On This Date in Minnesota History: December 17

December 17, 1908 – After finishing an impassioned plea in the trial of a case in district court in Albert Lea this afternoon, attorney Lafayette French of Austin, Minn., was stricken with a stroke. His surgeon diagnosed the case as cerebral hemorrhage and the sufferer is in critical condition.

Freeborn County Courthouse, Albert Lea, Minn.¹

French has long been recognized as one of the leading attorneys of the state. He enjoys a very large practice and has been in Albert Lea often trying important litigation. He was removed to his home in Austin.
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French never fully recovered from his first stroke, but he was able to continue do some legal work. He died on October 30, 1912 after a second stroke.

Lafayette French²

French was born Nov. 19, 1848, on a farm near Loraine Township, OH. When he was five years old, his father died and his mother died seven years later, leaving the 12-year-old practically alone. He came directly to Austin, Minn., and entered the employ of Page & Wheeler, a law firm. On Sept. 28, 1871, he was admitted to practice. French was county attorney in 1874, and was mayor of Austin in 1885, 1886 and 1887, and president of the Minnesota State Bar Assn in 1909. He had practiced in United States district courts and appeared before the United States Supreme Court at Washington in the famous Emmons station case ten years ago. He was a Mason and Knight Templar.

French was survived by his wife Mary Vine Richards; Maurine French Varco, Fairview, Mont.; Lafayette French, Jr., and Inez, who live at home.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Lawyer Stricken At Close of Plea. Lafayette French of Austin in a Critical Condition at Albert Lea.”; Dec. 18, 1908; p. 4.

Mower County Transcript; “Lafayette French Stricken.”; October 30, 1912; p. 3.

The Duluth Herald; Nov. 1, 1912; p. 18.

¹http://courthousehistory.com/images/gallery/Minnesota/Freeborn/Albert%20Lea%20-%20Old%20%20B_large.jpg

²http://www.ci.austin.mn.us/wp-content/gallery/past-mayor-pictures/7_lafayette_french.jpg

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