From HISTORY OF OHIO AND DEARBORN COUNTIES INDIANA, 1885:
"Capt. John I. French, of Rising Sun, died in that village in 1874, at the
ripe old age of four score and six years less four months. In 1817 he
removed from New York State, and settled on the ridge near Lawrenceburgh, and
in 1830 he moved to what is now Ohio County. He was a soldier of the war of
1812. In 1870 it was sated that he was the oldest Mason in the State, having
been conected with the order sixty-one years. He was made a Mason in New
York City."
"Pike, the western township of Ohio County, lies between Laughery Creek on
the north, and Switzerland County on the south, and between Cass and Union
Townships on the east, and Ripley and Switzerland Counties on the west."
"Other pioneers of the township, who had located here between sixty and
seventy years ago, can be recalled George French and family (Pennsylvanians,
.......... These men were all in the strictest sense pioneers, clearing up
and improving farms, and otherwise identified in the township's history."
"In the early settlement in the sourther part of the township, a class of
Methodists was accustomed to worship at hte residence of George French, who
was a class leader."
The Ohio County Historical Society should have a copy.
ohiocohist(a)seidata.com or 812 438-4915
The Indiana State Library (genealogy room) also has a copy.
John S. Dorrell
Indianapolis