Chester Philip Hesselgesser

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Biography/Pictures

Chester was educated inthe Ohio school system. Chester had a nervous breakdown at some point, so his parents moved to Delaware for a time. The doctor said he couldn't have an indoor job, so he subsequently became a fresh air friend!

chester graduated from Ohio Weslyan College and after his college graduation, he bummed to California to see the world by riding the freight cars or second class, working along the way. He kept a detailed journal of this trip, revealing a fastidious man, interested in details. Irene has this journal. He did find Hesselgessers in CA who told him about family in PA. After traveling back to PA and meeting the Hesselgessers there, he and Retta fell in love and were married 11 Feb 1913.

Chester and Retta lived on a farm in southwestern Ohio. they had 80 acres and used a team of horses: no modern equipment for them! They had 6-8 cows, hogs, chickens, grew corn for the cattle and wheat which they sold to a grainery. they used kerosene and only got electric when Del was a junior in high school. They sold milk and eggs for cash. Chester was a good church man, he was a scholar who had lots of books; wrote poetry and was published in the Urbana, Ohio paper. Chester had heart trouble. He and Retta were very conservative per the family. He became very stooped later in life.

References

Last data update: Sep 27, 2018.

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Nancy Lee (Hesselgesser) Sutton, Citation post date: 2009-05-29