Chesser history

Chesser History

William Andrew Jackson Chesser was born 29 Dec 1830 in Morgan Co,

GA. It is believed he was the son of John and Mariah Chesser. The family is in the 1850 census of Houston Co, GA as: John age 48; Mariah age 37; Elizabeth age 25; Ann age 23; William age 21; Laura or Louise age 9; and Mariah Goodman age 4. The relationship of Mariah Goodman to this family is not currently known.

William married first Emily Frances Bryant on 28 Dec 1857 in Morgan Co, GA. This family is listed on the 1860 census of Morgan Co, GA as: W. A. J. age 30; Emily age 28; and Claria age 2. This little family arrived in Cass County, Texas Jan 1, 186l, settling in the Union Chapel Community.

According to his Civil War Pension Application William was “discharged from Camp Douglas at Chicago, Ill. after the surrender June 12, 1865. Was captured at Fight of Chickamauga 19th of Sept 1863.” He listed his company as:

Company K; Crumps Battalion; 32nd Texas Regiment; Batons Brigade, enlisting January 1862. J. D. Johnson and J. M. Fletcher sighed as William’s witnesses in his quest for the Civil War Pension on 17 August 1909. William received his pension. The War Department’s statement: “The records show that W. A. J. Cheser (name also borne as William A. J. Chesser), private, Company K, 32d Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, enlisted November 3, 1861; that he was captured at Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19, 1863, and that he was discharged (released) at Camp Douglas, Illinois, June 12, 1865.”

On 4 March 1866, Emily gave birth to paternal twins Jasper Bryant and Ella Emily. Emily died 5 Mar 1866 and was buried in-the Floyd Hill Cemetery, Cass Co, TX. At the time of her burial, there was no stone placed to mark her grave. Years later her grandson, John William Chesser placed a stone in the cemetery in her memory.

William married second Alice Sarah Johnson 28 May 1866. Alice, the daughter of Bennet Wilks and Frances Wall Johnson, was born 21 Feb 1841. Alice and W. A. J. had one child: Francis Clifford born 11 Aug 1872; died 13 Oct 1878; buried Cedar Grove Cemetery, Cass Co, TX.

In this picture of W. A. J. and Alice, note the smaller house in the background on the right-hand side. We assume that this is the original house built on the home place. Bits of broken pottery have been found around that area.

Clara Chesser, born 16 Nov 1858 in Morgan Co, GA married first William Washman. This family is listed in the Union Chapel Church records. Their-children were Robert, Harry, Emily, and Mauier. It is believed the Washman family moved from Cass County about 1886. Clara married second a Mr. Thomas. Clara Chesser Washman Thomas died 10 Jun 1940 in Woodward Co, OK. Her daughter, Callie Thomas, born 1895 married Artie C. Pratt. Artie and Callie had one son: Roscoe Dale born 1917. They lived in Supply, Woodward -Co, OK and visited the-Chesser family many times over the years. Dale Pratt wrote that his Grandmother Clara was “a .fisherman and loved to get her old cane pole and head for the river. She dipped snuff and always had a snuff stick in her mouth.” Callie Thomas Pratt died 1968.

John T. and Caroline D.W. Pratt were the parents of John L., Calvin J., and Artie C. Pratt. Calvin born 18 Feb 1879 in Missouri; married Edna F. and died 17 Nov 1953. Artie was born 18 Jul 1891 in Missouri; married Callie Thomas 1913; died May 1973. This family was buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Woodward Co, OK.

Ella Emily Chesser married first W. J. Stone on 17 Dec 1885 in Cass Co, TX.

W. J. Stone was born 18 Mar 1859; died 4 Jan 1893; buried O’Farrell Cemetery, Cass Co, TX. W. J. and Ella had two children: Effie born 8 Nov 1886, died 30 Sep-1892 and Ora Alice born 23 Mar 1889. After W. J. ‘s death, Ella married second Thomas H. Tate on 17 July 1902. Thomas H. Tate was born 11 May 1868; died 16 Oct 1954. Ella Chesser Stone Tate died 21 Feb 1958 and was buried in the O’Farrell Cemetery, Cass Co, TX.

Ora ‘Alice’ Stone married first W.R. Echols. She married second J.F.

