Home > United States of America > Ohio > Athens County > Chauncey > Nye Cemetery > Chester Woodworth

Chester Woodworth

Birth	:	18 Aug 1827 Ashtabula County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	26 Dec 1900 Millfield, Athens County, Ohio, USA
Burial	:	Nye Cemetery, Chauncey, Athens County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.4053001, -82.1260986
Description	:	Athens Messenger and Herald (OH) Thursday, January 3, 1901. page 1, columns 1,2 A LIFE’S WORK DONE Chester Woodworth Passes Away at His Millfield Home at Seventy-three. Had Lived There Sixty Years – Followed the Shoe Trade – Extensive Dealer in Mineral Lands in Sunday Creek Valley. MILLFIELD, Dec. 31. – After an illness which continued for many years in a more or less acute state, the death of Chester Woodworth, one of the pioneers of Dover township and the county, occurred at his home in this place Wednesday night shortly before midnight. Each winter for the past several years... Read More	Athens Messenger and Herald (OH) Thursday, January 3, 1901. page 1, columns 1,2 A LIFE’S WORK DONE Chester Woodworth Passes Away at His Millfield Home at Seventy-three. Had Lived There Sixty Years – Followed the Shoe Trade – Extensive Dealer in Mineral Lands in Sunday Creek Valley. MILLFIELD, Dec. 31. – After an illness which continued for many years in a more or less acute state, the death of Chester Woodworth, one of the pioneers of Dover township and the county, occurred at his home in this place Wednesday night shortly before midnight. Each winter for the past several years his chronic lung affliction would return to him and he would be placed at the point of death. However, by his inherent tenacity of life he was able to throw off for a time the strong hold of the disease and he would return to his former physical condition. The last severe attack of lung trouble began early this winter and he gradually grew worse as the winter months progressed. For several days before his passing his breathing became labored and difficult and the end was hourly expected by his family and friends. In this condition he lingered and on Wednesday night, shortly before the turning of a new day, the tired eyelids were touched to sleep and all that was mortal had ceased to be. He was a citizen highly respected for his honesty and integrity and was known by every man, woman and child in the Sunday Creek Valley. Throughout the northern part of the county he was familiarly known and his heavy real estate interests brought him in contact with numerous business men. Though he accumulated considerable wealth by his wide speculation in mineral lands, he was the friend of the poor man who was struggling to secure a home. He was born in Ashtabula county August 18, 1827, and was therefore 73 years, four months and eight days old at the time of his death. In all that the term implies he led an exemplary life. In 1851 he was married to Rebecca Johnson, and to them were born two children, Lydia, who died in childhood, and Mrs. H. D. Henry of Athens, who survives him and who lived to minister to his wants during his declining years. In 1875 he met with the greatest afflictions of his life in the death of his wife. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Pratt who survives him, and through the years of his patient suffering she was his constant comforter and gratified every wish with characteristic womanly devotion. The funeral services which were largely attended, were held Saturday at 11:30 in the new church which he contributed liberally for its erection, and it is a remarkable coincident that his funeral was the first services of any kind held in the new house of worship. The services were conducted by Rev. R. S. Dwiggins and the remains were interred in the Nye cemetery at Chauncey. The following facts concerning the life and the career of the deceased are taken from a biography written five years ago by E. C. Woodworth and which was published at that time: When seventeen years old, as was the custom in those days, Chester received his “time,” and was then thrown upon his own resources. He decided to become a shoemaker. He followed the shoe business in a desultory sort of way until 1845, when he in the spring of that year, went to Nelsonville, where he opened a shop and purchased leather of Chas. Cable, paying for it in boots and shoes. Mr. Woodworth remained in Nelsonville until the fall of 1846, when failing health obliged him to leave the bench. Leaving Nelsonville he came to Millfield where he has ever since resided. Upon locating there he began to invest in horses, and purchasing two or three at a time, would lead them through to the northern part of the state, where he sold them at a fair profit. This he continued to do for two years, and in that time had made a snug little sum, as his ventures were nearly all successful. This business, however, he did not follow through choice, but rather through necessity, as the condition of his health made outdoor exercise incumbent upon him. In the autumn of 1849, having considerably recuperated in health, he again engaged in the boot and shoe business, this time in Millfield. The shoe business at that time not only meant the selling of boots and shoes, but also the manufacture of them. For a period of twenty years he followed this business continually and successfully, he doing the cutting, fitting and selling, and during this time he employed from three to four hands. The number of pairs of the finished articles that four skilled shoemakers can turn out for a month, would perhaps astonish the *, and soon the boots and shoes manufactured in Millfield became famous throughout Athens county. At the end of twenty years he had accumulated the sum of $,000, and this considering everything was not a bad income on the investment. In about 1870, the late Thomas Ewing of New York, but then residing in Lancaster, Ohio, appeared in the Sunday Creek vicinity, his ostensible mission being to purchase all the mineral lands in Trimble and Dover townships. He made Chester Woodworth his agent, his purchasable territory being confined to Dover township. For a period business was transacted in due form, remittances came regularly and on time, but at last all communications ceased. In the meantime Mr. Woodworth had purchased mineral lands in Dover township to the value of $82,000, making himself individually responsible, expecting of course, that Mr. Ewing would take the property off his hands. Unable longer to account for Ewing’s silence, Woodworth went to Lancaster to ascertain the cause. He soon learned that Ewing was hopelessly involved financially. In the course of the conversation held there, he said: “Woodworth, I can do nothing now, and if Sherman resumes specie payment we’re all lost. The only thing to do is for you to sell the surface and try to liquidate the indebtedness. But hold the mineral, if possible.” With these words, he returned home and began the work of selling the land, and by 1875, the debt had been reduced to $6,000. By a clearance title given by Ewing, Woodworth became owner of all mineral land purchased while acting as agent. In the meantime, Ewing was unable to pay for the lands he had purchased in Trimble township. These were being sold for taxes and were purchased by Woodworth. By this transaction he became the owner of large mineral tracts in Trimble township, besides those already purchased in Dover township, and the next thing was to dispose of them. In 1877 the first tract known as the Bailey Run lands was sold to the Floodwood Coal company. In 1882 lands lying on Green’s Run and owned jointly by himself and Major J. M. Welch of Athens, were purchased by the Cleveland Coal company, which finally became the Hocking Valley company. The third tract located in Trimble township, and comprising the territory on which Jacksonville now stands, was sold in 1883 to O. D. Jackson. In 1892 Mr. Woodworth sold the Fuller tract in Dover township, lying just west of Millfield, to C. L. Poston and this sale virtually brought to a close Mr. Woodworth’s transactions in mineral lands. In religion he was a Christadelphian, and numerous adherents of the faith are found in the United States, England and Canada. (transcribed by John D. Cunningham December 15, 2018)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Chester Woodworth's memorial?
Chester Woodworth's memorial is located at: Nye Cemetery, Chauncey, Athens County, USA.
When did Chester Woodworth death?
Chester Woodworth death on 26 Dec 1900 in Millfield, Athens County, Ohio, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Chester Woodworth's memorial?
Latitude: 39.4053001
Longitude: -82.1260986

