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.
Recently we have found Henry's father, George French Sr, and grandfather John French (b. 1705). John was our immigrant ancestor, arriving in Pennsylvania in 1728, almost certainly from England. We would greatly welcome any assistance in finding out more about John and his antecedents.
"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.
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.
The current UFO president is Robin Schroder, daughter of Warren French and grandaughter of Claude French. She is planning a UFO reunion in Grant's Pass, OR in the summer of 2012. Robin's e-mail address is rrschroder@msn.com.
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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