Joseph Nathaniel French I (1888-1975) was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who worked as a draftsman and later as an architect with Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (b. October 24, 1888, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA - d. February 28, 1975, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, USA) Social Security Number 362094717
Parents:
Joseph Brown Morse French (1854-1928) and Erlenia H. M. Faulkner (1856-1939). Erlenia was born in Canada. Joseph worked as a tailor and pressman.
Birth:
He was born on October 24, 1888 in Boston.
Siblings:
Frances Gertrude French (1877-1878) who died of cholera; and Marion Ruth French (1887-after1900). By 1900 he had 4 siblings with just Marion living.
Boston:
In 1900 his father was working as a tailor and pressman.
Education:
He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1911.
First marriage:
He married Amie Gertrude Lathe (1885-1921) around 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Children:
Juanita Leslie French (1913-1978) who married Hugh Robert Murchie (1915-1978); and Christina Lathe French (1915- ) who married William Stuart Charles (1918-1980)
Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan:
He was put in charge of the last stages of construction on Henry Ford's Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan in 1913.
Widow:
His wife died on June 10, 1921. He wrote to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Association magazine: "I have met with the worst of sad blows and have not recovered from it and probably never will. My pal and wife died June tenth and the two kiddies and myself are trying to find a way to live without our teacher and guide."
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.:
Joseph worked for Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan, starting in 1914 as a draftsman then as an architect. While at Kahn he was chief architect for the Fisher Building in 1928. In 1930 he worked for the Russian government. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He worked on the design of the Chrysler plant near Kansas City. He retired in 1967.
Second marriage:
He married Yolanda Christina Erlina Tandberg (1902-2003) around 1920. Yolanda was the daughter of Thorvald Martin Tandberg I (1874-1970); and Alvilde Marie Naess (1875-1933) of Norway. Yolanda was 14 years younger than Joseph.
Children:
Carolyn Alvilde French (1927- ) who married Victor Louis Kochajda (1926- ) on April 28, 1945 in Fort Knox, Hardin, Kentucky; Natalie Joan French (1931- ) who married Anthony Mario Cangelosi (1928-1985) and after a divorce married George King Cheatham, Jr. (1928- ); Joseph Nathaniel French, Jr. (1932-2009) who studied Shakespearean Theatre in England and married Reba Louella Emerson (1941-2006); and Yolanda Erlenia French (1935-1976) who married Robert Charles Mills (1935-1986) and after a divorce married Edward Joseph McHugh on January 14, 1966, and after a divorce married David Peter Henning, Sr. (1932-2005) on August 05, 1971 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Yolanda and her son Bobby were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.
He raised family members when their mother died:
Sigrid Marie Andreassen (1905-1940) was married to Ralph Christian Andreas Tandberg (1901-1995). Sigrid died in 1940, and her children, Adelma and June lived with Joseph and Yolanda in Detroit, Michigan.
Death:
He died on February 28, 1975 in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. He was buried in Roseland Park Cemetery at 29001 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, Michigan.
Obituary:
Detroit Free Press on March 2, 1975: "Joseph N. French Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime be had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and, during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grand-children."
Funeral notices:
"Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. French was a member of William M. Perrett Lodge No. 524 F&AM and Detroit Commandery No. 1. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield. Private burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery."
A second one the following day read: "Joseph N. French, retired architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, retired architect, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, 14025 Hubbell at Grand River, Detroit. Private internment will follow. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his Livonia home. A 1911 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he moved to Detroit in 1913 to work as architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane, in Dearborn. He joined the Albert Kahn architectural Firm in 1914, and was a chief architect on the Fisher Building for the firm. During World War II he designed buildings and sites around the world for the U.S. armed services. He retired in 1967 after 52 years with Albert Kahn Associates. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Carolyn Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. Yolanda Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; a sister; 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Masonic memorial services under the auspices of Wm. M. Perrett Lodge No. 524, F&AM, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield."
Memories about Joseph French:
Clifford Milner wrote on May 27, 2006: Joe went to MIT. His training was more as a draftsman and he was Chief Draftsman at Kahn's and then I guess he ended up being an architect there. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1940 New York World's Fair. He also was involved with a big Chrysler plant near Kansas City. In the early 30's he was one of the architects that worked for the Russian government. When he came back, because of the depression, he was out of work and he and his family lived at our farm up in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Joe has two [relatives] who are architects. One is my son, the other is the son of Juanita or Kristina.
Research:
Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on May 13, 2006. Updated on February 4, 2011 with the number of siblings from the 1900 US census. Updated on June 8, 2013 with his quote concerning the death of his wife. Updated on July 11, 2015 with the text of his obituary from the Detroit Free Press.
.
Parents:
Joseph Brown Morse French (1854-1928) and Erlenia H. M. Faulkner (1856-1939). Erlenia was born in Canada. Joseph worked as a tailor and pressman.
