Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcriptions by Mona Sarratt Knight placed on this site with her permission.

John H. Cheasebro, who is now living at Carroll, has reached the patriarch's three score and ten years in the journey of life and is worthy of special mention in a history of Carroll county. He was for almost forty-four years engaged in railway service and a large part of the time in the responsible position of locomotive engineer. On account of his faithfulness he was retired on a pension October 1, 1908, and is now enjoying a well earned rest. He was born in Erie County, New York, February 17, 1841, a son of James and Eliza (Sherman) Cheasebro, both of whom were natives of New York. The father was reared in Erie County and learned the shoemaker's trade. While still a young man he bought a farm, intending to devote himself to agricultural pursuits, but lost the farm by going security for a friend. He then engaged for ten years in the sawmill business near the village of Alden, New York. In 1856 he removed with his family to De Kalb County, Illinois, and followed farming a few years, then becoming a veterinarian and continuing in this vocation during the remainder of his life. He died in De Kalb County in the spring of 1880 at the age of sixty-three. The beloved wife and mother passed away in December 1879, having reached the age of sixty-five years. In religious belief they were earnest members of the Universalist church. There were eleven children in their family, seven sons and four daughters, five of whom are now living: John H., of this review; Marvin D., of Wyoming; Charles D., of California; Rosette, the wife of J. M. Wheeler, of Clinton, Iowa; and Mary, now Mrs. William King, of Perry, Iowa. James L. Cheasebro, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of New York state and was of English descent. He engaged in farming but left his farm in 1812 and served in the army against England. There were five children in his family, Ira, Aurilla, James, Darwin and Horace. Grandfather Sherman on the maternal side was a native of New York state and was also of English descent. He was connected with the shoe manufacturing business and died in middle life. In his family were four children, Eliza, Euphemia, Ruth Ann and Hugh.

John H. Cheasebro lived in Erie County until fourteen years of age and received a common school education. He removed with his parents to Illinois and continued on the home farm until he arrived at the age of twenty. He worked on a farm two seasons for an uncle and then entered the United States marine service, in which he continued one year, when the organization to which he belonged was disbanded. Being attracted to the railway service he became a locomotive fireman on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and two and one-half years later had made such advancement that he was promoted to the position of engineer. He continued in the railway service for about forty-four years, being retired on a pension October 1, 1908. He has been a resident of Carroll more than twenty-three years and has built a fine home at No. 702 North Main Street in which he now resides. He also owns two hundred acres of good land in Calhoun County, Iowa.

On the 8th day of October 1866, Mr. Cheasebro was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Ingersoll, a native of Warsaw, New York, a daughter of Byron and Anna Ingersoll, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The mother died at Commerce, Michigan, in her young womanhood and the father was afterwards twice married. Samuel Ingersoll, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York state and removed to Michigan where he died well advanced in years. He was by trade a tanner and in 1812 served in the army of the United States. His wife was Sallie Chase and they had a family of eleven children. The maternal grandfather, Stephen C. Chase, was three times married. His first wife was Betsy Hogle. They were married July 15, 1821. He was married November 1, 1841, to Sally Price and on October 27, 1844, to Nancy Ingersoll. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cheasebro: Jabez Byron, of Carroll, who married Nancy Skinner and has three children, Florence, Byron and Blanche; Ada Louise, of Stratford, Iowa, who married Dr. M. A. Beach and has two children, John Myron and Chester; and Frank and John, both of whom live at home.

Mrs. Mary E. Cheasebro, the beloved wife and mother, was called away in May, 1909, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a member of the Baptist church and a lady of many beautiful qualities of character which greatly endeared her to those with whom she was associated. Mr. Cheasebro is a man of unusual intelligence and discrimination and in the course of a busy life has never lost his interest in literature. He has a fine library and his books are his constant solace and delight. On account of his genial qualities and high character he is greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. He is a valued member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, with which he has been identified for many years, and politically has always been a republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States.

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