someone had created a Find a Grave page (with photos) for him at Rosehill Cemetery in the community mausoleum, and it turns out that person was me.

Bayless had been cremated at Graceland, and was interred at Rosehill in the Larkspur Court Columbarium, upstairs at Unit One of the Rosehill Mausoleum:

Benjamin Bayless' Last Will and Testament was interesting in that he did not leave the Greenwood Inn to his wife Maude, he left the hotel (and his $5,000.00 life insurance policy) to his son George (1/3), his daughter Wilhelmine (1/3) and his granddaughter Wilhelmine (1/3).  He did leave his wife $200.00 per month out of the income of the Greenwood Inn ($2,950.00 in today's funds), which he later reduced to $100.00 per month.   

In the 1910 US Census Bayless said he owned the Greenwood Inn free and clear, but in his will he mentions a mortgage with the State National Bank in the amount of $10,000.00 ($150,000.00 today).

Benjamin Bayless' son George had been running The Greenwood Inn since 1908.  Benjamin and his wife had moved out of the Inn sometime before 1920, so Benjamin's death did not affect the day-to-day running of the Inn.  

George Bayless ran the Greenwood Inn as it had been run since it was The French House - quietly.  The only time the Greenwood Inn appeared in the newspapers during George Bayless' tenure when was when the death of a long-time tenant was reported.

The end came for the Greenwood Inn in 1952.  Here is the report from the Chicago Tribune from July 31, 1952:

  

The article refers to a ninety-nine year ground lease with Northwestern University that expired in 1947 and had been extended for five years.  Orvis French built his home on the site in 1869 not 1847.  Perhaps French assumed an existing ground lease with Northwestern for whatever had previously occupied that plot. 

The Greenwood Inn was replaced by the aptly named Greenwood Inn Apartments in 1955.  The apartments were built by local real estate mogul George J. Cyrus who built them in his  usual colonial architectural style.  Cyrus was a long-time Evanstonian and had an appreciation for local history.  He erected a commemorative sign in front of the apartments recalling what had occupied the space in prior years.  When the Greenwood Inn Apartments were converted to the Greenwood Inn Condominiums in 1983 the sign was removed.  Here are some photos of the Greenwood Inn Condominiums in 2022:

George Bayless died in 1955.  The location of his grave is unknown.

Now you know the complete history of the house/hotel that stood for eighty-three years on the northwest corner of Greenwood and Hinman in Evanston.

May all those affiliated in any way with The French House or The Greenwood Inn rest in peace. 

THE FRENCH HOUSE HOTEL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - Orvis French

Longtime readers of this blog will remember that I have always been interested in the history of hotels - from the Orrington Hotel in Evanston to the Hotel Del Coronado in California.  While doing research for this blog or for my family genealogy I often found references to The Greenwood Inn in Evanston, Illinois at the northwest corner of  Greenwood and Hinman. 

So this month I will tell you the story of the Greenwood Inn that actually started out as a family home, and it's founder, Orvis French.

First, let's look at the life of Orvis French prior to the time he opened a hotel.  Orvis French was born at Barre, Vermont on January 31, 1822.  He was one of eleven children of David French (1794-1854) and Fedelia "Delia" French (1794-1887).  David and Delia French were distantly related.  David and Delia's children were:  Christina (1816-1887), Fidelia Jr (1818-1820), Angelina (1820-1908), Orvis (1822-1897), Esther Ann (1829-1891), David Edgar (1891-1899), Delia Agnes (1838-1919), Alice (1842-1844), David Crandall (1824-1826), Gilbert Lincoln (1834-1889), and Clinton DeWitt (1849-1872).  

Orvis French traced his lineage from some of the well-known pioneers of New England. Both of his parents were descended from John and Grace French, of Braintree, Massachusetts.  Grace French was a daughter of John Alden, of Plymouth Colony.  Orvis' father David French represented the fourth, and Orvis' mother the fifth, generation of the French family in America. David French was born at Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and moved at the age of sixteen years to Barre, Vermont. He was a tanner and currier by occupation.

Orvis French was educated at the public schools of Barre, and also spent three months at an academy at Montpelier.  From the age of fifteen years he was familiar with mercantile business.  He began as a clerk for G. W. Collamore, working the first fifteen months for forty dollars, and boarding with his parents.  He persevered in this undertaking, however, and after a few years was enabled to engage in business for himself in his native town of Barre. 

During this era, Orvis was mentioned almost continuously in the area newspapers that he was the sole agent in Barre for various patent medicines including "Jones Drops for Humors":

and "Dr. Wistar's Balsam of Wild Cherry":

On January 10, 1847 Orvis French married Mariah Earle (1824-1865) in Williamstown, Vermont.  The bride was twenty-two; the groom was twenty-four.

