The United French Organization comprises the living descendants of James Gentry French, 1855-1939, who had three wives and 17 children born over a 48-year span. His ancestry has been traced back to a Henry French, who dates back to the Revolutionary War.
"Gentry," as he was known, was descended from Henry's son William L. French (1795-1864).Gentry's wives had maiden names of Burgner, McCollum, and Shively. The Burgner (or Burgener) family has ancestry traced back to 1546 in Switzerland.
This branch of the Frenches has resided mainly in Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado (always tending westward) until World War II, when they became more widely dispersed.
We are having a hard time sorting out all the Frenches of Greene County, Tennesee during the 1800s, not knowing who is in our line and who is not. We also have no information as to the ancestry of Henry French, our most remote documented ancestor.
Any help along these lines would be appreciated, and we will be happy to provide information that we have to anyone interested.
Going a little further back, DNA analysis by National Geographic’s Genographic Project shows that our French line's Y chromosome (passed through the male line only) identifies the men as members of Haplogroup G, a lineage defined by a genetic marker M201. This Haplogroup is the final destination of a genetic journey begun some 60,000 years ago with an ancient Y chromosome marker called M168.
The very widely dispersed M168 marker can be traced to a single individual--“Eurasian Adam.” This African man, who lived as many as 79,000 years ago, is the common ancestor of every non-African person living today. His descendants migrated out of Africa and became the only lineage to survive away from humanity’s home continent.
An offshoot of the M168 population, M89, produced 90 to 95 percent of all non-Africans. It appeared 45,000 years ago in Northern Africa or the Middle East. From there this line scattered over most of the world, eventually even reaching the Americas.
An offshoot of M89 was the M201 group designated as Haplogroup G, whose descendants are rarely represented in population frequencies greater than a few percent. Genealogists believe this line of descent first appeared in northern India’s Indus valley, and subsequently dispersed during the past 10,000 to 20,000 years.
Currently little is known about Haplogroup G’s history. Learning more about such unusual lineages is a primary goal of the Genographic Project of National Geographic and IBM. Those men wanting to participate in the project can have their DNA analyzed (for $100) and receive information about their origins. Go to www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic for more on this subject.
In June 2008 the United French Organization members held its reunion at The Red Lion at the Park, Spokane, WA. The reunion was a great success, the hotel ideal, and both planning and execution by President Jack French and his daughter Jackie Runkel well done.
The reunion was honored by the attendance of an Iraq war veteran, Marcus Hellwege.
Kathy Smith and her sister Jane French-Sloan were elected President and Vice-President, respectively. Cyndie Reis was reelected as Secretary-Treasurer, and Katy Nazeck elected as Newsletter Editor. Attendees voted to hold the 2010 reunion in Lincoln, NE June 18-19, 2010. The host hotel is the Embassy Suites, only $129 a night with free made-to-order breakfast and a free cocktail or soft drink at the nightly cocktail party. Reserve before 1 May 402-473-4703 and say you are with the United French Organization.
A large number of family "books" are now available at www.marvinfrench.com. Click on the United French Organization link at the top of the home page to view them all.
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- James GENTRY French & Children (38 KB)
This group of picures dates from about 1920, and includes children of all three wives of Gentry.
- James Gentry French (1855-1939) (47 KB)
James Gentry French (1855-1939)
- Margret Amanda Burgner (1858 - 1897) (22 KB)
James GENTRY French's first wife
- United French Organization Logo (76 KB)
Logo designed by noted artist Ed French
- Louisa Jane McCollum (1861 - 1909) (499 KB)
James GENTRY French's second wife
- Claude Clan 2008 reunion (86 KB)
Claude French Clan, 2008 reunion in Spokane, WA
- Sadie Nancy Shively (1884 - 1957) (50 KB)
James GENTRY French's third wife
- Ray Howard Clan 2008 Reunion (116 KB)
Ray Howard's family, 2008 reunion in Spokane, WA
- First UFO Gathering, 1984 (536 KB)
The first gathering of the United French Organization, 1984
- Gilbert French Clan 1947 (63 KB)
Back: Marjorie (Leonard Clan), Gilbert, Rose, Margaret, Eleanor, Dorothy F., Virginia, Elby (Eddie in front)
Front: Lyle w/Judy, Swede Olson w/Ron, Vachel O., Leo w/Diann & Jim, Nancy Jean on end.
- Lu Etta Clan 1988 (100 KB)
LuEtta and Jerry with four Hellweges & three Rathjes
- Enos F. McCollum (1834 - 1926) (22 KB)
Louisa Jane McCollum's father, a Civil War veteran
- Gentry's Children (69 KB)
Gentry's children by three wives (Margaret, Louisa, and Sadie)
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