Master Surname Index



Alice French

Ancestry of
Alice French

(aka Octave Thanet)
Novelist and Short Story Writer


Who was Alice French (aka Octave Thanet)?

Alice French, who wrote under the pen name Octave Thanet, was an American novelist and short story writer born on March 19, 1850, in Andover, Massachusetts. She grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and attended several prestigious schools before returning to Iowa to teach.

In 1884, French began writing short stories, and her work quickly gained recognition for its realism and sympathetic portrayal of rural life in the Midwest. She published her first collection of short stories, "Knitters in the Sun," in 1887, and went on to write several more collections and novels over the course of her career.

French's stories often dealt with social issues such as poverty, racism, and gender inequality, and she was known for her ability to capture the voices and experiences of working-class people. Her work was widely read and admired, and she was considered one of the leading literary figures of her time.

In addition to her writing, French was an active member of the Women's Club movement, advocating for women's rights and social reform. She passed away on January 9, 1934, in Davenport, Iowa.


Some of the most recently added connections of famous kin for Alice French

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Charlie Munger

Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway

8th cousin 3 times removed
via Allerton

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Styles Bridges

63rd Governor of New Hampshire

9th cousin
via Samuel Morse

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James B. Conant

President of Harvard University

7th cousin 2 times removed
via George Morton

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George Herbert

8th Earl of Carnarvon
Owner, Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey)

8th cousin 4 times removed
via Robert Hicks

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George Herbert

8th Earl of Carnarvon
Owner, Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey)

9th cousin 4 times removed
via Jacob French

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William Henry Moore

Co-Founder, U.S. Steel and Nabisco

8th cousin
via Robert Hicks

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William Henry Moore

Co-Founder, U.S. Steel and Nabisco

9th cousin
via Jacob French

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Ali Wentworth

TV Actress and Comedienne

7th cousin 4 times removed
via George Morton

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Mary Winthrop Gooding

Prolific Mayflower Descendant

7th cousin 2 times removed
via George Morton

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Kristen Wiig

TV and Movie Actress

7th cousin 5 times removed
via George Morton

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Penn Jillette

Magician

6th cousin 5 times removed
via Gov. Thomas Mayhew

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James B. A. Robertson

4th Governor of Oklahoma

8th cousin 2 times removed
via Alexander Carpenter

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Stephen Kingsley

(c1597 - 1673)
Great Migration Immigrant 1636

6th great-grandfather

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John French

(c1610 - 1645/6)
Great Migration Immigrant 1637

6th great-granduncle
via William French

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William French

(c1604 - 1681)
Defence passenger 1635

6th great-grandfather

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Paul Walker

TV and Movie Actor

7th cousin 4 times removed
via Rev. John Lothrop

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Paul Walker

TV and Movie Actor

7th cousin 2 times removed
via William French

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Paul Walker

TV and Movie Actor

7th cousin 5 times removed
via George Watson

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Bill Gates

Founder of Microsoft

7th cousin 5 times removed
via George Morton

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Eva Marie Saint

TV and Movie Actress

8th cousin 2 times removed
via Alexander Carpenter

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Seth Low

Mayor of New York City
President of Columbia University

7th cousin
via Thomas Boreman Jr.

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Roger Nash Baldwin

Co-Founder of the ACLU

7th cousin 2 times removed
via George Morton

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George Winston

New Age Pianist

7th cousin 3 times removed
via Thomas Clark

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Tom Brokaw

TV Journalist and Author

7th cousin 3 times removed
via George Morton

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Maria Mitchell

Astronomer

5th cousin 1 time removed
via Phineas Pratt

View entire list of famous kin for Alice French

Please note: The ancestor reports on this website have been compiled from thousands of different sources, many over 100 years old. These sources are attached to each ancestor so that you can personally judge their reliability. As with any good genealogical research, if you discover a link to your own family tree, consider it a starting point for further research. It is always preferable to locate primary records where possible. FamousKin.com cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy and reliability of these sources.