History of the French Family (VI)

by Otto Ervy French

additions by Sylvia French Waack and RosaLee Groleau in italics

My sister, Nancy Anna French, worked as waitress in Hotel Bellmont in Parsons, KS, and met Mr. Henry Casper Risse of Carthage, Illinois.  He was working as a clerk in the Piffer Jewelry store.  They were united in marriage October 4, 1893 at our home on Gandy Avenue, Parsons, KS.  They lived with us a short time and we would go fishing in the large pond or lake back of the M., K.,& T. shops and skating there in the winter.  One night Nannie skated off into the water where the ice was thin, where the steam pipes from the shops emptied, and was wet to her waist.  Later they moved to El Reno, Oklahoma, and went into the jewelry business.  They had no children of their own.  After my sister Lillie’s death, they adopted Lillie’s baby, Martha Ellen Kamp, age 10 months.  This was March 12, 1921.

Nannie and Henry liked to fish and hunt and enjoyed life together for many years.  In 1928 or ’29 Henry bought a large stock of jewelry on time.  The depression of 1930 came on and the eastern firm foreclosed on his store and took everything except his work bench and tools.  His home was at 1008 West Wade Street, El Reno, OK.  Henry opened a watch repair shop in with a plumbing shop.  They never did recover from their loss.  Nannie died November 12, 1938 and was buried in the El Reno cemetery.  Henry C. Risse lived a few years longer.  He had a hernia operation and never recovered, died in the hospital June 14, 1944, and was also buried in the El Reno cemetery.

4.1 Marthellen (they dropped the “a” in her name and spelled as one word), their adopted daughter worked for the El Reno tag agent and was united in marriage to Mr. James W. Phillips of Atoka, Oklahoma, November 14, 1941 at Seminole, Oklahoma.  They settled in McAlester, OK, and were in the grocery business.  They have several children and now live in Oroville, California.  (See 12.4 on page 12)  Marthellen died 6-10-96

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Contents: History of the French Family (Contents)

Transcribed from History of the French Family.