Orvis and Mariah were blessed with six children:  Ralph Eugene (1847-1850), Julia Martha/Mrs. William Hayden (1850-1925), Orvis Clinton (1851-1908), Sarah Helen/Mrs. Charles Pearson "Nellie" (1854-1896), Josephine "Josie" (1861-1943), and Frederick Earle (1863-1931).   

The 1850 US Census finds Orvis French and his family living in Barre, Vermont.  The family consisted of:  Orvis (28 years old), Mariah (25), Ralph (2) and Julia (1).  Living with them was Clark Holden (25), a "Clerk."  Orvis reported his occupation as "Merchant."  Orvis also stated that he owned real estate valued at $1,000.00 ($37,000 today).  

After about twelve years of running a store in Barre, Vermont, French decided it was time to "Go West," so in 1856 he opened a dry goods store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

The 1860 US Census finds Orvis and his family living in the 3rd Ward of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The family consisted of Orvis (38 years old), Maria (35), Julia (10), Orvis (9), Helen (6) and Louisa Ochs (19).  Orvis said he owned real estate worth $4,000 ($139,329 today) and personalty of $2,500 ($87,081 today).  Orvis said he was a "Merchant."  Everyone in the house could read and write.

French began dealing in dry goods on a wholesale basis, and continued there until 1867, when he moved again - this time to Chicago where he set up a wholesale clothing house.  At the time he moved his business to Chicago, he set up residence in beautiful Evanston, Illinois, by renting a house at the southwest corner of Hinman Avenue and Church Street.  Although raised a  Methodist, after coming to Evanston he was connected with the Avenue Presbyterian Church, and served as one of the Trustees of that organization. When a Congregational Church was established in Evanston he transferred to them, and remained a Congregationalist for the rest of his life.  His Methodist roots were deep enough that although he no longer was a parishioner of theirs, he did not consume intoxicating beverages so "Dry Evanston" was very appealing to him. 

Sadly, Orvis' wife Mariah Earle French died in Chicago on January 17, 1865.  Her Death Record was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 so we do not know her cause of death.  She was buried the the family plot in Section 104 at Rosehill Cemetery next to her son Ralph who died in 1850.  Ralph died in Vermont but after French bought the large plot at Rosehill he had Ralph's remains disinterred and reburied at Rosehill:

 

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Meredith

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Meredith

On September 6, 1866 Orvis French married a widow, Martha Farrington Carpenter (1828-1913) in Barre, Vermont.  She was the daughter of Nathaniel Farrington of Walden, Vermont and the widow of Dr. Augustus Carpenter.  Martha had one son, Edward Farrington Carpenter (1852-1928). 

Orvis French loved Evanston so he decided to settle there permanently.  In 1869 he built a residence for himself on the northwest corner of Hinman Avenue and Greenwood Boulevard on land he leased from Northwestern University.  In the early days of Evanston, almost all of the land was owned by Northwestern, and they still own parcels in downtown Evanston to this day.   

The 1870 US Census finds Orvis French and his family living in beautiful Evanston, Illinois.  The census taker was noted Evanstonian Philo Judson Beveridge and he visited the French home on June 2, 1870.  The French Family consisted of: Orvis French (45 years old), wife Martha (42), and children Julia (20), Clinton (17), Nellie (16), Josie (9), and Fred (7).  Also with the French family was Martha's son Edward Carpenter (17).  Orvis French reported his occupation as "Commissioner."  Edward Carpenter was a "Boat Clerk," and Clinton and Fred were "Grocers."  Orvis French reported that his real estate was worth $60,000 ($1,324,000 today) and personalty $22,000 ($483,000 today).    

Life was good for Orvis French.  He was a wealthy man, had a loving wife and children and a successful business and lived in a community where he was respected and admired.  

But life is not all roses for anyone and tragedy struck Orvis French on October 8-10, 1871.  The Great Chicago Fire destroyed his business and swept away most of his properties.  He realized little from insurance because his carriers were wiped out by the extent of the calamity.  But great people realize that there can be opportunities waiting even in the darkest of times if we know where to look - and that's exactly what Orvis French did.   

The Evanston newspapers reported:

Although himself impoverished by the fire, he received into (his) house many homeless refugees and this act of generosity was the unintentional beginning of a new line of activity.  It was several months before some of his guests were able to secure money and employment and by that time they had become so accustomed to their quarters that they asked to be allowed to remain.  As he had no other business at the time, he consented and thus began the "French House" which ultimately became the Greenwood Inn. 

Orvis French's house was large enough to house his family but not large enough to be a permanent hotel.   French began adding on to his house little-by-little as guests multiplied until it ultimately contained six houses joined together containing 125 rooms(!!!) and covered a large area.  Mr. French was said to be a genial host.  He had a rotund figure, a smiling face, a hearty manner and an accommodation disposition, and was willing to give credit to an honest man who happened to need it.  Mrs. French too, was said to be a model housekeeper and made everyone feel at home.  The consequence was that their house was always full, and many of their guests remained with them year after year.  And what was the name of this establishment?  The French House, of course.

