Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 418

CHESTER F. HEALY, deceased, was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Muscatine County. He was born in the town of Dudley, Worcester Co., Mass., Nov. 20, 1820, and was a son of Daniel L. and Tryphina (Kidder) Healy. The family was founded in this country by ancestors who emigrated from England to America in the year 1630, and became residents of New England. In the autumn of 1837 Daniel Healy made his first trip to the West for the purpose of selecting a location, but the following spring returned to his home in Massachusetts. However, the same season, accompanied by two sons, Abel L. and Chester F., he again came to Iowa, and opened a store at what was then called Rockingham, but is now a part of the city of Davenport. During the spring of 1839, with his son Abel, he came to Muscatine County and purchased what was known as the Daniel Comstock farm in Moscow Township, and also entered considerable land, the aggregate of which is about 1,000 acres. In the month of April he returned to Massachusetts for his family, and then located permanently in this county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred May 14, 1850, his wife surviving him until July 7, 1861. Mr. Healy was a man of more than ordinary ability, was an indefatigable worker, energetic and perserving, and was remarkably well educated for his day. For many years he served as Justice of the Peace in Moscow Township, and was also Postmaster at Moscow for some time.

The children of his family who had passed away at the time of his death were: William, the eldest, who died, Aug. 28, 1842, in his twenty-fifth year; Dwight, who died in Massachusetts at the age of fourteen years; and another son who died when four years of age. The remaining members of the family were: Chester F. of this sketch; Abel L., who was born in Worcester County, Mass., July 22, 1822, now resides in Wilton; Edward R., born April 9, 1826, is a resident of Bedford, Taylor Co., Iowa; Hezekiah, the youngest son, who lives near Colfax, Cal. The only daughter, Maria, who was born April 5, 1833, married Isaac M. Comer, and died Jan. 26, 1882.

Our subject remained in his native State until eighteen years of age, when, in company with his father and brother, he emigrated to Iowa, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. He was first united in marriage with Polly Ann Hughes, who was born April 25, 1819. Of the children born of their union only one is now living: Daniel, who is living in California. His second union was with Elizabeth A. Conant, who was born in Massachusetts, Oct. 18, 1828, and died several years after their marriage, leaving five children: Albert F., who died Sept. 24, 1869; Lucius C., who resides in Cedar County, Iowa; Abbie C., who died May 6, 1886; Jennie E., now Mrs. William R. Speers, of Cedar County, Iowa; George A., who is yet at home. On the 11th of September, 1868, Mr. Healy wedded Mrs. Louisa Canfield, whose maiden name was Louisa Copeland. She was born in Harrison County, Ohio, May 23, 1828, and is a daughter of James and Christina (Croskey) Copeland, the former born in Harrison County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1798, and the latter born in the same county, in February, 1804. In 1854, Mr. Copeland emigrated from Ohio to Muscatine County, settling in Moscow Township, but about a year after his arrival his death occurred. His wife lived until the spring of 1888, dying at the home of James Walton, her son-in-law, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.

They were the parents of six children who grew to man and womanhood, namely: Mrs. Healy; John, who was for many years a resident of Muscatine County, but is now living in Ohio; Samuel, who left home during the War of the Rebellion and has never been heard of since; Joseph, who is now living in Warren County; Abraham, whose home is in Mexico; and Caroline, wife of James C. Walton.

By her first marriage Mrs. Healy was the mother of four children: Eliza, who is living in Cheyenne, and Thomas, who died March 25, 1883, was a resident of Moscow Township. The other two were: Kate, who married William Smith, and died Aug. 22, 1879, and William, who died at the age of twenty-eight years. By the second union one child was born--Charles C., April 14, 1872.

The death of Mr. Healy occurred Oct. 17, 1886. For nearly half a century he was a resident of Iowa, and with the exception of about one year that time was spent in Muscatine County, with whose history he was prominently identified, and was ranked among the leading citizens. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal faith, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was buried by members of the order.

Mrs. Healy still resides on the old homestead, which is the abode of neatness and hospitality, while all its surroundings indicate thrift and industry. She was reared in the faith of the Disciples or Christians, and at her old home in Harrison County, Ohio, had the privilege of listening to Alexander Campbell as he preached Christ Jesus and Him crucified.


Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page