JOHN B. DE FRANCE, farmer,
post-office New Lebanon, is a son of Allison and Martha (Montgomery)
DeFrance, who were among the early settlers in this county,
locating on a tract of land in what is now Mill Creek Township. Allison
DeFrance was a soldier in the War of 1812. He voted the Democratic
ticket, and was counted one of the leading men of the township, and
died in 1862. His wife was a member of the United Presbyterian Church,
and died in 1885. Their family consisted of eleven children: Sarah,
deceased; James M., an attorney at Kirksville, Mo.; John B.; Eliza,
wife of Rev. Sears; William; Isabella, deceased; A. H., an attorney,
and at present one of the supreme commissioners of Colorado; Mary J.;
Mattie A., deceased; Archie M., and Albina, deceased. Our subject was
born on the homestead February 11, 1828, and was educated at the
township schools, Greenville Academy and the Grand River Institute of
Ohio. Mr. DeFrance has always lived on the homestead where he was born,
and is one of the wealthy and successful farmers of Mill Creek
Township. He has served the township as justice of the peace for five
years, and is connected with the Democratic party.
Source: (History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 1086)
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