Birth:
He was born on October 24, 1888 in Boston.
Siblings:
Frances Gertrude French (1877-1878) who died of cholera; and Marion Ruth French (1887-after1900). By 1900 he had 4 siblings with just Marion living.
Boston:
In 1900 his father was working as a tailor and pressman.
Education:
He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1911.
First marriage:
He married Amie Gertrude Lathe (1885-1921) around 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Children:
Juanita Leslie French (1913-1978) who married Hugh Robert Murchie (1915-1978); and Christina Lathe French (1915- ) who married William Stuart Charles (1918-1980)
Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan:
He was put in charge of the last stages of construction on Henry Ford's Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan in 1913.
Widow:
His wife died on June 10, 1921. He wrote to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Association magazine: "I have met with the worst of sad blows and have not recovered from it and probably never will. My pal and wife died June tenth and the two kiddies and myself are trying to find a way to live without our teacher and guide."
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.:
Joseph worked for Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan, starting in 1914 as a draftsman then as an architect. While at Kahn he was chief architect for the Fisher Building in 1928. In 1930 he worked for the Russian government. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He worked on the design of the Chrysler plant near Kansas City. He retired in 1967.
Second marriage:
He married Yolanda Christina Erlina Tandberg (1902-2003) around 1920. Yolanda was the daughter of Thorvald Martin Tandberg I (1874-1970); and Alvilde Marie Naess (1875-1933) of Norway. Yolanda was 14 years younger than Joseph.
Children:
Carolyn Alvilde French (1927- ) who married Victor Louis Kochajda (1926- ) on April 28, 1945 in Fort Knox, Hardin, Kentucky; Natalie Joan French (1931- ) who married Anthony Mario Cangelosi (1928-1985) and after a divorce married George King Cheatham, Jr. (1928- ); Joseph Nathaniel French, Jr. (1932-2009) who studied Shakespearean Theatre in England and married Reba Louella Emerson (1941-2006); and Yolanda Erlenia French (1935-1976) who married Robert Charles Mills (1935-1986) and after a divorce married Edward Joseph McHugh on January 14, 1966, and after a divorce married David Peter Henning, Sr. (1932-2005) on August 05, 1971 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Yolanda and her son Bobby were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.
He raised family members when their mother died:
Sigrid Marie Andreassen (1905-1940) was married to Ralph Christian Andreas Tandberg (1901-1995). Sigrid died in 1940, and her children, Adelma and June lived with Joseph and Yolanda in Detroit, Michigan.
Death:
He died on February 28, 1975 in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. He was buried in Roseland Park Cemetery at 29001 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, Michigan.
Obituary:
Detroit Free Press on March 2, 1975: "Joseph N. French Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime be had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and, during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grand-children."
Funeral notices:
"Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. French was a member of William M. Perrett Lodge No. 524 F&AM and Detroit Commandery No. 1. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield. Private burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery."
A second one the following day read: "Joseph N. French, retired architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, retired architect, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, 14025 Hubbell at Grand River, Detroit. Private internment will follow. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his Livonia home. A 1911 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he moved to Detroit in 1913 to work as architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane, in Dearborn. He joined the Albert Kahn architectural Firm in 1914, and was a chief architect on the Fisher Building for the firm. During World War II he designed buildings and sites around the world for the U.S. armed services. He retired in 1967 after 52 years with Albert Kahn Associates. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Carolyn Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. Yolanda Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; a sister; 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Masonic memorial services under the auspices of Wm. M. Perrett Lodge No. 524, F&AM, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield."
Memories about Joseph French:
Clifford Milner wrote on May 27, 2006: Joe went to MIT. His training was more as a draftsman and he was Chief Draftsman at Kahn's and then I guess he ended up being an architect there. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1940 New York World's Fair. He also was involved with a big Chrysler plant near Kansas City. In the early 30's he was one of the architects that worked for the Russian government. When he came back, because of the depression, he was out of work and he and his family lived at our farm up in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Joe has two [relatives] who are architects. One is my son, the other is the son of Juanita or Kristina.
Research:
Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on May 13, 2006. Updated on February 4, 2011 with the number of siblings from the 1900 US census. Updated on June 8, 2013 with his quote concerning the death of his wife. Updated on July 11, 2015 with the text of his obituary from the Detroit Free Press.
.
Joseph Nathaniel French I (1888-1975) was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who worked as a draftsman and later as an architect with Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (b. October 24, 1888, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA - d. February 28, 1975, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, USA) Social Security Number 362094717
Parents:
Joseph Brown Morse French (1854-1928) and Erlenia H. M. Faulkner (1856-1939). Erlenia was born in Canada. Joseph worked as a tailor and pressman.
Birth:
He was born on October 24, 1888 in Boston.
