Melvin Chester

Other Events:

• Name: Mel Mell

Notes:

Listed in 1860 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp, Goshen P.O. (Page 125)

Listed in 1870 Illinois Census, Mason County, Sherman Town, Havana P.O. (Page 11)
- Spelled Malvin

Listed in 1880 Illinois Census, Mason County, Salt Creek Twp (ED# 128, Page 5)

Listed in 1885 Rawlins County, Kansas Census, Celia Twp (Page 10)

Listed in 1895 Rawlins County, Kansas Census, Beaver Twp (Volume 300, Page 3)

Listed in 1900 Kansas Census, Rawlins County, Beaver Twp (ED# 133, Sheet 2A)

Listed in 1905 Rawlins County, Kansas Census, Beaver Twp (Page 1)

Listed in 1910 Kansas Census, Rawlins County, Logan Twp (ED# 153, Sheet 1A)

Possible census match in 1885 Nebraska State Census, Cedar County, 13th Precinct. A listing for "M.C. Chester" with no family members listed.

In 1981, Miss Gayle Brown of Atwood, Kansas produced a biographical sketch of those buried at the Blakeman Cemetery near Atwood in Rawlins County, Kansas. It is unclear as to the sources of her information, however the following was given in regard to Melvin Chester: "Melvin Chester was born in Cape May, New Jersey. He was a very tall, thin white haired man. He was a traveling salesman and an alcoholic. Melvin and his wife Mollie had one son and they named him Frank. Melvin Chester died at an elderly age at his home in Blakeman. His age and death date are unknown".

Obituary (Rawlins County Kansas Square Deal, Nov 7 1918)
Melvin Chester was born at Goshen, N.J. Feb 24, 1852 and died Nov 1, 1918 at Blakeman, Kansas being 66 years, 7 months and 7 days old. He lived at the place of his birth until 17 years old being a cook on a ship of which his father was a captain, which plied the coast waters of the Atlantic. At the close of this period he moved with his father and was engaed in farming for a few years.
He married to Miss Mary Sullivan of Mason City, Ill. Dec 11, 1876. To this was born one son, Frank, of Blakeman, Kansas. He farmed for two years after his marriage in Mason County, Ill. and then engaged in the implement business in Mason City for two years until 1884. He then moved to Nebraska where he lived for only a few months from whence he moved to Rawlins County, Kansas where the rest of his life was spent. The last two years of his life he sufferred from ill health.
He leaves to bereft a wife, son and two sisters, Mrs. Adelia Sullivan, Messena (sp.), Iowa and Mrs. Julia White, Champaign, Ill. and one brother, Ashmeele (sp.) Chester, Jacksonville, Ill.
Funeral Services were conducted by R.A. White at the Blakeman Cemetery Nov 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Textual Reference Branch (NNR1), Textual Reference Division, National Archives and Records Administration,Washington, DC 20408 indicates Melvin Chester's homestead was located at Section SE15, Twp 4, Range 36.

1906 Standard Atlas of Rawlins County Kansas lists Melvin Chester as co-owner of Land Section 18 in Beaver Twp

William G. Cutler's "History Of The State Of Kansas" describes the nine land districts existing in 1883.
NORTHERN LAND DISTRICT.
Office at Oberline, Decatur County. Thomas H. Cavanaugh, Register; C. E. Chandler, Receiver. This district has been created recently. It was taken from the northwestern district, and is composed of the counties of Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne, Graham, Thomas and Sherman. The district comprises 3,878,400 acres of land, and with the exception of the small proportion (about one-tenth) already taken by settlers, and that set aside for school purposes, it is all subject to settlement.

Melvin married Mary Ann Sullivan on 21 Dec 1876 in Mason County, Illinois. Mary (daughter of Job Sullivan and Mary Ann Daniels) was born on 22 Mar 1856 in Cumberland County, New Jersey; died on 18 Jul 1949 in Colby Hospital, Colby, Thomas County, Kansas; was buried on 21 Jul 1949 in Blakeman Cemetery, Rawlins County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Illinois State Marraige Index: Mason County 12/21/1876 Vol 003 Page 0011 License# 433

1. Frank Marion Chester was born on 27 Oct 1877 in Mason County, Illinois; died on 08 May 1947 in Thomas County Hospital, Colby, Thomas County, Kansas; was buried on 12 May 1947 in Blakeman Cemetery, Rawlins County, Kansas.

Notes:

Listed in 1850 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp (Page 43)
- Occupation listed as mariner

Listed in 1860 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp, Goshen P.O. (Page 125)
- Occupation listed as laborer

Listed in 1870 Illinois Census, Mason County, Sherman Town, Havana P.O. (Page 11)
- Surname is misidentified as "Thisler" in most census indexes

Listed in 1880 Illinois Census, Mason County, Salt Creek Twp (ED# 128, Page 4)
- Age shown as 54 years.
- Listed as W.R.

Buried in lot 108, plot 2 of the Mason City Cemetery.

William married Jane A Thompson on 16 Sep 1848 in Dennis Township, Cape May County, New Jersey. Jane was born in Oct 1828 in Cape May, New Jersey; died on 22 Apr 1907 in Champaign, Champaign County, Illinois; was buried on 24 Apr 1907 in Mason City, Mason County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Listed in 1850 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp (Page 44)

Listed in 1860 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp, Goshen P.O. (Page 125)

Listed in 1870 Illinois Census, Mason County, Sherman Town, Havana P.O. (Page 11)

Listed in 1880 Illinois Census, Mason County, Salt Creek Twp (ED# 128, Page 4)

Listed in 1900 Illinois Census, Champaign County, Champaign Twp (ED# 8, Sheet 1)
- Living with daughter Julia and son-in-law Alonzo White
- Indicates she gave birth to 6 children, 4 still living as of 1 June 1900

Lived at 508 Springfield Ave, Champaign, Illinois at time of death (presumably with daughter Julia & son-in-law Alonzo White).

Buried in lot 108, plot 2 of the Mason City Cemetery.

Notes:

Married:
Marriage listed in Book G, Page 117 of Cape May County Marriage Register (1848-1867)

Notes:

Cape May, New Jersey 1830 Federal Census
County: Cape May District: Middle Twp. Enumerator: Samuel S. Marey
Head of Household Males Females
Pg Ln Last Name First Name to 5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-30 30-40 to 5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-30
249 9 Chester Richard 2 1 1 . . 1 1 . . . 1

Listed in 1850 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp (Page 41)

Listed in 1860 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp, Goshen P.O. (Page 114)
Alt. Birth: Abt 1807 New Jersey

Richard married Mary Riggins on 25 Feb 1823 in Cape May, New Jersey. Mary was born on 21 Jan 1802 in New Jersey; died on 21 Mar 1889 in Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey; was buried in Goshen Methodist Cemetery, Goshen, Cape May, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Listed in 1850 New Jersey Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp (Page 41)

Listed in 1870 N.J. Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp, Goshen (Page 48)
- Shown as a houskeeper for Enoch Townsend and family
- Age shown as 66 years

Listed in 1880 N.J. Census, Cape May County, Middle Twp (ED# 71, Page 44)
Alt. Death: 21 Mar 1885 Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey