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Chesser
Valley Community Monument
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
Historical Marker
Text
Site of Chesser
Valley Community
Near this site
is the Chesser Valley, named for early settler John Dan Chesser, whose
home became the focal point of a small rural community by the same
name. Missouri native John Dan Chesser (1842-1914) moved to Texas
with his family in 1854 and married Tennessean Elizabeth Caroline
Epley (1842-1924) in 1860. They first lived in Burnet,
Texas, but moved to this part of the state after Chesser's service
in the Texas State Troops during the Civil War.
The Chesser's homesteaded 160 acres of land in the valley in what
was then part of Brown County. They expanded their log home as their
family grew to number 11 children. It served as a church, hospital
and hotel for travelers along the Williams Ranch Road.
Chesser Valley was the site of frequent camp meetings. Entire families
came from miles away to camp out in a grove of Live Oak trees and
attend prayer and preaching services under a tabernacle near the Chesser
house. A one-teacher school began in 1868 to serve the children in
the area around Chesser Valley. After Mills County was created out
of Brown County in 1887, the new county commissioners court recognized
the school district and designated it as District No. 8.
Those who settled the Chesser Valley community were primarily friends
and family of John Dan and Elizabeth Chesser. The Chesser house, which
had been the nucleus of the community, burned in 1926, and by the
dawn of the 21st century, only one original structure remained from
the period of the valley's settlement.
2002 |
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Community
photo on the above monument
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
Chesser
Valley Community historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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