Siblings:
Frances Gertrude French (1877-1878) who died of cholera; and Marion Ruth French (1887-after1900). By 1900 he had 4 siblings with just Marion living.
Boston:
In 1900 his father was working as a tailor and pressman.
Education:
He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1911.
First marriage:
He married Amie Gertrude Lathe (1885-1921) around 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Children:
Juanita Leslie French (1913-1978) who married Hugh Robert Murchie (1915-1978); and Christina Lathe French (1915- ) who married William Stuart Charles (1918-1980)
Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan:
He was put in charge of the last stages of construction on Henry Ford's Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan in 1913.
Widow:
His wife died on June 10, 1921. He wrote to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Association magazine: "I have met with the worst of sad blows and have not recovered from it and probably never will. My pal and wife died June tenth and the two kiddies and myself are trying to find a way to live without our teacher and guide."
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.:
Joseph worked for Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan, starting in 1914 as a draftsman then as an architect. While at Kahn he was chief architect for the Fisher Building in 1928. In 1930 he worked for the Russian government. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He worked on the design of the Chrysler plant near Kansas City. He retired in 1967.
Second marriage:
He married Yolanda Christina Erlina Tandberg (1902-2003) around 1920. Yolanda was the daughter of Thorvald Martin Tandberg I (1874-1970); and Alvilde Marie Naess (1875-1933) of Norway. Yolanda was 14 years younger than Joseph.
Children:
Carolyn Alvilde French (1927- ) who married Victor Louis Kochajda (1926- ) on April 28, 1945 in Fort Knox, Hardin, Kentucky; Natalie Joan French (1931- ) who married Anthony Mario Cangelosi (1928-1985) and after a divorce married George King Cheatham, Jr. (1928- ); Joseph Nathaniel French, Jr. (1932-2009) who studied Shakespearean Theatre in England and married Reba Louella Emerson (1941-2006); and Yolanda Erlenia French (1935-1976) who married Robert Charles Mills (1935-1986) and after a divorce married Edward Joseph McHugh on January 14, 1966, and after a divorce married David Peter Henning, Sr. (1932-2005) on August 05, 1971 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Yolanda and her son Bobby were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.
He raised family members when their mother died:
Sigrid Marie Andreassen (1905-1940) was married to Ralph Christian Andreas Tandberg (1901-1995). Sigrid died in 1940, and her children, Adelma and June lived with Joseph and Yolanda in Detroit, Michigan.
Death:
He died on February 28, 1975 in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. He was buried in Roseland Park Cemetery at 29001 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, Michigan.
Obituary:
Detroit Free Press on March 2, 1975: "Joseph N. French Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime be had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and, during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grand-children."
Funeral notices:
"Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. French was a member of William M. Perrett Lodge No. 524 F&AM and Detroit Commandery No. 1. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield. Private burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery."
A second one the following day read: "Joseph N. French, retired architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, retired architect, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, 14025 Hubbell at Grand River, Detroit. Private internment will follow. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his Livonia home. A 1911 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he moved to Detroit in 1913 to work as architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane, in Dearborn. He joined the Albert Kahn architectural Firm in 1914, and was a chief architect on the Fisher Building for the firm. During World War II he designed buildings and sites around the world for the U.S. armed services. He retired in 1967 after 52 years with Albert Kahn Associates. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Carolyn Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. Yolanda Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; a sister; 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Masonic memorial services under the auspices of Wm. M. Perrett Lodge No. 524, F&AM, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield."
Memories about Joseph French:
Clifford Milner wrote on May 27, 2006: Joe went to MIT. His training was more as a draftsman and he was Chief Draftsman at Kahn's and then I guess he ended up being an architect there. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1940 New York World's Fair. He also was involved with a big Chrysler plant near Kansas City. In the early 30's he was one of the architects that worked for the Russian government. When he came back, because of the depression, he was out of work and he and his family lived at our farm up in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Joe has two [relatives] who are architects. One is my son, the other is the son of Juanita or Kristina.
Research:
Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on May 13, 2006. Updated on February 4, 2011 with the number of siblings from the 1900 US census. Updated on June 8, 2013 with his quote concerning the death of his wife. Updated on July 11, 2015 with the text of his obituary from the Detroit Free Press.
.
Parents:
Joseph Brown Morse French (1854-1928) and Erlenia H. M. Faulkner (1856-1939). Erlenia was born in Canada. Joseph worked as a tailor and pressman.
Birth:
He was born on October 24, 1888 in Boston.
Siblings:
Frances Gertrude French (1877-1878) who died of cholera; and Marion Ruth French (1887-after1900). By 1900 he had 4 siblings with just Marion living.
Boston:
In 1900 his father was working as a tailor and pressman.
Education:
He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1911.
