Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-17
The Pictoflzf sketch above is the Sc


The pictoriSf sketch above is the Sc
co9d in our biographical series.
-s'7bert -lbev n was born in Car
Iisle; Cggs eopaty, Pennsylva-
la ron the al ofrJglys179S
His grandfat 8, rs, Robert l. Chester
and Samuel Gaar, were natives Of Ire
land, and serf tnfn the Pennsylvania
line during Il hrWar Of the American
Revolution Sis father, Jehn Chester
was united IL marriage with Mary
Greer on the 18th of September, 1892,
in the town Of Carlisle. They remov-
ed from Pennsylvania to Jonesboro,
Washington coanty, Tennessee, in the
autumn of 1871, where the Cherokee
Indians still liagered. The subject of
our notice received such educational
advantages IS tIle rude school cabins of
the time and place afforded. In 1913
he was employed as clerk in the store
of David Deaderick, one of the first
merchants of JonesbOrO. In the fall
Of 1914, during the war of 1912, a re-
QUESTION was made on East Tennessee
for two regiments. In the eastern di-
vision the call was responded to, and
Col. Samuel Bayles raised the 4th re-
giment of East Tennessee volunteers,
with the following officers: William c.
Roadie, Major; VIM. Bayies, Adjutant;
Robert l. Chester, Quartermaster; Da-
yid Nelson, Sergeant; Robert Church,
Wagonmaster; -Hezekiah Bayles Quar-
termaster Sergeant; and the following
teu Captains; Joseph B. Bacon, JOna-
than ;Waddle, Joseph Hale, Solomon
Branch Jones, John Brock,
James Churehman, James Lander, Jo-
sepR Rich, Joseph Goodson. This reg
iment was mustered into the United
Stats service in Knoxville in Novem-
Der, 1914, and was afterwards ordered
to Washington, Rhea county, Tennes-
see, 10 build boats TO descend the river
Tor the defence of New Orleans. After
being there a short time the command
was ordered to Mobile, Alabama, where
II arrived in. January, 1915, after a
long march by land. While prepara-
tiOns were being made for defending
in March, 1915, the news Of
peace was receSed, when months were
required for tie transmission of news
across the Atlantic by means of sail
packets Col Chester returned to
Jopesboro, and again resumed the
peaceful pursuits of a merchants
clerk in the store of John McAllister,
until July, 1916, removing to Nash
vile in that year, and settling in Car
thage, Smith county, Tenn. where he
Engaged IN merchandising with his un-
Gle, Robert Allen, remaining there un-
til the spring. 5T ToZS. During his
stay in Carthage, he didNa large bust
ness IN hIefehaH1ise and In the. pur-
chase of tobacco, the stapse Bof smith
county, snd made yearly vasits 10 New
Orleans, from ,ghich place ne made
two vOy ages by sea to New York and
Philadelphia, returning across the
to Pittsburg, and then down
the Ohio and up the Cumberland riv-
ers to Carthage. On the 22d of June,
1923 he arrived in jackson, and parti-
cipated in a Masonic celebration, on
which occasion there was a speech,
supper and ball in the log court house.
He determined to make Jackson his
home, but was so circumstanced that
he did not do 50 until May, 1924, when
he purchased property and made ar
rangements for removal. On the 20th
of January, 1925, he was united in
marriage with Elizabeth Hays, daugh-
ter of Col. Robert Hays, her mother