Biography - RICHARD D. FRANCIS

Richard D. Francis, one of the most successful and extensive horse breeders of Gillespie township, Macoupin County, located in section 23, where he owns no acres, was born on this farm November 27, 1858, and is a son of Charles and Pauline (Temple) Francis.

Charles Francis was born in Ireland in 1814, and came to America with his parents at the age of 18 years. They located at Alton, Illinois, and died there when Charles was still a youth. He was the youngest of four children and was left dependent upon his own resources. For a time after coming to Macoupin County he followed farming and then began the breeding of draft horses and mules. In 1858 he entered the present farm, on which he continued the raising of fine horses, became a man of large means and at the time of his death owned 320 acres of fine land. For many years he was prominent in the Masonic fraternity and his funeral was conducted with Masonic honors. In politics he was identified with the Democratic party. His religious connection was with the Protestant Episcopal Church. Charles Francis married Pauline Temple, who was born in Ohio and had come to Macoupin County to teach school. The two children of this union were: Rosa, wife of E. T. Rice, and Richard D., of this sketch.

This beautiful and well improved farm where Mr. Francis was born has always been his home, with the exception of seven years spent in Fredericktown, Madison County, Missouri, where he engaged in a meat business. In addition to carrying on large farming operations, Mr. Francis has devoted much attention to the breeding of fine stock, cattle and high grade horses. He is a partner with 15 other capitalists in a stock horse — the registered Percheron stallion "Baccarat III" No. 21069; and the great Hambletonian, "Joe Wilks," is owned individually by our subject.

On December 19, 1883, Mr. Francis was married to Emma Frey, who was born in Gillespie township, Macoupin County, May 3, 1866, and is a daughter of Abraham and Arminda (Grant) Frey, who were born in Leipsic, Germany, and are now residents of Madison County, Illinois. The one daughter of this marriage, Violet, an accomplished young lady, will graduate from the Gillespie High School in 1904.

Mr. Francis, like his father, is a Democrat, but beyond casting his vote takes no very active part in politics. Fraternally he belongs to the Modem Woodmen of America.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 391-392.