Family Members:

Parent

Chester Henry Woodworth

(1789 - 1848)

Lucia Talcott Woodworth

(1791 - 1845)

Spouse

Minerva J Pratt Woodworth

(1843 - 1929)

Rebecca S. Johnson Woodworth

(1831 - 1875)

Siblings

Henry Leroy Woodworth

(1814 - 1857)

Christopher Henry “C.H.” Woodworth

(1830 - 1897)

Earl Harrison Woodworth

(1847 - 1913)

Children

Lydia Ann Woodworth

(1854 - 1860)

Effie Lourena Woodworth Henry

(1868 - 1935)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Nye Cemetery
Chauncey, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4053001, -82.1260986

2. Athens County Infirmary Cemetery
Chauncey, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3943960, -82.1142460

3. Circle Hill Cemetery
Chauncey, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3906810, -82.1555060

4. Hilltop Cemetery
Millfield, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4249992, -82.0969009

5. Koons Family Cemetery
Millfield, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4187030, -82.0909380

6. Brown Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4025002, -82.0852966

7. Hocking Cemetery
The Plains, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3692017, -82.1241989

8. Augustine Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3764000, -82.0952988

9. Utah Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4433500, -82.1599900

10. True Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4534940, -82.1081120

11. Zion Cemetery
The Plains, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3507996, -82.1358032

12. Rush Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4575005, -82.1493988

13. Greenlawn Cemetery
Nelsonville, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4317017, -82.1924973

14. Tippie Cemetery
Ames Township, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4159540, -82.0519990

15. Canaan Township Unidentified Cemetery #1
Canaan Township, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3709720, -82.0640720

16. Salem Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3563995, -82.1781006

17. Hunter Cemetery
Athens, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3605995, -82.0678024

18. McDougal Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4043999, -82.0391998

19. Whitmore Cemetery
Buchtel, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4597015, -82.1789017

20. LeGrande Cemetery
Buchtel, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4574120, -82.1829710

21. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Athens, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3391991, -82.1025009

22. Taylor Ridge Cemetery
Greens Run, Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4724998, -82.1014023

23. Stover Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3636017, -82.1988983

24. Carter Cemetery
Athens County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3732986, -82.2074966