First marriage:
He married Amie Gertrude Lathe (1885-1921) around 1912 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Children:
Juanita Leslie French (1913-1978) who married Hugh Robert Murchie (1915-1978); and Christina Lathe French (1915- ) who married William Stuart Charles (1918-1980)
Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan:
He was put in charge of the last stages of construction on Henry Ford's Fairlane Manor in Dearborn, Michigan in 1913.
Widow:
His wife died on June 10, 1921. He wrote to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Association magazine: "I have met with the worst of sad blows and have not recovered from it and probably never will. My pal and wife died June tenth and the two kiddies and myself are trying to find a way to live without our teacher and guide."
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.:
Joseph worked for Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan, starting in 1914 as a draftsman then as an architect. While at Kahn he was chief architect for the Fisher Building in 1928. In 1930 he worked for the Russian government. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He worked on the design of the Chrysler plant near Kansas City. He retired in 1967.
Second marriage:
He married Yolanda Christina Erlina Tandberg (1902-2003) around 1920. Yolanda was the daughter of Thorvald Martin Tandberg I (1874-1970); and Alvilde Marie Naess (1875-1933) of Norway. Yolanda was 14 years younger than Joseph.
Children:
Carolyn Alvilde French (1927- ) who married Victor Louis Kochajda (1926- ) on April 28, 1945 in Fort Knox, Hardin, Kentucky; Natalie Joan French (1931- ) who married Anthony Mario Cangelosi (1928-1985) and after a divorce married George King Cheatham, Jr. (1928- ); Joseph Nathaniel French, Jr. (1932-2009) who studied Shakespearean Theatre in England and married Reba Louella Emerson (1941-2006); and Yolanda Erlenia French (1935-1976) who married Robert Charles Mills (1935-1986) and after a divorce married Edward Joseph McHugh on January 14, 1966, and after a divorce married David Peter Henning, Sr. (1932-2005) on August 05, 1971 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Yolanda and her son Bobby were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.
He raised family members when their mother died:
Sigrid Marie Andreassen (1905-1940) was married to Ralph Christian Andreas Tandberg (1901-1995). Sigrid died in 1940, and her children, Adelma and June lived with Joseph and Yolanda in Detroit, Michigan.
Death:
He died on February 28, 1975 in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. He was buried in Roseland Park Cemetery at 29001 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, Michigan.
Obituary:
Detroit Free Press on March 2, 1975: "Joseph N. French Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime be had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and, during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grand-children."
Funeral notices:
"Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, a retired architect, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Memorial Church, 14025 Hubbell. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his home in Livonia. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he came to Detroit in 1913 to work as an architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane. He joined the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates in 1914 and retired from that company in 1967. In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building, taught methods of industrial construction in Russia and during World War II, designed installations for the Army and Navy throughout the world. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Victor Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. David Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; one sister; 22 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. French was a member of William M. Perrett Lodge No. 524 F&AM and Detroit Commandery No. 1. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield. Private burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery."
A second one the following day read: "Joseph N. French, retired architect. Services for Joseph Nathaniel French, retired architect, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, 14025 Hubbell at Grand River, Detroit. Private internment will follow. Mr. French, 86, died Friday in his Livonia home. A 1911 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he moved to Detroit in 1913 to work as architect on Henry Ford's home, Fairlane, in Dearborn. He joined the Albert Kahn architectural Firm in 1914, and was a chief architect on the Fisher Building for the firm. During World War II he designed buildings and sites around the world for the U.S. armed services. He retired in 1967 after 52 years with Albert Kahn Associates. Surviving are his wife, Yolanda C.; five daughters, Mrs. Juanita Murchie, Mrs. Christina Charles, Mrs. Carolyn Kochajda, Mrs. Natalie Cangelosi and Mrs. Yolanda Henning; a son, Dr. Joseph N.; a sister; 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Masonic memorial services under the auspices of Wm. M. Perrett Lodge No. 524, F&AM, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lambert Funeral Home, 15443 Greenfield."
Memories about Joseph French:
Clifford Milner wrote on May 27, 2006: Joe went to MIT. His training was more as a draftsman and he was Chief Draftsman at Kahn's and then I guess he ended up being an architect there. One of his projects was the steel work of the General Motors Futurama building at the 1940 New York World's Fair. He also was involved with a big Chrysler plant near Kansas City. In the early 30's he was one of the architects that worked for the Russian government. When he came back, because of the depression, he was out of work and he and his family lived at our farm up in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Joe has two [relatives] who are architects. One is my son, the other is the son of Juanita or Kristina.
Research:
Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on May 13, 2006. Updated on February 4, 2011 with the number of siblings from the 1900 US census. Updated on June 8, 2013 with his quote concerning the death of his wife. Updated on July 11, 2015 with the text of his obituary from the Detroit Free Press.
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