Chalaron, Maj. Frank J., (MD)

Submitted by Mike Miller

Chalaron, Maj. Frank J., M. D., well-known, physician and surgeon of New Orleans, was born Aug. 22, 1869, on White Hall plantation, Jefferson parish, La. His parents were Col. Joseph Adolphe and Marie (Labarre) Chalaron, both of whom were natives of Louisiana. The former was born Jan. 31, 1836, and died in 1909; the latter born Jan. 31, 1845, and died in 1890. Dr. Chalaron's maternal great-grandfather, Francois Pascalis de Labarre, also a Louisianian, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. James Chalaron, the paternal grandfather, was born in Voiron, France, and in 1815 came to the New World, first going to Mexico, whence, after several years, he came to New Orleans and engaged in the coffee trade. Col. Joseph Adolphe Chalaron, father of Dr. Chalaron, began commercial life as clerk in a ship chandlery store. His military services in the Confederate cause from 1861 to 1865 were noteworthy and brilliant. He enlisted as junior lieutenant of the 5th company, Washington artillery, and with that immortal command as part of the Army of Tennessee took part in many great battles of the Civil war. It acquired special distinction at Shiloh, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resacca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Spanish Fort and Mobile Bay. He was at Meridian, Miss., at the time of the surrender, and was then senior first lieutenant, often having been in command of the company; and at one time was chief of artillery for Gen. Bates' division. After the war, from 1866 to 1876, he engaged in cotton planting, and next established himself in the insurance business. He was president of the Hope Insurance Co., and after the liquidation of that corporation was one of the founders and organizers of Confederate Memorial hall, and was its custodian from the date of its opening until his death in 1909. He was president of the Confederate board of pensions for the state of Louisiana. Col. Chalaron was one of the organizers of the United Confederate Veterans, and in connection with this work obtained the title by which he was generally known. Dr. Frank J. Chalaron acquired his early education in the public schools of New Orleans, and in 1887 graduated in the high school of the University of Louisiana. He then entered the academic department of the Tulane university, and in 1888 matriculated in the medical department, from which he received the degree of M. D., April 6, 1892. In May of the same year he became connected with the Louisiana state board of health as marine sanitary inspector of ships plying between New Orleans and Central American ports. In 1893 he was stationed at Bluefields, Nicaragua, as quarantine inspector for the Louisiana state board of health; and in 1897 he was appointed inspector at Port Limon, Costa Rica, and Utilla, Ceiba, Honduras. Returning to New Orleans, the same year, Dr. Chalaron was appointed on the staff of the United States Marine hospital service as inspector of shipping for the port of New Orleans, during the yellow fever epidemic of that year. In 1899 he had charge of the Marine hospital office in the New Orleans custom house, and in 1904 Pres. Roosevelt appointed him United States pension examiner, in which capacity he is now acting. He is also surgeon of Camp No. 2, Army of Tennessee, United Confederate Veterans. Dr. Chalaron has an active military record. He joined the 4th battalion, Louisiana state national guard, in 1892, as a private, and later became its hospital steward. In 1896 he was made battalion surgeon with the rank of captain. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898 Dr. Chalaron took part in the organization of the 2d Louisiana volunteer infantry, and became captain and first assistant surgeon, stationed at New Orleans, Mobile and Miami ; at the last named place being in charge of the typhoid fever patients in the division hospital. He then went to Jacksonville, and there was promoted to major and regimental surgeon. The regiment left Jacksonville for Savannah, Ga., and on Christmas eve, 1898, sailed for Havana, where, under Gen, Fitzhugh Lee, it was in the vanguard when the army of occupation marched into Havana. March 23, 1899, Dr. Chalaron returned to Savannah, where the regiment was mustered out, April 18, 1899. He reentered the Louisiana national guard July 14, 1900, and was made major and 1/2 surgeon of the 1st Louisiana infantry, continuing in service until the regiment was mustered out. In religion, the doctor is a Roman Catholic, and in politics, a Democrat. April 30, 1903, he married Emily, daughter of Amand and Cora (Guesnard) Ducros, of New Orleans, and their family consists of 5 children: Claire, Henry, Lucille, Amelie and Frank J., Jr.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 93-95. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.