Chamberlain, Charles Lester, 1885-1918

CHAMBERLAIN, TEMPLE, WILEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/30/2012 at 11:39:23

Obituary dated June 7, 1918

CHARLES L. CHAMBERLAIN

Charles Lester Chamberlain was born at Montezuma, Iowa, Poweshiek county November 9, 1885, and died May 24, 1918, at the age of 32 years, 6-1/2 months, near Mexicali, Old Mexico. He was the second of five children born to J.M. and S.E. Chamberlain. He was of an ambitious nature and ready to lend a helping hand to those that needed his help. He attended the Montezuma public schools until he was 15 years old, when he moved with his parents to a farm near Grinnell, Iowa, where he made his home until almost 9 years ago. On June 28, 1909, he started west to the exposition at Seattle, Washington. On arriving there he admired the country so much that he continued his stay in the west, taking up railroad work as his occupation, along the Southern Pacific railroad. It was while performing his duties in this capacity that he met with the fatal accident that caused his death, which was presumed to have been instantaneous.

By his industrious habits he had acquired a good home for himself near San Gabriel, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. He was preceded in death by his father, and leaves to mourn his loss his mother, Sarah E. Chamberlain, Sylvia A. Temple and two children, also of Grinnell, Iowa, William L. Chamberlain, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Lawrence and Clarence Chamberlain, of Grinnell, Iowa.

The body was brought here for burial. The funeral was held Saturday at the home of his mother near Blue Point at 1:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Eli Gregson. The body was taken to Montezuma for burial.

W.L. Chamberlain, a brother, came from Marshalltown to be present at the funeral. Mrs. Mattie Wiley, a sister of the deceased man's mother, came for the same reason and both stayed for a few days' visit.