S. T. CHESTER. Among the prominent agriculturists of Allen township, none are more deserving of special mention than the prosperous gentleman whose name has from an early time been associated with the best interests of Washington county. Many years ago Joseph and Elizabeth Chester, natives of eastern Pennsylvania, came to Washington county, and there made a home on a tract of land which he patented. Among the children born to this pioneer couple, one son is named S. A., whose brothers were Morrison, now residing in Guernsey county, Ohio, and Benjamin, who died in California. S. A. Chester was born August 18, 1818, on the home place in Allen township, Washington county. He was there married to Margaret Jackman, who was born on the home farm December 24, 1814. Mr. Chester affiliated with the Whig and Republican parties, and served in many local offices. Mrs. Chester died November 8, 1872, leaving the following children: Joseph W. (Who died in 1873 in Vernon county, Mo.), John A. (Living in Moundville, Vernon Co., Mo.), Elizabeth Ann (deceased at the age of eight years), J. J. (Born July 3, 1847), James Harvey (deceased in 1875, in Allen township), Margaret Ann (deceased wife of Irvin McKenna, of Fayette City), Jane A. (Deceased wife of Allen Ailes, of Columbus, Kans.) S. T. (Whose name opens this sketch) and Fremont, (born July 4, 1857, died February 20, 1865). After the mother of these children died, S. A. Chester married Mary Stevenson, who is now living in Fayette county, Penn. He died March 15, 1888.
S. T. Chester was born March 8, 1853, in Allen township, Washington county, and has continued to reside on the old place. In June, 1879, he made choice of a life companion in the person of Ollie J. Daughter of O. D. And Mary (Allen) Latta, all of whom were natives of Allen township, this county, where the father died, Mrs. Latta making her home with Mrs. Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Chester have always resided on the homestead, which contains 177 acres of well-cultivated land, equipped with two substantial brick edifices. He has made a specialty of raising blooded stock, having a number of fine driving and draft horses of Clyde, Norman and Ethan Allen breed, also a fine grade of Alderney and Shorthorn cattle. In political opinions he advocates the principles embodied in the Republican platform. Mrs. Chester is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mount Tabor, and the sympathies of Mr. Chester are the same. They have four children, namely: Charley L., Montie Ray, Harry and Ralph.
Text taken from page 443 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Julie Jolly of Knob Noster, MO as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]