Clarence Tilford French was born 22 Jul 1873 in Bowling Green, KY to Asa Tilford French (1844-1915) & Katherine Rigney. There is a marriage record for an Asa who has a wife named Henrietta Sprague and a son named Clarence French
Inmate: #15363 San Quentin Prison
Rec: 30 Apr 1893
Crime: Burglary
The following article were from 1892 before his first stint in prison. He was fined and one charge was dropped.
1893 charges:
To read these article you will need to click the links posted.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93304841/clarence-french/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93304604/clarence-french/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93303696/clarence-french/
Here's a timeline of the rest of his prison time:
Newspaper articles dated 1900
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93305546/clarence-french/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93305663/clarence-french/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93305804/clarence-french/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93305961/clarence-french/
Inmate: #21694 San Quentin Prison
Rec: 30 Jun 1906
Crime: Burglary
Newspaper articles for 1909
Inmate: #23860 San Quentin Prison
Rec: 18 Oct 1909
Crime: Burglary
1913 newspaper articles
Inmate: #26964 San Quentin Prison
Rec: 25 Apr 1913
Crime: Burglary
Clarence would die in Folsom Prison on 16 May 1923 as prisoner #12353
No newspaper articles about his death.
He was 52 years old
Photo by EDHGS
Here's the link for his Find A Grave Memorial
His father Asa was a engineer for the railroad, I found this about him.
This certifies that Brother Asa Telford French, 32, a Master Mason in good standing under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted masons of the State of California, is an honorary member of this Masonic Veteran Association in good standing, and that the following is his Masonic Record, as appears upon our books from the statement and proofs accompanying his petition for membership herein, and as such he is cordially and fraternally commended to the Love, Veneration and esteem of the brethren of the Craft, whithersoever dispersed around the globe.
He was born June 2, 1844, in the Town of Picqua, Miami County, State of Ohio. His residence 1107 Mound Street, Alameda California, Occupation Locomotive Engineer. He was educated in the Public Schools. He learned his trade in Ohio and Kentucky. He enlisted when at the age of 17 years as a private in Company F, 11th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers in the fall of 1861 during the civil War. He was promoted to Corporal, but his modesty was such, that at his own request he resumed his place as a private in the ranks and rendered good service at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca and in other battles serving throughout the War and was honorably mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio in June, 1864. Besides railroading he prospected and mined in Arizona, State of Sonora in Mexico, Colorado, Black Hills, Dakota and on Snake River, Montana. He came to California to Los Angeles in October 1874 since which time he has followed his occupation as a Locomotive Engineer and as such before coming to California he was employed on the Mad River of Lake Erie R. R., the Cincinnati, Hamilton of Dayton R. R. and since then on nearly all the railroads of the states of Wyoming, Utah and California, chiefly the Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific RR’s in California and Arizona and chiefly in the latter named company for a quarter of a century or more (since 1874), serving faithfully at his post, amidst danger death and destruction saving many lives by this coolness courage and determination to die in the discharge of his duty rather than to desert his post. A true soldier in war and heroic in the time of peace, proving the truth that “Peace hath her victories no less renowned than War”. He was married May 14th, 1879 at Oakland California to Miss Kate Rigney, by whom he has had no less than thirteen children as many as there were original states in the Union, and as many as there were stars in the first American Flag made under the direction of Washington.
MASONIC RECORD:
He was “Initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason,” May 10th 1890, “Passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft” June 28th, 1890 and “Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason” August 9th, 1890 in “Oakland Lodge No. 188 of Free and Accepted Masons” of Oakland, California and of which he is still a member. He received the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry as follows. The 4th or Secret Master, 5 or Perfect Master, 6 or Intimate Secretary, 7 or Provost and Judge, 8 or Intendant of the Building, 9 Knight Elect of the Nine, 10 All, Elect of the Fifteen, 11 Sublime Knight Elect of the Twelve, 12 or Grand Master Architect, 13 or Royal Arch of Solomon, 14 or Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason or Perfect Elu, November 9th, 1896 at Oakland, California in “Oakland Lodge of Perfection No. 2,” of which he is still a member. The 15 or Knight of the East, 16 or Prince of Jerusalem, 17 or Knight of the East and West and the 18th or Knight Rose Croix, May 29, 1890, in “Gethsemane Chapter of Rose Croix No. 2” at Oakland, Cal. The 19 or Grand Pontiff. 20 or Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges, 21 or Nouchite, 22 or Prince of Lebanus, 23 or Chief of the Tabernacle, 24 or Prince of the Tabernacle, 25 or Knight of the Brazen Serpent, 26 or Prince of Mercy, 27 or Knight Commander of the Temple, 28 or Knight of the Sun, 29 or Grand Scottish Knight of St. Andrew and the 30 or Knight Kadosh, May 30, 1900 in De Molay council of Kadosh No. 2, at Oakland, Cal. The 31 or Inquisitor Commander and the 32 or Master of the Royal Secret. May 30, 1900 in Oakland Consistory No. 2 at Oakland, California of which bodies he is still a member. The Degrees from the 15 to 32 inclusive were conferred upon him by these bodies as an honorarium for his manly courage and devotion to duty in remaining at his post as a locomotive engineer in the midst of danger and fatal catastrophe in the overturning of his engine through faulty construction of the railroad to the Alameda Mole. He remained at his post at the risk of his life, in which he suffered bodily injury, but managed to prevent fatal disaster to hundreds of passengers on board of his train though his fireman was killed beneath the wrecked locomotive, which was an engine of death. This honorarium was well deserved and considerably bestowed by his Brethren. For the same reason as above given, he was elected an Honorary Member of the Masonic Veteran Association of the Pacific Coast on May 22nd 1900, as a mark of recognition of his brave and faithful devotion to duty, until death stared him in the face and he should fall a victim at his post and sacrificing his own life to save others.
They were married 12 Oct 1870 I am almost certain she was Clarence's mother.
But this is a good research lesson showing sometimes you are not always right and records can be very confusing.
The above was a place Clarence and his family lived at this address 1107 Mound St in Alameda, CA
The above was a place Clarence had robbed located at 318 Market St in San Francisco
Would it be cool if someone could figure out how to make Google Earth go back in time?
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