Michael France was born on October 6, 1776, in Pennsylvania, his father, John France, was 26 and his mother, Magdalehah Hofstetter, was 35. He married Rebecca Henry on February 5, 1798, in Franklin, Virginia.  Michael signed his marriage bond in 1798 with an X which indicates that he did not know how to write and probably could not read.

Michael France served in the War of 1812, a conflict that began on June 18, 1812, between the United States and Great Britain. During this war, he enlisted as a private in a mounted company commanded by Captain Robert Haines, part of an Ohio militia battalion under the leadership of Major Isaiah Franklin and Colonel William Lindsey. In July 1813, at approximately 36 years of age, Michael volunteered for service in Clermont County, Ohio, where he was already an established resident. His unit, composed of mounted militia, was organized for rapid movement and frontier defense, reflecting the urgent need to protect settlements and respond quickly to potential threats in the Ohio Valley region. These companies were commonly deployed for patrols, scouting missions, and rapid-response operations across the Ohio frontier, particularly in areas vulnerable to conflict with British-allied Native forces. Historical accounts of Haines’ company note that it was mobilized “against the Indians.”

Although his official term of service was set for 90 days, Michael France served a shorter active period of fourteen days before receiving an honorable discharge in August 1813. Such abbreviated service was not uncommon in militia units during the war, as companies were frequently called up for specific emergencies or short-term assignments and then released once the immediate threat had passed. His participation, though brief, placed him among the many citizen-soldiers who contributed to the defense of Ohio during the War of 1812.

Michael and Magdalehah had nine children in 28 years. He was a farmer. He died on November 1, 1867, in Ipava, Illinois, at the impressive age of 91. He is buried at the Ipava Cemetery in Fulton County, Illinois.