Orvis French

People loved staying at The French House - so much in fact, that one wrote a poem about it:

Although running a hotel can be a (more than) full-time job, Orvis French still found time for other pursuits.  Like many other successful men he began to look outward - to see what he could do to make his community a better place.  The Chicago Evening Post reported on July 10, 1872 that French had been elected a Justice of the Peace at Evanston:

 

Throughout 1873 French was involved with the question of establishing a Water Works to provide fresh water for Evanston residents.  The Chicago Evening Post reported on April 12, 1873 that the "Water Works Party" of which Orvis French was a part was elected by an overwhelming margin:

In 1876 there was a new hotel in town - The Mattison House at Davis Street and Chicago Avenue.  The Mattison House was the forerunner to The Avenue House and the North Shore Hotel.  For a while Orvis French was losing business to his competitor to the northwest because it was several blocks closer to the Davis Street Depot of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.  Guests moved to The Mattison House because of the convenience to transportation.  

Orvis French being an enterprising businessman, met this challenge by getting a spring wagon and a horse which shuttled between the station and The French House.  At the reins was French's son Frederick, then 13, who studied his lessons while waiting for trains.  Later, after young French went into business, the hotel owner bought a bus drawn by two horses which was used until the Dempster Street station was built.    

During the 1880s Orvis French was in his 60s and so he started to slow down from all his labors and enjoy life more.  Local Vermont newspapers often reported visits of French and his wife to relatives who still lived in the Barre, Vermont area.  French also became very involved with the Masonic Lodge in Evanston.  Here's a photo of him from that period:

Here's an ad for the French House from 1890:

On March 26, 1892, the Chicago Tribune published the shocking news that Orvis French had sold The French House:

Orvis French was 70 years old in 1892 and as I mentioned above, running a hotel is a more-than full time job.  French wanted to retire and enjoy the fruits of his labors.

After the sale of their home/hotel, Orvis French and his wife moved to a house at 1232 Hinman Avenue in Evanston.  (1232 Hinman had formerly been known as 123 Hinman Avenue N but was changed to 1232 as a result of Evanston's renumbering which was implemented after the annexation of South Evanston in 1893.):

1232 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois

The Evanston Index newspaper reported that on Orvis French's 75th birthday the following poem was presented by his family:

'Tis fitting we congratulate

Grandfather French upon this date.

To reach a full three score and ten

Falls seldom to the lot of men.

Yet here we see him live and thrive

In happiness at seventy-five.

Life would not thus have held its force

Had it not had a worthy course;

But temperance insured good health,

And skill and industry gave wealth; 

He's had the comfort that attends

The presence of a host of friends;

He's had an honest joy and pride

Is blessing all at his fireside.

And in return children and wife

Have cheered and comforted his life.

Frenches and Carpenters unite

To make his years pass with delight.

And, members of his lengthening line

Haydens and Pearsons too combine.

All branches of his family tree

In loyalty and zeal agree.

So still he flourishes in peace,

And still his well spent years increase.

And children and grandchildren pray

God's blessing on him every day.

Orvis French's daughter Sarah Helen French Pearson (called Nellie) died suddenly on June 12, 1896.  She was forty-two years old.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Chronicle of June 13, 1896:

She had suffered for years with inflammatory rheumatism which over time had weakened her heart.  It was reported that her condition had improved so her death came as a shock to all who knew her.  She was, of course, buried in the French Family plot at Rosehill:

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer meredith

The death of  Orvis French was reported by the Evanston Index newspaper on November 6, 1897:

Orvis French died very suddenly on Saturday, October 30, 1897 at 9:30 pm.  He had been an invalid for several years, but had not been confined to bed, and had walked downtown the day before his death.  On Saturday the 30th he retired early, and after a short sleep woke up and complained of the heat.  His wife at once began to remove some of the bed clothes, and as she was doing this he died without pain or warning.

Other members of the family were at once sent for, but so swift and silent had been his transition from life to death that they would scarcely believe that Mr. French had passed away until the arrival of Dr. Clapp, who pronounced him dead.

The funeral was held at his residence, 1232 Hinman Avenue, at 2 o'clock on Monday, November 1, 1897.  The services were conducted by Dr. Lobs, pastor of the First Congregational Church.  The casket and parlors were covered with choice flowers, and the presence of a detachment of Knights Templar gave special impressiveness to the ceremony.  The pallbearers were;  H.B. Hill, M.A. Dean, E.A. Lord, J.J. Charles, J.V. Taylor and E.H. Buehler.  The remains were interred in the French family plot at Rosehill.  

Next month we will report what happened to the French House Hotel after it was purchased in March of 1892 by Benjamin Bayliss of the firm of Bayliss Bros. & Co. of Louisville, Kentucky and renamed The Greenwood Inn.   

Orvis French - tragedy led his life in a different direction than he had anticipated.  But like many great men, he was able to turn tragedy into triumph.  May he rest in peace.                 .