Transcribed by Jeannie Smith (wordgenius@aol.com), 01/17/2000 From book History of Buchanan County, Missouri Originally published in 1881. Reprinted in 1973 by Seward W. Lilly, Litho Printers & Bindery, PO Box 488, Cassville, MO 65625.Laurel Co.

CHARLES CHESNUT, of the firms of CHESNUT & Son, dealers in stove s and tinware, C. & P.E. Chesnut, grocers, and C. & P.E. Chesnut, livery. Few of the representative business men of St. Joseph have been more actively engaged in various branches of industry than Charles CHESNUT. He is a native of Laurel County, Kentucky, and was born in 1834. His father Abraham, was among the early settlers of that state, and died when Charles was young. In 1850, our subject came to Missouri, locating in Chariton County, where he was raised to manhood and educated. His boyhood days were spent in tilling the soil. In 1863, he became a resident of Buchanan County, farming one year, after which he locate in Platte County, residing there until 1865, when we find him in St. Joseph, engaged in the grocery trade, which he still pursues with a considerable degree of success. In 1876, he became the senior member of the firm of C.& P.E. Chesnut, liverymen. In 1851, Miss Mary E. Blakely, a native of Kentucky, became his wife, and by this union they have one son living, William, a promising young gentleman, and the junior member of the firm. Mr. Chesnut is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason and a member of the Chapter, and also a Forester.