Alpheus R. French

Name: Alpheus R. French Company: Field & Staff Officers Resigned.
Birth Date: 1808 Place: New York	Mustered In Date: March 24, 1862 Rank: Adjutant Age: 53-54 Residence prior to military service in the 5th Minnesota: New York; Zanesville, Ohio; St. Anthony Falls, Hennepin County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service in the 5th Minnesota: U.S. Army
Death Date: Unknown Place: Unknown Burial: Unknown	Mustered Out Date: March 19, 1863 Rank: Adjutant Age: 54-55

Alpheus R. French Biography and Civil War Narrative

Before the Civil War, Alpheus R. French (born 1808 in New York) served in the U.S. Army. On November 29, 1836 at Fort Snelling (Iowa Territory), he married Mary Ann Henry, born 1818 in Pennsylvania, in the quarter of Captain Barker. After his discharge from the U.S. service, Alpheus and Mary moved to Zanesville, Ohio. While in Zanesville, two sons were born: Edward Robert (born January 24, 1838) and Alpheus Perry (born February 2, 1840). Then the family returned to Minnesota Territory and settled in Hennepin County at St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River, in the vicinity of the future city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Additional children were born to Alpheus R. and Mary French in Minnesota: Elizabeth Ann (born December 24, 1844; died October 14, 1850 in Minnesota), Minerva (born 1846), and Horace (born 1848).

In 1849, Alpheus R. French was a charter member of St. Paul's Sons of Temperence Lodge. On September 2, 1850, Alpheus R. French was one of three persons elected (without opposition) to serve as Secretary of Roads for the city of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Alpheus R. French joined the 5th Minnesota Regiment to serve as its Adjutant on March 24, 1862. His first son Edward R. French (age 24) had enlisted in Company I of the same regiment five days earlier. A month later, his second son Alpheus Perry French (age 22) enlisted in Company I as well. Alpheus P. was made 2nd Lieutenant, and was eventually promoted to Captain of Company I. Edward was transfered to Company G on February 24, 1863, and was promoted to Corporal. Alpheus R. served as Adjutant until he resigned and was mustered out on March 19, 1863. The Adjutant position was then filled by Thomas P. Gere.

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