Coffman. Alice had one child, Mildred Jacqueline. Mildred was born 6 Dec 1911; married Roland G. DeJean; died 22 Feb 1961. She and Roland were buried in the O’Farrell Cemetery, Cass Co, TX. Buddie is another child connected to this family, but the connection is not known. Alice died in Shreveport, LA on 28 July 1976.

Jasper ‘Bryant’ Chesser married Eufaula Robinson on 16 Sep 1896 in Cass Co, TX. Eufaula was the daughter of John Creagh and Emily Frances Russell Robinson. She was born on 10 Sep 1873 in -Cass Co, TX. Bryant and Eufaula raised five children: Hardy Johnson; Fannie Celeste; James ‘Howard’; Mary Alice; and John William.

The family lived on Chesser Hill. They were farmers; ribbon cane syrup makers; dairy farmers; active church and community members.

Hardy Johnson Chesser was bor 28 Jun 1897; married Frances Pierce Baker on 18 April 1926; died 16 May 1979. Hardy and Frances had no children. Hardy was a cotton buyer in Texarkana. Frances was born 6 Oct 1903; died 15 Nov 1984. They are buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Bowie Co, TX.

Fannie Celeste Chesser was born 4 Dec 1898; married Ottice Edwin Stevens on 9 Jan 1920; died 5 Nov 1983 in Rusk Co, TX. Ed was the son of Henry Quitman and Mary Susie Freeman Stevens; born 19 Feb 1892 in Daingerfield, TX; died 27 Nov 1994 in Rusk Co, TX. Ed and Fannie had six children: Maye and Faye (maternal twins); Frances Sue; Billie Marie; James Edwin; and baby. Maye and Faye were born 5 Aug 1921. Maye married Don Roland 21 May 1941. Maye and Don had three sons. Maye died 28 May 1996. Faye married Charles Suggs 16 May 1941: two children. Faye died 22 Oct 1985. Frances Sue born 9 Aug 1923; married Opha B. Harper 24 Dec 1947; three children. Billie Marie born I 7 Aug 1925; married N. W. Clark 19 Oct 1946; three sons. Billie died 13 Jan 1977.

James Ed born 17 Aug 1928; married Lee Dent 15 Dec 195l; three daughters; died 8 May 1993. Ed and Fannie’s youngest child was born and died 2 Nov 1932 and is buried in the Union Chapel Cemetery. The Stevens family lived in Longview and Henderson, TX.

James Howard Chesser was born 23 Sep 1901; married Elsie Ellender Draper 27 Sep 1930; died 19 Sep 1950. Elsie was the daughter of Will and Annie Eargle Draper. She was born 14 Jul 1911; married second Raymond Watson 18 Feb 1962; died 13 Jun 1969. Howard was a fanner and worked for a while at the Red River Arsenal as a fireman. Howard and Elsie had three children: James, John, and Martha (Robin).

Mary Alice Chesser was born 28 Sep 1905; married first John Morrison Hervey 26 Sep 1926; married second Rogers Perry 6 Oct 1962. Mary died 10 Dec 1969. Morrison owned and operated a hardware store in Hughes Springs, TX.

Mary and Morrison had one child: Mary John born 9 Sep 1927. Mary John married L. W. Owen 1946. Mary John died 18 Jun 1976. She and L. W. had three children. Morrison was born 11 Feb 1898; died 28 Sep 1952; burial in the Hughes Springs Cemetery, Cass Co, TX.

John William Chesser was born 4 Dec 1910; married first Rua Melba Griffin 27 Apr 1934; married second Inie May Pepper 4 Jun 1963; died 19 Mar 1986. Melba, the daughter of Charles Emmett and Rua Swint Griffin, was born 1 Mar 1913; died 23 Apr 1990. There were no children from either marriage. AH are buried in the Union Chapel Cemetery, Cass Co, TX.

Jasper Bryant and Eufaula Robinson Cheser spelt Cheser with one “s”. Their son, Hardy Johnson also used one “s”. However, James Howard and John William used the two “ss” spelling. Oral family history says that Howard didn’t want to be called “Cheeser”.

As in any history, I am sure there are mistakes in my assumptions. Deal with them kindly, please.

- Martha Robinson Chesser Coleman