The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-10-26
]. |. Chester Named Presi-
dent of N. r. Aliens
Sons Company. :
SCOTT Is ADVANCED
Man Who Started at Bench Be-
comes Head Executive of
Largest Harness Plant.

| A notable addition has been made to
/ the list of self-made men who head
great industries in Kenosha as today
formal announcement is being sent to
the trade of the election of John /.
Chester as president Of the N. R. AL
lens Sons Company. 1t is interesting
to note that man who less than
twenty years ago was working as
currier is the head executive of what
has been called the largest harness
leather plant in the country. Mr..
Chester is advanced from the position
/ of First Vice-President of the COM
pany to fill the place made vacant by
the resignation of Edward G. Theirs,
who recently gave up his work to go
to California to make his home. The
election Of Mr.. Chester to the presi-
dency of the great Kenosha company
| took place at a meeting of the Board
/ of Directors an Wednesday afternoon,
but the formal announcement was not
made until Thursday. At the meeting
Leon G. Scott was elevated to the posi-
ton of first vice-president of the COM
pany. Of great interest to Kenosha is
the further announcement of the cleo
ton of William Casey as member of
the Board of Directors.
Popular With Employees.
The election of Mr.. Chester to the
presidency of the company is popular
selection not only with the men who
direct the Central Leather Company,
but with thousands of men in the
leather industry in plants all over the
country. The fact that he was a good
currier and developed into good pres
ident added much to the pleasure which,
comes to the men in extending their
congratulations. Mr.. Chester is known
as one of the men who came into the
plants at the door near the time clock
rather than one of the men who came
up through the head office. His init
mate knowledge--it is a working
knowledge--of the many features of
the leather industry has made him one
of the most valuable of the men con-
nected with the organization Of the
Central Leather Company and his ele-
walton to the high post in the Kenosha
won with years of hard work.
Native of Scotland.
President Chester is native of
Scotland. He was born in Glasgow and
got his education in the schools there
He was just a boy when he went into
one Of the big tanneries of Scotland
and learned tn etrade of "currier."
II never in all my experience knew as
good currier as Chester" was the
tribute which. his predecessor paid to
him. There are few men in the coun-
try who can finish piece of leather
as well as John I. Chester" continued
Mr.. Theirs, "and I am mighty glad to
know that he is going to be head Of the
Kenosha plant"
Mr.. Chester did not stay long in
Scotland after he learned his trade
Before he was twenty ne came over the
Atlantic and landed in><Canada. He
spent three years roughing it, working
on farms and in the lumber camps of
Canada. He went to Kingston, Onta-
rio, and drifted bcak to the bench as
currier and worked at the trade there
for couple of years. Then he came
to the United States and went to Oswe-
go, New York, where he was employed
| by Joe Darlington and Ford Brothers,
both historic names in the leather in
dustry in this country. He went to
New York in 1894 and worked a year
| in the John Dumphy plant.
Goes With the Moffat Company.
President Chester was not keeping
on the move because he lacked en-
ployment, but because some one just a
little bigger was bidding for his SER
vices. In 1896 he went into the big
plants of the David Moffat Company
and in short time he became super
! intendent of the plant. When the Moi
fat Company sold out to the Central
Leather Company in 1899, Chester was
picked to remain as head of the plant,
and he remained in that capacity until
! 1906, when he came to Kenosha to ac-
cept minor position. He had a posi-
tion as one of the minor superintend-
ents of the plant until 1914, when he
was named superintendent Of the cur
rying department. When the late A. H.
Moore died in 1918 he was called into
the front office and made viee-presi-
/ dent Of the company His new title is
president and general manager of the
company.
! Vice-President Scott Youngster.
President Leon C. Scott is one
of the youngsters among officials of the
company. All his working life has
been spent in the employ of the Cen
| trail Leather Company, and he has had
considerable experience as an execu-
tive. He went into the employ of the
company in minor capacity fourteen
years ago and first came to Kenosha
eight years ago. Later he went to
Tomahawk, where he had charge of
large plant of the company, and still
later he was transferred to the big
! plant at Clearfeld, Pa. He returned to
Kenosha FIVE years ago and has since
held an executive position with the
company here.
| Mr.. Casey, the new member of the
directorate, has spent life in the
1eather industry and has been connect
ed with the local plant for many years. |
All Active in Civic Work.
| All three Of the officials Of the com
pany have been active in civic work in