Emery Chidester

There is no more hospitable home in Monroe county than that of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Chidester, in Urbana township. The owner is a leading agriculturist, a genial man and one who makes friends wherever he goes. Moreover he is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred on the old family homestead in Mantua township, March 16, 1862. His father, Zadoc Chidester, had come to this county at an early age, locating here in 1846, the year of the admission of the state into the Union. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Tharp, was a native of Virginia, and their children were Morg; Sarah; Lee; Hulda; Floyd; Mary; Jenny; Zadoc; Elliott, who is living in Tacoma, Washington; Emery; Frank, at home; and Grant, deceased. The father of this family passed away in Monroe county at the advanced age of eighty-six years, after having lived to see the county emerge form its primitive condition and pioneer environments to take its place with the leading counties of the commonwealth.

In field and meadow through the period of his boyhood, Emery Chidester worked when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom, and thus he gained practical knowledge of farming methods and was well qualified to carry on agricultural pursuits for himself when he had reached man’s estate. At the age of twenty-one years he married Anna Mahon, who was born in county Antrim, Ireland, a daughter of David Mahon, who was a second cousin of General McMahon of the French army. He had two uncles who came to the United States and served in the Revolutionary war. David Mahon, having arrived at years of maturity, married Maria Dunn, and in 1863 crossed the broad Atlantic to America, settling in Urbana township, Monroe county, upon a farm. He carried on farming and merchandising throughout his remaining days, and died at the age of seventy-four years. After becoming a naturalized American citizen he supported the Republican party, and in his religious views was a Unitarian. His widow is still living, at the age of seventy-three years, and makes her home with her daughter. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children: Anna; Dave; Mrs. Jane Burk; Mrs. Agnes Peck; Mrs. Isabelle Miller; Mrs. Delphine Angel, who is a widow and is engaged in teaching in Polk county, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Angel; Mrs. Lotta Goodwine; and Mary, who died at the age of nine weeks.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Chidester began farming on his own account, and that his years have been years of industry and perseverance is shown by the fact that he is now the possessor of a valuable farm of four hundred and twenty-three acres, constituting one of the finest farms of Monroe county. Upon it is a splendid home of twelve rooms, which was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. Its attractive furnishings give evidence of the cultured taste of the inmates, and the piano shows their love of music. Around the home is a well kept lawn and in the rear are substantial farm buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He buys, feeds and ships cattle and horses, and this as well as the production of grain proves a profitable department of his business.

To Mr. and Mrs. Chidester have been born eight children: Marcia, Dave F., Ansel Tecumseh, S. Della, Emma Agnes, Vesta Lucretia, Emery Hale, and they also lost an infant son. The parents are sincere members of the Christian church and Mr. Chidester is a Democrat in his political views. Honorable in business relations, loyal in citizenship and the champion of all measures tending toward the betterment of mankind, Mr. Chidester is respected throughout the community, and his life record illustrates the power of industry and integrity in winning success.