Edwin Chester

According to the Chester Family Heritage Page, he married Henrietta Barber in 1823 and had Elizabeth, who m.White.{Chester Family Heritage page} He is probably the Edwin Chester who emigrated to Wisconsin. "Edwin Chester, father of Mrs. Col. White, was born in 1797, in New London Co., Conn. Married in 1823 to Miss Henrietta Barber, daughter of Hon. Noyes Barber, many years member of Congress from Connecticut; came West in 1850 and settled in Waukesha; has been a merchant all his active life. Had four children ? Mary Henrietta, Julius, Elizabeth and George Barber. His home is with his daughters, Mrs. Park and Mrs. White. He is a genial Christian gentleman." {History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, 1880 Biographical Sketches Waukesha, <http://www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/bioswauk.html>} "Mr. Edwin Chester, another old-timer, held many offices of trust, both in civic and church circles. He occupied the house vacated by Mr. Sherman and his home was brightened by the presence of two daughters, Henrietta and Elizabeth. The latter married Calvert C. White, son of Lemuel White. Mr. White was a practicing lawyer here when the civil war broke out. He enlisted and went to the front as captain of Company F in the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry served through the war, returning as lieutenant colonel. He died soon after his discharge from service, and left as descendants two sons, Calvin and Chester, now residing in California. Mrs. White was a cultured woman, a delightful companion and a generous friend. She spent her last days in California in order to be near her children. Late in life Henrietta Chester married Rev. Rufus Parks, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Chester lived to a good old age, and when called to his reward was mourned by a large circle of friends." {Some Pioneers of Waukesha, Waukesha Freeman, November 24, 1921, <http://linkstothepast.com/waukesha/pioneers.html>, 27 Jan 2005} In the 'Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly', he is listed as 'a merchant in Waukesha, Wis.' {<ebooksread.com>}

In the 1840 census for New London, there is a listing for Edwin B. Chester. In the 1850 census for Waukesha, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin, Edwin Chester is 52 from Connecticut [Vermont in the index -- but looks more like Ct on original]; with H. C. [Harriet] 46, female; H. M. [Henrietta] 22, female; Julius 19, clerk; and G. B. [George Barber] 15, clerk -- all born Connecticut. {p.278} In the 1855 Wisconsin state census, E. Chester is listed in Waukesha with 1 white male [Edwin] and 1 white female [Mary]. In the 1860 census for Waukesha, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin, Calvert White is 29, a lawyer from New York with $5000 real estate and $300 personal; with Elizabeth 27CT; [father-in-law] Edwin Chester 63 CT, clerk; (Annie Rivers?) servant, 18; [sister-in-law] Mary Chester 23 CT, and Mary Barber 17, a teacher in (union?) school, from Connecticut. {p.227} In the 1870 census for Waukesha, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin, Edwin Chester is 72, a life insurance agent from Connecticut. [His daughter] Elizabeth White is 38, also born Connecticut, with Calvert, 7; and Edwin, 4 - both born Wisconsin. Katie (Gammon?) is 17, a domestic servant from New York. {p.486} In the 1875 Wisconsin state census for Waukesha, the household of Edwin Chester has 3 white males [Edwin, grandsons Calvert and Edwin White] and 2 white females [daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Louise or Bessie?]. In the 1880 census for Waukesha, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin, Edwin Chester is 82, from Connecticut (parents Connecticut). His daughter Mary H. Park, widow, age 52, born Connecticut (parents Connecticut), is keeping house for him. Her daughters Louise, 19, Wisconsin, teacher, (parents Connecticut); and Bessie F., 12, Illinois (father Canada, mother Connecticut). His other daughter, Elizabeth C. White, is also widowed, age 48 from Connecticut. Her sons Calvert C., 17; and Edwin C., 14, were both born in Wisconsin, father New York, mother Connecticut. {p.304b} In the 1885 Wisconsin state census for Waukesha, Edwin Chester lists 1 male [Edwin] and 3 females [daughters Mary and Elizabeth, granddaughter Bessie?] in the household. Next door are grandsons Calvin White and Chester White.

According to the Waukesha County Death Index, Edwin died 4 Nov 1886 in Waukesha. {WaukeshaGenWeb, http://www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/deathsC.html} Edwin and Henrietta are listed in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha.{<http://www.map.ramaker.com/prairiehome/>}

His sons Julius and George were prominent in the early years of Bakersfield, Kern Co., California.