John A Chesebro

1831 - 1893  (62 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and 12 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	John A Chesebro  [1]
  Birth	21 Apr 1831	Sheffield, Berkshire CO, Massachusetts, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	9 Nov 1893	Calistoga, Napa CO, California, USA
  Burial	12 Nov 1893	St. Helena cemetery, Calistoga, Napa CO, California, USA
  Siblings	7 Siblings
  + 1. Frederick Chesebro, Capt.,   b. 18 Dec 1829, Goshen, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA d. Yes, date unknown ▻ Mary J Cutler,  m. 1 Dec 1861 + 2. John A Chesebro,   b. 21 Apr 1831, Sheffield, Berkshire CO, Massachusetts, USA d. 9 Nov 1893, Calistoga, Napa CO, California, USA  (Age 62 years) ▻ Jane P Champlin,  m. 18 Apr 1866   3. Lydia Ann Chesebro,   b. 7 Jul 1834   d. Yes, date unknown ▻ Horace D Burdick,  m. 6 Feb 1853   4. Lucy Amelia Chesebro,   b. 9 Dec 1837   d. Yes, date unknown ▻ George A Babcock,  m. 14 Jan 1856   5. Julia Emma Chesebro,   b. 13 Aug 1839   d. Yes, date unknown ▻ Lorenzo R King,  m. 7 Aug 1860   6. Amanda Chesebro,   b. 26 Feb 1842   d. 16 Jan 1846  (Age 3 years)   7. Adaline Chesebro,   b. 11 May 1845   d. Yes, date unknown ▻ Burrell S Lewis,  m. 27 Dec 1863   8. Susan Amanda Chesebro,   b. 2 Dec 1847   d. Yes, date unknown ▻ Horace Vose,  m. 21 Mar 1872
  Person ID	I200221	Geneagraphie
  Last Modified	20 Feb 2001

  
  

  Father	Gilbert Smith Chesebro,   b. Abt 1800, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut, USA d. 2 Aug 1851, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut, USA (Age 51 years)
  Mother	Lucy Stanton,   b. 13 Feb 1811, Sheffield, Berkshire CO, Massachusetts, USA d. 19 Jan 1899, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1828
  Family ID	F81782	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jane P Champlin,   b. Rhode Island d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	18 Apr 1866	Wakefield, Washington CO, Rhode Island, USA
  Children	+ 1. Edwin Carlton Chesebro   d. Between 1908 and 1909
  Family ID	F82102	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Feb 2001

  
  

