CHESTER, Capt. Simpson Joseph - 1890 Bio (1841-1925)

CHESTER, ROBINSON, NEVIN, GREEN, COLLINS, AYERSMAN, HENDRICKS, MCKEMEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/30/2007 at 21:46:16

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 293-295

Capt. Simpson J. CHESTER, who since 1850 has been a resident of Iowa, is now numbered among the enterprising citizens of Fairfield, and it is with great pleasure that we present his sketch to the readers of the 'Album', knowing that it will be received with interest by his many friends.

The Captain was born in Kosciusko County, Ind., near Warsaw, March 16, 1840 (sic - 1841), and is a son of Joseph and Jane (ROBINSON) CHESTER. His father, a native of New Jersey, was born March 16, 1806, emigrated with his parents to Ohio while but a boy, and there resided to the time of his maturity. He became acquainted with and married Miss ROBINSON, who was born June 2, 1807, a native of the Keystone State, and soon after went to Kosciusko County, Ind., a sparsely settled part of the State, where at that time hundreds of Indians could been seen any day. Accompanied by their children, they emigrated to Iowa in 1850, and for six years resided in Linn County, when, in 1856, they came to Jefferson County, settling in Buchanan Township. Many years passed, during which they gained a large circle of friends, but at length they severed their relations with the citizens of this community, and in 1882 became residents of Jasper County, Mo., where the father is still living. The mother died at her home in that county on the 4th of April, 1890. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter -- Emeline, wife of W. R. NEVIN, of Jasper County, Mo.; Simpson J., of this sketch; Dr. Vandiver L. married Ollie GREEN and is living in Great Bend, Kan.; Oliver F. married Emma COLLINS, of Jefferson County, and now makes his home in Kansas City, Mo.; Robert N. married Ella M. AYERSMAN, of Wayne County, Iowa, and is living in Jasper County, Mo.

The days of his boyhood and youth our subject spent upon his father's farm, and his early education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course in the seminary at Fairfield. On the 12th of August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops, and enlisting in Company G, of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, marched to the front. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and of the 4th of August, 1863, while at home on a furlough granted him on accounts of wounds received, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. Ill health, brought on by his injuries, caused him of necessity to resign in April, 1864, but the time which he served he participated in many important battles, including the engagements at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Jackson, Miss., the charge against Vicksburg, the battles at Cherokee Station, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. He was wounded during the charge on Vicksburg, on the 22d of May, 1863, in the left lung, the ball passing through and lodging just beneath the skin in the back. After returning home he improved to some extent in health until about 1868, when the effect of his wound caused a serious illness, accompanied by great suffering for years, but at present writing he is enjoying comparatively fair health.

Mr. CHESTER made farming the pursuit of his mature years until 1871, when he came to Fairfield, and later embarked in the grocery business, continuing the same until the autumn of 1879, when he was elected Sheriff of Jefferson County. He entered upon the duties of his office January 1, 1880, was re-elected in the fall of 1881, and served until January 1, 1884, when he declined a further renomination. He made a good record as the books in the office show. The following is a brief account of the labors he performed during his four years of service. In that period he had two hundred and sixty persons confined in the Jefferson County Jail, in his care. Of these, he took thirty-five to the asylum for insane at Mt. Pleasant and returned nearly as many more. He brought six persons on requisition from other States, two from Ohio, two from Illinois, one from Minnesota and one from Missouri. He took thirty-two convicts to the States prison; of that number not one escaped, and of the many arrested but one escaped from his custody, and he was recaptured. Many other items of interest might be given if space permitted, but, in closing the official record of Capt. CHESTER, we can say, knowing that all nearly interested agree in the same, that no Sheriff of Jefferson County has been more popular, nor have the duties of the office been performed in a more satisfactory and capable manner. In politics the Captain is an uncompromising Republican and uses his influence for the support of that party which he believes will bring the greatest good to the greatest number. He is an honored member of Clinton Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M.; of the Chapter, R. A. M.; and of Jerusalem Commandery, K. T. He also belongs to George Strong Post, G. A. R. Serving for six years as a member of the Fairfield School Board, during four of which he filled the position of President, he has done much for the advancement of the city schools and the cause of education eliciting his warmest sympathy, has found in him a stanch friend. He was appointed Postmaster of Fairfield June 23, 1890, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office July 11.

Capt. CHESTER was married September 22, 1864, in Jefferson County, to Miss Olive E. HENDRICKS, a daughter of James H. HENDRICKS. By their union there have been born one son and three daughters -- Flora E., Mildred J., Daisy E. and Frank M. The death of the mother occurred July 13, 1878, and Capt. CHESTER was again married December 4, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth McKEMEY, a native of Fairfield, and a daughter of J. A. McKEMEY. The Captain has recently bought a homestead near the business center of Fairfield, which he has remodeled and fitted up at considerable expense, and now has one of the finest residences in the city. He enjoys in a marked degree the warm regard of a wide circle of friends, who have known him for many years and esteem him as an upright, honorable man, a gallant soldier, an efficient and faithful civil officer, and a nieghbor and friend on whom all, with confidence, can rely.

[Transcriber's note: The G.A.R. is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

Note: This biography uses 1840 for the year of birth, however his gravestone and death certificate both use 1841 as the birth year.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.