Dr. Florence Feltz, a physician of Perryville, Mo., was born in Alsace, France, in the year 1832. He is a son of Florenz Feltz and Mary Anne (Stupfler) Feltz. Florenz Feltz, Sr., was born in Alsace, France, in 1803.

In his young age he learned the then flourishing cooper's trade, and after marriage engaged in mercantile business, but being unsuccessful he concluded to emigrate to the United States in the year 1846, locating in the State of Louisiana, resuming his former trade on a large plantation, where his son Florence had to assist him as well as he could, being the eldest child, and him in very limited circumstances.

In 1848 his father removed to St. Louis, and in 1856 came to Perry County, Mo., and settled in Bois Brule Township, where he resided until his death, in 1875. His wife was of German origin, and was born in 1810. She died in 1855, in Randolph County, Ill. The parents of both were very long lived, being ninety and ninety-five years old at the time of their death. Florenz Feltz, Sr., and wife, were the parents of seven children, three of whom, Florence, August and Anton, are living.

Dr. Florence Feltz was about thirteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents. Having to assist his father in his trade at that time, he followed the same more or less until about the year 1872, when he purchased a lot of medical works from Dr. Stealey, a then residing physician of Perryville, who encouraged him in the pursuit of his study. Being in limited circumstances he worked hard by day and studied part of the night.

In 1876 he graduated with the degree of M.D. from the Keokuk Medical College, after which he entered upon the practice of medicine. By hard work and perseverance, without any assistance whatever, he fought his way until he obtained a large and lucrative practice.

In 1861 he was united in marriage with Mary Jeunet, a native of France, who came to America with her parents when but four years of age. Her father, Lucien Jeunet, located in Perry County, Mo.

To the Doctor and his wife have been born nine children viz: Eugenia, Vincent, Amelia (wife of Albin Seemes), Louisa, Leon, Mary, Clovis, Albert and Lawrence.

In politics Dr. Feltz is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.