• Notes

  1. From the St. Helena Star, Friday, November 10, 1893: "DROPPED DEAD, The proprietor of the Magnolia Hotel of Calistoga Dies Suddenly--- Yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Mr. J. A. Chesebro, proprietor of the Magnolia Hotel ,Calistoga, dropped dead in his room. And thus one more of the old pioneers of Napa county has been called to his eternal rest. Mr. Chesebro had been feeling poorly for a couple of weeks, but was able to be around and yesterday was about the hotel and on the streets as usual. After dinner he commenced worse and shortly after 3 o'clock said he would and lie down for awhile. He went upstairs accompanied by his wife, and passed along the hall to his room. When just inside of the room he fell to the floor. Mrs Chesebro rushed down stairs and summoned help. W. F. Fisher and R. H. Safely responded and upon reaching the room found Mr. Chesebro dead. They lifted the remains to the bed. By that time Dr. Wycoff had arrived and gave it as his opinion that death was caused from neuralgia of the heart. Many are of the opinion that apoplexy was the real cause, as he was known to apoplectic symptoms. Deceased was a son of Gilbert and Lucy Stanton Chesebro and was born in Sheffield, Mass., April 20, 1832. When he was but two years of age his parents moved to Stonington, Conn., where the subject of this sketch made his home until he came to California, and was there educated in common schools. At the age of fourteen he went to sea, first shipping from Stonington, and engaged in the fur sealing trade, which he continued until his 21st year. In November 1852 we find young Chesebro on board of the clipper ship "Contest", bound via Cape Horn for California, and after a passage of nearly five months he arrived in San Francisco February, 1853. Staying a short time in the city he proceeded to Sierra County and engaged in mining, residing in that county about ten years. In the mean time, 1855, he paid a visit to his home, where he sojourned some four months. While in the above county Mr. Chesebro was largely interested in mining - at one time being one of the six owners of the "Union Claim," at that time very valuable. Mr. Chesebro's next move was to Washoe county, Nev. where he resided for three years. In 1865 he paid a second visit to his home in Connecticut, going via Panama, and there got married and sojourned some six months. In the spring of 1866, with his wife he returned to this coast coming direct to Napa county, locating in Napa City, where he engaged in the hotel business as proprietor of the Revere House, in which he continued some years. In January, 1868 Mr. Chesebro first went to Calistoga and was employed in the hotel at the Calistoga Hot springs for one season. We next find him in business for himself in the building formerly occupied as a dry goods store by Mr. Weller. He next leased a building and opened a saloon and chop house, where his hotel now stands and run for some time. He then purchased the property, and built his present commodious hotel, The Magnolia. In 1876 Mr. Chesebro made the third visit to his home, accompanied by his wife and family. The subject of our sketch was married in Wakefield, Rhode Island to Miss June P. Champlin, a native to that state, and by this union they have one son, Edwin. The funeral will take place at Calistoga Sunday, at 1 o'clock, under the auspices of the Masonic order. Internment in St. Helena cemetery." 2. From the St. Helena Star November 17, 1893: "The funeral of the late J. A. Chesebro was held Sunday and was very largely attended being held under the auspices of the masons. At the Magnolia hotel, Calistoga Rev. James Mitchell officiated and the long funeral cortege, which slowly and solemnly wended its way to St. Helena cemetery, was headed by the Calistoga band. At the cemetery the last sad rights were performed by the masons and all that was mortal of a man well known throughout the county was laid to rest." 3. From Illustrations of Napa County California with Historical Sketch. Smith & Elliott copyright 1974 by Valley publishers. "The Magnolia hotel, J. A. Chesebro proprietor, is the principal hotel of town, where the traveler may be entertained in a satisfactory manner at most reasonable rates. Here you will find good meals and clean beds, and polite attention. The hotel has about 40 rooms nicely furnished with all the modern conveniences. This hotel is one of the finest dining-rooms in the county and the table is supplied with everything expected of a first class house. Attached to the house is a billiard-room, barber shop and other requisites for the entertainment or pleasure of the guest. From the veranda of the hotel is obtained a grand view of MT. St. Helena. From the accommodating landlord may be obtained reliable information in regard to any of the surrounding places of interest, and of the best way to reach them from this hotel, all stages to Lake county, Geysers, Petrified Forest, and other prominent places depart daily." 4. From Silverado Squatters. Robert Louis Stevenson. "It is difficult for a European to imagine Calistoga, the whole place is so new, and of such an occidental pattern; the very name, I hear, was invented at a supper-party by the man who found the springs. The railroad and the highway come up the valley about parallel to one another. The street of Calistoga joins them, perpendicular to both - a wide street, with bright, clean, low houses, here and there a veranda over the sidewalk, here and there a horse-post, here and there lounging townsfolk. Other streets are marked out, and most likely named; for these in the New World began with a firm resolve to grow larger, Washington and Broadway, and then First and Second, and so forth, being boldly plotted out as soon as the community indulges in a plan. But, in the meanwhile, all the life and most of the houses of Calistoga are concentrated upon that street between the railway station and the road. I never heard it called by any name, but I will hazard a guess that it is either Washington or Broadway. Here are the blacksmiths, the chemist, the general merchant, and Kong Sam Kee, the Chinese laundryman; here probably, is the office of the local paper (for the place has a paper - they all have papers); and here certainly is one of the hotels, Cheeseborough's, whence the daring Foss, a man dear to legend, starts his horses for the Geysers. It must be remembered that we are here in a land of stage drivers and highwaymen; a land, in that sense, like England a hundred years ago. The highway robber - road-agent, he is quaintly called - is still busy in these parts. The fame of Vasques is still young. Only a few years ago, the Lakeport stage was robbed a mile or two from Calistoga. In 1879, the dentist of Mendocino City, fifty miles away upon the coast, suddenly threw off the garments of his trade, like Grindoff, in The Miller and His Men, and flamed forth in his second dress as captain of banditti. A great robbery was followed by a long chase, a chase of days if not weeks, among the intricate hill-country; and the chase followed by much desultory fighting, in which several - and the dentist, I believe, amongst the number - bit the dust. The grass was springing for the first time, nourished upon their blood, when I arrived in Calistoga. I am reminded of another highwayman of that same year. "He had been unwell," so ran his humorous defence, "and the doctor told him to take something, so he took the express box." The cultus of the stage-coachman always flourishes highest where there are thieves on the road, and where the guard travels armed, and the stage is not only a link between country and city, and the vehicle of news, but has a faint warfaring aroma, like a man who should be brother to soldier. California boasts her famous stage-drivers, and among the famous Foss is not forgotten. Along the unfenced ,abominable mountain roads, he launches his team with small regard for human life or the doctrine of probabilities. Flinching travelers, who behold themselves coasting eternity at every corner, look with natural admiration at the drivers huge, impassive fleshy countenance. He has the very face for the driver in Sam Wellers anecdote, who upset the election party at the required point. Wonderful tales are current of his readiness and skill. One in particular, how one of his horses fell at a ticklish passage of the road, and how Foss let slip the reins, and driving over the fallen animal, arrived at the next stage with only three. This I relate as I heard it, without guarantee. I only saw Foss once, though, strange as it may sound, I have twice talked with him. He lives out of Calistoga, at a ranche called Fossville. One evening, after he was long gone home, I dropped into Cheeseborough's and was asked if I should like to speak to Mr. Foss. Supposing the interview was impossible, and that I was merely called upon to subscribe the general sentiment, I boldly answered "Yes". Next moment, I had one instrument at my ear, another at my mouth, and found myself, with nothing in the world to say, conversing with a man several miles off among desolate hills. Foss rapidly and somewhat plaintively brought the conversation to an end; and he returned to his nights grog at Fossville, while I strolled forth again on Calistoga High street. But it was an odd thing that here, on what we are accustomed to consider the very skirts of civilisation, I should have used the telephone for the first time in my civilised career. So it goes in these young countries; telephones, and telegraphs, and newspapers, and advertisements running far ahead among the Indians and the grizzly bears." Note: What Robert Louis Stevenson called "High Street" was Lincoln Street. 4. From The San Francisco Call, August 2, 1891: "Fierce Fire Makes Ruins of Calistoga" (In this account of the disaster, Chesebro's Magnolia hotel and saloon are all mentioned... The Magnolia was a principal loser.)

  
  

• Sources

  [S585] Anna Chesebrough Wildey, Genealogy of the Descendants of William Chesebrough, (New York: Press of T. A. Wright 1903), page 485 (Reliability: 2).