Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 377

HON. SAMUEL TYLER CHESEBRO, a retired farmer, and a prominent and influential citizen of this county, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., June 26, 1817. His parents were Henry and Hannah ( Burnett ) Chesebro, and to them were born eleven dhildren, five sons and six daughters, ten of whom grew to maturity. Thomas, John, Edwin, Charles, Sarah N. and Maria are all now deceased ; Hugh is engaged in farming in Pike Township, and Mortimer is engaged in fruit-growing in Florida. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and Henry Chesebro, father of our subject, served his country in the War of 1812. He was one of the leading citizens of New York State, and took a prominent part in political affairs. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in Warren County, New York.

The primary education of our subject was received in the common schools of his native county, and supplemented by a course in the High School of Washington County, N. Y. Remaining under the parental roof until attaining his majority, he then taught school during the following winter, after which he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. About that time the first railroad had been constructed, and on the 15th of September, 1838, between the hours of 6 and 7 P.M., Mr. Chesebro boarded the train, which was one of the first drawn by locomotive, and about daybreak the next morning reached Utica, having traveled a distance of 110 miles. From that city he proceeded to Buffalo, from whence he continued his journey to Jackson, Miss., remaining in the South until 1841, when he came to Muscatine, Iowa. His cash capital then consisted of only $110, but he immediately began working at his trade, and soon afterward purchased a small farm of eighty acres, forty of which was timber, and the remainder prairie land, paying for the same in carpenter work. In this lowly way he began life in Muscatine County, but by his honest efforts of industry and perseverance has become one of the well-to-do citizens. By subsequent purchase he has added to his original farm until he now owns 240 acres of highly cultivated land.

In 1842 Mr. Chesebro was united in marriage with Miss Amy A. Barnes, who was born in Knox County, Ohio. in 1824, and is a daughter of Enos and Charlotte ( Bagley ) Barnes, who were natives of Vermont, and emigrated to Iowa in 1839. By their union four children have been born, but only two are now living : Charles E., who wedded Miss Mary E. Clark, a daughter of William Clark, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, is a prominent banker of West Liberty, Iowa ; Elsie, wife of A. A. Ball, of the firm of A.A.Ball& Co., of West Liberty, of which our subject is the company.

Since 1841 Mr. Chesebro has been identified with the history of Muscatine County, and has taken a prominent part in the promotion of its leading enterprises and in the advancements of its interests. In 1885 he was nominated by his fellow-citizens for the office of State Senator of the Twentieth District, comprising Muscatine and Louisa counties, on the Democratic ticket, and when the result of the election was announced it was found that he was the popular candidate of the people, having been elected by a handsome majority. To every question that comes up before the Senate he gives careful consideration, casting his ballot for what he believes will be for the best interest to the majority of the people. His course has been such as to win the respect of even those who are his political enemies, and receives the hearty endorsement of his constituents. Throughout the State he is known as an honorable, upright man, and he is held in the highest regard by all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. Portraits of Mr. Chesebro and his estimable wife are given upon an accompanying page.


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