FRENCH, John William ¹

   Other names for John were "Peter," Pedro and Pete.

  General Notes:

John William was given the nickname of Pedro by Mexican workers and he was called Peter or Pete for short. His boss and then partner, Hugh J. Glenn was murdered a few days after he married his daughter Ella. Hugh Glenn left him a great deal of debt. He and his wife Ella divorced in 1891. He was a millionaire. His life ended prematurely when he was shot in the back by a "nester" in 1897. (CL-509, E)

The ranch hand that killled him was Ed Oliver. He claimed self defense and although there were witnesses who said French was unarmed, somehow Ed was acquitted of murder. There was a rumor that some ranchers and business men conspired to have him killed. After his death, his heirs basically frittered away all his money and his estate was liquidated to pay for his debts.


¹

John married Ella G. GLENN, daughter of Hugh J. GLENN and Nancy ABERNATHY, in 1883.¹ (Ella G. GLENN was born in , , Missouri, USA and died after 1900 of Colusa, CA.)