Samuel Chessor

• General Notes
  • Evaline and Samuel may have had as many as 17 children according to James E. "Uncle Jim" Chessor in "Glimpses of the Past." The 13 known children of Samuel and Evaline were: James Chessor (1842-1857); Gemima "Mima" Chessor O'Guin (1844-1883); Jesse Adams Chessor (1846-1915); Adam J. Chessor (1848-1910); Polly A. Chessor (born November 3, 1850, died unknown); Sallie B. Chessor Mathis (1852-1916); Agnes Chessor Bates Calkins (1854-1905); John Thomas Chessor (1856-1933); Nancy Ann "Nan" Chessor Bates (1851-1883); Elizabeth "Eliza" Chessor Allison (1854-1927); Susanna M. Chessor (born May 4, 1862, died unknown); Rosa M. Chessor Johnston (1865-1928); and Viola Chessor Rushton (1867-1904). All of these children are buried in Chessor Cemetery with the exception of Eliza (who is buried in Swiss Cemetery in Hohenwald, Tennessee), Polly, and Susannah. Polly, Susannah and the 4 other children who may have been born to Samuel and Evaline and who died as children may be buried in the Lynn Graveyard on the Old Perryville Road in Hickman County, according to Uncle Jim in "Glimpses of the Past."
    
    The following obituary for Samuel and Evaline Chessor was written by Julia Rushton Burch and published in Cayce's Baptist Reflector, Martin, Tennessee:
    
    Elder S.F. Cayce:
    
    Dear Brother in Christ -- I feel it my painful duty, by the request of my kind friends, to write the obituary of their dear old father and mother who have recently passed from their toilings to a sweet and happy rest, Samuel and Evaline Chessor.
    
    Samuel Chessor was born September 15, 1822, and fell asleep July 28, 1896. Evaline Chessor was born January 2, 1824, and fell asleep November 18, 1896. They were both members of the Christian church.He joined August, 1836. I do not know the date when she joined, but not far from the time that he did. They were both good Christian-hearted old people and were loved and respected by all denominations, and were always called brother and sister by all. He was one among the first settlers of this country (district) and was honest in all his dealings and always gave good advice to their neighbors and children. They raised a large family, all strictly honest. Seven girls and three boys. Eight are still living. They both wanted to go; he called his children to the bed and told them he loved them all and would love to live a few years longer with them, but that he must submit to the Lord's will. He suffered nine weeks with fever and other diseases. He had all the attention given to him that could be by his kind children and friends and five good doctors. But none could stay the hand of death but God alone.
    
    The kind old mother had been afflicted for years; her affliction grew worse until she had hard fits. She had them for two years. I do not know the number of times she was thought to be dead, but would recover again. She would often say, "If I could go to see Sam." The last visit she made she went to see her youngest daughter, Viola Rushton, and when she started she said, "If I was going to see Sam." That was on Tuesday, and on Sunday night following she was attacked with hard convulsions and never spoke any more. She was speechless four days and never knew anything more. Her groans and struggles can never be forgotten. She was relieved of her suffering by her Saviour, who called her home, where she is now with her dear companion and her sweet little infants who have gone to their home to rest with God and sing the sweet song of Moses and the Lamb. They both loved to hear singing so well. They have gone where they can hear the everlasting song. They were always kind to widows and orphans. I have lived by them for years and they have so often comforted me in my troubles. He did not profess to be a doctor, but kept medicine and would always go through heat and cold to help the poor, afflicted ones. Oh, how we miss them! We feel like lambs scattered abroad without a shepherd.
    
    The children and grandchildren were all there the day she was buried. Of all the pitiful cries I ever heard it was there over this dear old father and mother's graves. They knew they had parted from their best friends. It seemed it was a day of weeping with them all. At home or at church, there is a vacant seat, and his prayers are missed. I have so often seen him kneel his tottering frame in prayer. And he would so often make a talk. He is missed so much.
    
    
    Samuel was a successful farmer and miller. He built a large gristmill as well as a sawmill on his farm on Sulphur Creek. The first person to install a circular sawmill on the creek, much of the lumber that went into the houses built in the vicinity in the late 1880s and early 1890s was sawed on his mill. Samuel was a large land-owner. At one time he owned 16,000 acres; he owned all of Hurricane Branch, Powder Mill, and land all the way over into Russell Creek in Perry County. He settled his children on lands he had entered and helped them to get a start in life.
    
    Samuel was best known as a preacher. He preached at the first log church house on Sulphur Creek, which was by the old Perryville Road. In 1888, a new church building was built just down the road on land donated by Benny Chandler, and Samuel preached there as well. Samuel and three of his sons, Jesse, Adam, and John T., as well as three of his grandsons, Rob, Samuel and John Wesley, helped in the building of the church house. The church, Lower Sulphur Church of Christ, is still in existence.
    
    In addition to being known as a preacher, Samuel was also known for visiting the sick. He made herb medicine and attended to the sick and suffering.
    
    The Chessor Family History 1783-1993 by John Will Chessor.
    BIRT: RIN MH:IF377
    DEAT: RIN MH:IF378