“Old Man” French Dead”
John French, an eccentric resident of Lincton mountain for the past third of a century, was found dead in his cabin a few days since by a party who happened to visit his home. French’s place was situated a few miles north of the tollgate on the old Lincton road, and had long been a noted camping place for the denizins of the Walla Walla valley during the hot season.
French was quite old and of an exceedingly erratic disposition. He made his living by selling feed and pasture to people traveling the Lincton road, but could not be depended on, as he would sell neither if he happened to be in a bad humor.
He was a bachelor and lived all alone and had evidently been dead for several days when found as the body was badly decomposed.
Elgin Recorder Friday March 11, 1904