DeFrance, Dr. Charles Chester

DAVIS, DEFRANCE

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 12/8/2003 at 21:48:13

Fairfield Tribune
Wednesday July 26, 1899
Page 2 column 4

FROZEN TO DEATH IN ALASKA. Dr. Charles Chester DEFRANCE, for several years a prominent physician of East Des Moines, was frozen to death in Alaska on May 3d. Miss. Jennie DEFRANCE, his sister, who lives at 415 Des Moines Street, received a letter telling of the death Saturday..."We buried the doctor on the ice the next morning and pushed on; under the circumstances that was the only thing we could do." He is survived by his father, Caldwell DEFRANCE of Des Moines, one brother, Albert DEFRANCE of Ottumwa, and three sisters, Mrs. Belle DAVIS, Miss. Jennie DEFRANCE and Miss Lizzie DEFRANCE, of Des Moines. The doctor was born and lived here until about fourteen years ago. His father, Caldwell DEFRANCE, owned a farm near Perlee, where the family lived until the town of Perlee was started, when they moved there and made their home until leaving the county....