What's New

Photo of the Month

Biographies

Reunions

Interconnectedness

Honor Roll

In Lasting Memory

In the News

Our Mission and Values

Annual Review 2011

Favorite Links

Contact Us

Alice Reamey (Hayden) French was born in 1870 in Columbus, Franklin County, OH, the daughter of William B. and Matilda (Langdon) Hayden. 

At the age of 21, Alice married 27-year-old Raymond T. French (1864-1934), the son of Carlos and Julia Hubgbell (Thompson) French. The wedding took place at St. James's in Westminster, London, England on Oct. 1, 1891, with the nuptials reported more than two weeks later in the Oct. 17, 1891 edition of the New York Times. 

Raymond's father, Carlos French (1835-1903) was a manufacturer, legislator and board director in Seymour, New Haven County, CT. He served as president of the Fowler Nail Company and was a director of the Second National Bank of New Haven, the Colonial Trust Company of Waterbury and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. He also served as a member if the 50th Congress of the Connecticut Legislature. So it was into this environment that Raymond was born.

Alice and Raymond made their home in Seymour, CT and had three sons -- Carlos Hayden French, Raymond Langdon French and William Gordon French. 

Raymond  was an 1887 graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University. A brief biographical profile of him was published in the 1913 book, Biographical Record of the Class of 1887, Sheffield Scientific School, of Yale University. Among other highlights, the profile said he had "made three trips to Europe, is a Democrat, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church."

He also was a member of the prestigious private Manhattan Club, located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in New York. It was considered "the largest and most powerful, social, Democratic club in New York," said the book Club Men of New York. "The stated object is to advance Democratic principles, promote social intercourse among its members, and provide them with the conveniences of a club house... They occupy a magnificent house." [The building is seen at left, circa 1893.]

In 1894, Raymond was named president of the Arethusa Spring Water Company in Seymour. Their home was at 94 Washington Avenue in Seymour. He also was a member of the Quinnipiack and Graduates Clubs of New Haven, the Megantic Fish and Game club of Maine, the Sons of the American Revolution and Red Men. 

During the decade between 1910 and 1920, the Frenches separated. The 1920 census shows Alice making her home with sons Raymond and William on West 98th Street in Manhattan. The census taker recorded Alice as widowed when in fact she was not. Son Raymond, age 21, is listed as a "salesman - automobiles." At the same time, Raymond T. maintained his home in Seymour, with son William sharing time there as a residence. Also in the Seymour household in 1920 were servants Delia Murphy and Nina Halentia. The census taker marked the 55-year-old Raymond T. as divorced and without an occupation.

Alice spent her final years in Catskill, Greene County, NY. 

She passed away on July 30, 1923, at the home of her brother William "Langdon" Hayden in Alexandria Bay, NY. She was age 53. Following a funeral at her mother's home, led by Rev. Dr. S. DeLancey Townsend, of All Angels' Episcopal Church, her remains were laid to rest in the prominent family mausoleum at Kensico Cemetery near White Plains, seen here. 

[Note -- a distant cousin buried at Kensico was Michael H. Liady, husband of Helen Purinton, in 1909.]

Raymond passed away in Seymour on Feb. 5, 1934. The funeral was held at the family residence, followed by burial in the French family plot in Union Cemetery in Seymour. 

~ Son Carlos Hayden French ~

Son Carlos Hayden French (1892-1962) was born on July 25, 1892. In his youth, he attended Cheshire Academy, Phillips Andover Academy and Hamilton College. Then, during World War I, he enlisted in September 1917 in the 151st Depot Brigade, Camp Devens. he was promoted to sergeant and mess sergeant and then in September 1918 was named regimental supply sergeant for the 73rd Infantry, 12th Division. He was discharged from the Army on Jan. 17, 1919. Summaries of his war record were published in separate reports by Phillips Academy and Hamilton College.

Carlos married Dorothy Berg. They had a son and two daughters.

Said the New York Times, "He was with the Seymour Products Company of Seymour before he became manager of the Fowler and Union Horse Nail Company of Buffalo, N.Y., in 1934. He moved to West Hartford when his company was merged with Capewell [Manufacturing Company] in 1936." He then served as vice president with Capewell from 1936 to 1943. 

