East Carroll-West Carroll County Louisiana Archives News.....Death of Judge C.A. DeFrance November 18, 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pauline Mobley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00028.html#0006760 January 8, 2010, 4:38 pm The Banner-Democrat November 18, 1893 St. Louis Republic November 8th,1893 Judge Charles A DeFrance, a well known attorney and highly respected resident of Kirkwood, died suddenly in the County at Clayton yesterday. He left Kirkwood on a Missouri Pacific train at 8 o'clock yesterday morning in company with Colonel Zach J. Mitchel, and went to the Union Depot, St. Louis, where they took a train to Clayton. He was attorney for Dr. Eugene Van Ness and others of Kirkwood to Clayton he complained of weakness and chilly sensations. He arrived in Clayton about 10'00, and a few minutes later started up to the Circuit Courthouse room, which is on the second floor of the Courthouse. When about half up the stairway he appeared to be stricken with parlysis and he avoided falling by holding to the side railing on the steps. Colonel Mitchell, who was with him assisted him into Prosecuting Attorney Mudd's office and onto a sofa. Dr. Van Ness of Kirkwood and Dr. E.S. Rouse of Clayton were near and were promptly called to attend him, and they did all in their power to give him relief, but to no avail. He was in great agony until 12:30, when death relieved him. The attending physicians assigned cerebral hemorrhage as he cause of death. Dr. J.W. Evans, his son-in-law with whom he lived in Kirkwood, was summoned to Clayton from his place of business with the Evans Bros., Tobacco and Warehouse Company in St. Louis and he arrived about 12 o'clock. The old gentleman spoke only one sentence after he was stricken on the stairway, and this was about one hour before he died, when he looked at Dr. Evans, his son-in-law: "My daughter!" In the afternoon the remains were taken by a wagon from Clayton to the home of his only daughter, wife of Dr. J.W. Evans, in Northwest Kirkwood. Judge Charles A. DeFrance was born at Port Gibson, Miss, in 1826. In 1867 he came to St. Louis, and resided here until 1879, when he moved to Kirkwood, where he resided until his death. He served a time in the Confederate Army and in the 60's was District Judge in Mississipi. He filled the position of Town Recorder in Kirkwood several years and was prominently identified with all movements for the welfare of the town. About three years ago he was enrolled in the Circuit Court at Clayton as a member of the bar and since that time has spent much of his time in the courts of St. Louis County. He was an uncompromising Democrat and a faithful and indefatigable worker in his party, serving as a member of the County Central Committee. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. Howard DeFrance Evans of Kirkwood, and one son, Wm. H. DeFrance who is an engineer on the Cotton Belt Railway and resides at Jonesboro, Ark. We can add to he above that Judge DeFrance resided in this parish for many years before and after the war. He was one of the foremost citizens both in the old parish of Carroll, and in the parish of East Carroll. He was a good lawyer; and, in all the relations of life, a kind and genial gentleman. In his general demeanor, he was exceptionally courteous and polite, and had a heart as tender as a woman's. He never was Judge in Mississippi, but was Judge of the parish of East Carroll. La. for several years, and filled the position creditably to himself, and with satisfaction to the people. He left many friends here, Those of them who survive will be sadly grieved to hear of his death. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/eastcarroll/newspapers/deathofj157gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb