farmer and dairyman, Jefferson Township, was born in Craig Township December 21, 1835, and received a good common school education. He parents, Perry F. and Louisa (Diserens) Dupraz, were born in Switzerland. They came to this county in an early day, and followed farming for a livelihood, the father dying in 1838, the mother in 1863. At the age of fifteen Francis P. came to Vevay to learn the carpenter's trade, and in 1852 he went on the river as pilot, continuing in that work up to 1867. He then established a wharf-boat at the second landing, at which he prospered up to 1872, in which year he moved on the farm where he now resides. May 7, 1863, he was married to Miss Julia L. Dumont, who was born January 14, 1843, and they have had eight children born to them: Joseph M., July 3, 1864, died February 1, 1873; Rudolph M., September 3, 1870; Isabelle D., February 21, 1873; Sidney M., May 3, 1875; Francis P., February 9, 1877; Harry B., March 3, 1880; Jennie M., December 8, 1882; Charles H., February 5, 1885, dued in infancy. Mr. Dupraz is a member of Switzerland Lodge No. 122, F. & A.M.; Phoenix Lodge No. 182, I.O.O.F.; 'Naomi Encampment No. 13, I.O.O.F., and the Rebecca Degree Lodge. He has been in the Masonic insurance from its infancy, and began paying upon the eighth death. He has been a member of Phoenix Lodge for twenty-eight years, and held every office in the same except treasurer's. He has been a Mason for twenty-four years, and is presiding officer now. He and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Dupraz's father, Abram B. Dumont, was born in New Brunswick, N.J., September 2, 1789; her mother, Isabella R. (Todd) Dumont, was born in Lebanon, Ohio, November 24, 1804. They were married in December, 1820, and reared ten children. They moved to this county in 1814, and here Mrs. D. died February 2, 1879. Her grandparents, Owen and Jane (Paxton) Todd, moved to this county in 1816. Owen Todd, at the age of fourteen, acted as a guide to Gen. Washington on his retreat from Valley Forge, for which, at the instance of Washington, David Todd, his father, presented him a horse, which he rode to Kentucky, and kept as a war-horse. He was the youngest son, and remained with his father till his death December 6, 1817, at the age of fifty-five years.
Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell