William H. Francis, who has been identified prominently with the lumber interests of the Miami Valley for many years, has been a resident of Troy since 1889 and during this period has taken an active and important part in the civic, business and social activities of the city. The senior member of the big lumber concern of Francis & Montross was born on a farm in Madison township, Butler county, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Mariah (Young) Francis, a grandson of George H. Francis, a native of Pennsylvania, who fought as a lieutenant in the First Pennsylvania Regiment during the Revolutionary war, and a great-grandson of Jacob Francis. Jacob Francis, the father of William H., was born in Pennsylvania, and as a youth came to Butler county, Ohio, whence he enlisted for service in the American Army during the War of 1812. He passed the greater portion of his active career in agricultural pursuits and was a man of standing in his community, where he was greatly respected. Mr. Francis married Mariah, daughter of John and Rebecca (Britton) Young, the Youngs having come to Ohio from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Francis there were born the following children: Lewis; Mariah; Joseph and Daniel, who served as Union soldiers during the Civil war; William; Rebecca; Elizabeth, who married George Hamilton; and Margaret, who married John Mount. A half-brother of William H. Francis, John Francis, also served in the Union Army during the war between the North and South. William H. Francis received his education in the country schools of Butler county and at the normal school at Lebanon, and, being disinclined to follow an agricultural career, adopted the vocation of teaching school. This he followed for five years, leaving that occupation when he recognized the opportunities presented in the lumber business. He entered this business at Arcanum, Ohio, in partnership with his brother, Daniel, as Francis Brothers, and when Daniel retired from the firm William H. Francis became identified with the Rosser interests, represented by W. F. Rosser. The Rossers and Mr. Francis now control five large lumber yards in the vicinity of Arcanum. Mr. Francis came to Troy in 1889, and, independently of his other interests, purchased the lumber business of A. T. Jaques and William Peter, who had carried on this enterprise at Troy for a number of years. Recently F. C. Montross, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work, became associated with Mr. Francis in the formation of the firm of Francis & Montross, which is now one of the biggest industries of its line at Troy and the vicinity. In addition to having been prominent in the business and social life of Troy, Mr. Francis has been active in civic affairs, having served on the board of education and as a member of the city council. He is a director in the Troy National Bank and has been a member of the board of stewards of the Methodist church for many years. He married Ellen, daughter of Anuel Gifford, of Preble county, Ohio. Mrs. Francis, who died in 1909, was active for many years in the religious life of Troy, and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. There were two children: Jesse B., who after a successful career as a practicing physician of Troy entered the medical corps of the United States Army and received a commission as first lieutenant; and Opal, who resides with her father.