Chester, Lt. Simpson Joseph - 1912 Bio (1841-1925)

CHESTER, ROBINSON, NEVIN, HENDRICKS, HERRING, TROWBRIDGE, MCKENNEY, MCKEMEY

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2005 at 17:25:02

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 271-273

LIEUTENANT S. J. CHESTER

“Lieutenant S. J. CHESTER, a veteran of the Civil war and at different times closely associated with the business interests of Jefferson county, is now living retired in Fairfield, enjoying a well earned rest. He was born near Warsaw, Indiana, March 16, 1840, a son of Joseph and Jane (ROBINSON) CHESTER. The father was born in Ohio, March 16, 1806; the mother’s birth occurred in Pennsylvania, June 2, 1807, and they were married in Delaware county, Ohio, January 22, 1829. Removing westward to Iowa in 1850 they first settled in Lynn county and six years later came to Jefferson county, taking up their abode in Rich Woods. They remained residents of this county until several years after the Civil war and about 1870 removed to Wayne county where they lived until going to Jasper county, Missouri. The father was a farmer by occupation and also for many years a local preacher of the Methodist church. In his honorable, upright life he left a worthy example for his family and the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. He died in Carthage, Missouri, March 4, 1891, having for less than a year survived his wife, who passed away on the 4th of April, 1890. They were the parents of nine children of whom four died in early life, the others being: Mrs. Emeline NEVIN, now deceased; S. J., of this review; Thomas W., and V. L., both of whom have passed away; and Oliver F., of Arkansas. The last two were soldiers of the Civil war, enlisting from Jefferson county in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. V. L. CHESTER served for three years while Oliver F. CHESTER went out as a recruit and continued with the army to the end of the war.

The family was also represented in the Civil war by Lieutenant S. J. CHESTER who had come to Jefferson county with his parents and remained under the parental roof until he entered the army on the 12th of August, 1862, as a member of Company G, Thirtieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted as a private but after the organization of his company was elected second lieutenant and following the charge at Vicksburg was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He sustained a gun-shot wound through the left leg at Vicksburg during the charge on the city on the 22d of May, 1863. Because of his injuries he was granted a two months’ furlough which he spent at home and then rejoined his regiment which was still before Vicksburg, continuing with that command until April, 1864, when he resigned, owing to disability. He had participated in a number of important engagements including the battles of Arkansas Post, Raymond, Jackson, Cherokee Station, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold. He possessed a soldierly bearing, being six feet two inches in height, straight and well formed, and his comrades admiringly spoke of his fearlessness and bravery.

Soon after being mustered out Lieutenant CHESTER was married, on the 22d of September, 1864, to Miss Olive E. HENDRICKS, a daughter of James H. HENDRICKS, and they took up their abode upon a farm, to the cultivation and development of which Mr. CHESTER devoted his energies until 1873. He then removed to Fairfield where he has since resided, here becoming identified with business interests as a grocer, conducting a store until 1879. He was then elected sheriff of Jefferson county and on the 1st of January, 1880, entered upon the duties of this position to which he was afterward reelected, serving until the 1st of January, 1884, when he declined another nomination. He later spent several months in traveling, visiting Salt Lake and other points in the west for the benefit of his health. In 1890 he was appointed postmaster of Fairfield and served for four years under President Harrison. Subsequently he spent several months in California with his wife and upon his return to Fairfield engaged in the hotel business, conducting the Leggett House for five years. He again spent several months in California and also took a trip to Cuba and since that time he has lived retired, devoting his time to those things which are a matter of interest and entertainment to him. He has some property interests, owning land in Texas.

By the marriage of Lieutenant CHESTER and Olive E. HENDRICKS there were born four children: Flora E., the wife of Charles HERRING of Fairfield; Mildred L., deceased; Daisy E., the wife of C. W. TROWBRIDGE, of Fairfield; and Frank M., of Los Angeles, California. The wife and mother died July 13, 1878, and on the 4th of December, 1879, Lieutenant CHESTER wedded Elizabeth McKenney, a native of Fairfield and a daughter of J. A. McKENNEY [sic - McKEMEY].

In politics Mr. CHESTER is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has always been more or less active in public affairs here and has served as marshal on the occasion of all public celebrations in this city for the past thirty years. In Masonry he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine and is an exemplary representative of the craft. Loyalty has always been one of his strong characteristics. It was manifest in his army record, in his public service and in his friendships. He is one of the widely known residents of the city and enjoys in unusual measure the warm regard and high respect of those who know him.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.