The day after Christmas 1946, Carlos was named in a legal advertisement printed in the Catskill Examiner-Recorder as an heir-at-law of his late uncle, Cotton Allen Hayden. At the time, his address was given as 42 Westwood Road, West Hartford, CT, and he would have been age 54. 

Carlos passed away in a convalescent home in Hartford at the age of 69 on June 13, 1962. He was survived by eight grandchildren.

~ Son Raymond Langdon French ~

Son Raymond Langdon French (1898- ? ) was born on Aug. 11, 1898. He married Gertrude (?) in about 1921, when he was age 23 and she 29. They had three known children -- Marjorie French, Jean French and Gloria Frances Browning Cain. 

When the federal census was taken, the Frenches made their home on Ocean Drive in Stamford, Fairfield County, CT. Raymond's occupation was listed as an automobile dealer.

On Dec. 20, 1939, the New York Times printed a photo of daughter Gloria to illustrate a story about her introduction to society luncheon at Sherry's Restaurant. At the time, the family made its home at 910 Park Avenue, New York. 

The day after Christmas 1946, Raymond was named in a legal advertisement printed in the Catskill Examiner-Recorder as an heir-at-law of his late uncle, Cotton Allen Hayden. At the time, his address was given as Shippan Point, Stamford, CT, and he would have been age 48. Houses above the Shippan Point coastline are seen at right.

• Daughter Gloria Frances French ( ? - ? ) was married twice, first to William Hull Browning 2d (1918-2005), and second to Lieut. Comdr. William C. Cain ( ? - ? ). 
  
  On Aug. 25, 1940, the Times carried a prominent article about Gloria's wedding to William, the son of William C. and Elizabeth (Miner) Browning of Ridgefield, CT. (There is no known connection between our clan and Elizabeth.) The nuptials were held at St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church in Stamford. Said the Times, "The bride attended Miss Hewitt's Classes in New York and Miss Porter's School, Farmington, Conn. Mr. Browning is a graduate of the Middlesex School and has studied also at Harvard University. He is a member of the Squadron A Association and the Apawamis Club of Rye, N.Y." Gloria and William had one daughter, Deborah Mykolyk. They are thought to have resided in Manhattan and Pound Ridge, NY. During World War II, William served as an ambulance driver with the American Field Service in the African and Italian theatres of war. He received the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for bravery and meritorious civil service. 
  
  After the war, said a newspaper, William became an "international businessman ... [who] was associated with Kerby Saunders in Manhattan, and with two associates he formed the corporation Geodyne. Both companies were very involved in Pakistan and the Middle East." Gloria and William divorced after only four years of marriage, in 1944. He married again twice, and had more children. He suffered a "massive stroke" while in London en route to Jordan. He died at the age of 77 on New Year's Day 2005. 
  
  In March 1946, after the war's end, she married Lieut. Comdr. Cain, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Cain of Babylon, NY. They were wed at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Up to the time of the wedding, Charles had served for five years with the Coast Guard, having received his education at Brooklyn Polytechnic Preparatory School. They had at least two children, Langdon French Cain and Wendy Cain. 
  
  In April 1959, the New York Times reported that William had been named vice president for the realty development company Gulf States Land & Industries, Inc., in New Orleans, a subsidiary of Webb & Knapp, Inc. Said the Times, "He has been industrial and commercial director since January, 1958."
  
  Son Langdon French Cain, an automobile restorer, was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He died in 1998 at the age of 50, having lived in New Orleans for 32 years.

~ Son William Gordon French ~

Son William Gordon French (1900-1923) was born in Seymour on May 29, 1900. He attended Amherst College from 1919 to 1921, following preparatory school education at Cheshire and Seymour High Schools. 

William was married to (?) and had one daughter, Julia Sylvia French.

Sadly, he passed away in New York City at the age of 23, on Jan. 28, 1923. 

His widow lived for years afterward on Cole Hill Road, R.F.D., Morristown, NJ. 

The day after Christmas 1946, daughter Julia was named in a legal advertisement printed in the Catskill Examiner-Recorder as an heir-at-law of her late grand-uncle, Cotton Allen Hayden. At the time, her married name and address were unknown. She was named in the ad in care of Mrs. William Gordon French, Cole Hill Road, R.F.D., Morristown.

A short profile of William was printed in the Amherst College Biographical Review, 1963.