George W. French Jr. was born in 1847, to George W. French (1817–1875) and Mary A. (Tapely) French (1818-1896) in Danvers, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com Massachusetts U.S. Town and Vital Records). He worked as a shoe salesman, and was a member of the Amity Masonic Lodge from 1870-1928 (Ancestry.com Massachusetts U.S. Mason Membership Cards). On November 6, 1871, he married Clara H. Mudge (1847-1933) (Ancestry.com Massachusetts U.S. Marriage Records). They had 5 children: Helen M. (1880-1946); George W. (1887-1963); Ernest W. (1872-1938); Arthur T. (1874-1948); and Clara M. (1875-1949). George W. French Jr. died in 1928, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery in Danvers, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com. U.S. Find a Grave Index).

Clara H. (Mudge) French was born on September 22, 1847, to Augustus Mudge (1820-1904) and Lucy Ann (Wentworth) Mudge (1821-1900) in Danvers, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com Massachusetts U.S. Town and Vital Records). She was one of eight children, with several of her siblings only living to ages one or two. The siblings who survived to adulthood were Pamelia J. Colcord (Mudge) (1849-1942), Lucius A. Mudge (1952-1932) and Mary B. Sanborn (Mudge) (1860-1942) (Ancestry.com U.S. Find a Grave Index). Clara was a teacher, graduating from Mount Holyoke Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1868 (Ancestry.com U.S. School Catalogs). During her time at school, she wrote many letters to her parents, siblings, cousins and friends about her time at Mount Holyoke. She also wrote many personal reflections about various topics. She died in 1933, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery in Danvers, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com U.S. Find a Grave Index).

Augustus Mudge was born August 21, 1820, to Amos Mudge (1782-1853) and Sarah (Wilson) Mudge (1782-1856) in Danvers, Massachusetts. (Long). He was very involved in the Danvers community during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in many positions: superintendent of the Danvers Sunday School; shoe manufacturer for E. &amp A. Mudge and Co.; served on the Danvers School Board; president of the Danvers Savings Bank; trustee of the Danvers Hospital; president of the Essex Congregational Club; and member of the Peabody Library Committee. He was also a parishioner of the Maple Street Church (Allen, p. 32-38). Augustus was a direct descendant of Simon Mudge (1748-1799) who served as a soldier in the Massachusetts Militia during the Revolutionary War. Simon served in Steven Wilkins Company, Colonel Wiggleworth’s Regiment; in Samuel Flint’s Company, J. Pickering’s Regiment, and with the Danvers Company on the Canadian Expedition to Ticonderoga (Ancestry.com U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications). Augustus died in 1904, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery in Danvers, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com Find a Grave Index).