California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


JOHN A. CHESEBRO.  Son of Gilbert and Lucy Stanton Chesebro, was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, 
April 20, 1832. When he was but two years of age, his parents moved to Stonington, Connecticut, 
where the subject of this sketch made his home until he came to California, and was there educated in 
the common schools. At the age of fourteen he went to sea, first shipping from Stonington, and 
engaged in the fur sealing trade, which he continued until his twenty-first year. In November, 1852, 
we find young Chesebro on board of the clipper ship "Contest," bound via Cape Horn for California; 
and after a passage of nearly five months, he arrived in San Francisco February, 1853. Staying a short 
time in the city, he proceeded to Sierra County, and engaged in mining, residing in that county about 
ten years. In the mean time, 1855, he paid a visit to his home, where he sojourned some four months. 
While in the above county, Mr. Chesebro was largely interested in mining, at one time being one of 
the six owners of the "Union Claim," at that time very valuable. Mr. Chesebro's next move was to 
Washoe City, Washoe County, Nevada, where he resided for three years. In 1865 he paid a second 
visit to his home in Connecticut, going via, Panama, and there got married, and sojourned some six 
months. In the spring of 1866, with his wife, he returned to this coast, coming direct to Napa County, 
locating in Napa City, where he engaged in the hotel business as proprietor of the Bevere House, in 
which he continued some two years. In January, 1868, Mr. Chesebro first came to Calistoga, and was 
employed in the hotel at the Calistoga Hot Springs for one season. We next find him in business for 
himself in the building now occupied as a dry goods store by Mr. Weller. He next leased a building and 
opened a saloon and chop-house where his present hotel now stands, and run this for some time. He 
then purchased the property, and in 1876 bought the adjoining property, and built his present 
commodious hotel, the Magnolia. In 1876, Mr. Chesebro made a third visit to his home, accompanied 
by his wife and family. The subject of our sketch was married in Wakefield, Rhode Island, to Miss June 
P. Champlin, a native of that State; and by this union they have one son, Edwin.