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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     JOHN H. MCCHESNEY resides about one-half mile west from Delight post office, where he follows farming.  He owns about four hundred and eighty acres of first class wheat land and handles in addition to that one section owned by his sons.  Mr. McChesney is a large wheat producer, raising annually from ten to twelve thousand bushels of this valuable cereal.  He is a progressive man, governed by upright principles and is known as one of the substantial and respected citizens of the county.
     John H. McChesney was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, on April 16, 1842, the son of George W. and Evelina (Moffett) McChesney, natives of Virginia, where the great-great-grandfather of our subject located about 1740.  He was a patriot in the Revolution.  That state was the family home until 1858, when the parents journeyed west to Texas and there remained until their death.  The father was captain of the state militia in Virginia until his journey west.  They were the parents of seven children, namely, Robert, Hannah, Elizabeth, James, Adam, John and Zacharia.  Their ancestors were Scotch and Irish people.  Our subject was educated in Roanoke, Virginia, and in the common schools of Texas.  At the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the confederate army and served in the Trans-Mississippi army under General Taylor until May, 1865, when he was mustered out.  He participated in the battles of Mansfield and Yellow Bile, besides various smaller engagements.  Following his martial service, he went into the stock business in Texas, continuing the same there until 1875, then he turned his attention to farming.  In 1880 he moved to New Mexico, where he followed raising stock for four years, then he returned to Texas and farmed until 1887, when he journeyed west to Washington and handled stock until he took a homestead.  This he improved and sold and bought three-fourths of a section where he now resides.
     On April 18, 1866, Mr. McChesney married Miss Virginia Rogers.  Her parents, Joseph and Rachel (Simons) Rogers, are natives of Tennessee and England, respectively and settled in Texas in early days, where they remained the balance of their lives.  They were the parents of five children, Susan, Virginia, Thomas, John and Joseph.  To Mr. and Mrs. McChesney thirteen children have been born, Evelina, Susan, Rachel, Adam, William, John, Hannah, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Zachariah, Robert and Virginia.
     Mr. McChesney has always been a Democrat and is a good one, well informed and active.
     Fraternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., while he and his wife belong to the Christian church.  They are prosperous people, and through industry and wisdom have gained the generous confidence of the people.
 
 

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