Col. Robert Chester was born in Carlisle, Penn., July 81, 1793. He was reared at Jonesboro, East Tenn., and was educated at the "old field" schools. He served in the war of 1812 as quartermaster of the Third Tennessee Regiment, being mustered in at Knoxville October 14, 1814. In 1816 he began merchandising, and in 1819 engaged in the tobacco business, in which he lost a fortune. In 1822 he was surveyor of Smith County. From 1824 to 1830 he was a merchant of Jackson, and from 1825 to 1833 was postmaster of the town. In 1835 he went to Texas, where he was appointed a colonel by Gov. Houston in the Texan revolution, but the victory of San Jacinto prevented further proceeding. He returned to Jackson in 1836, and was reappointed postmaster and appointed registrar of the western land district, and has been engaged in the land business much of the time since. In 1837 he was appointed by President Van Buren United States marshal for the western district, and served with one or more intermissions until 1861 - sixteen years. He lost heavily during the war, in slaves and other property. He was elected to the Legislature in 1870 and re-elected in 1872, and has been a life-long Democrat, having been an intimate friend of Gen. Jackson, and having married the latter's niece, youngest daughter of Robert Hayes. In 1884 he was one of the Tennessee electors. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge since 1817, and is a Knight Templar. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Hayes, by whom he had seven children: Mary Jane, John, Robert Hayes, Martha Butler, William Butler, Andrew Jackson and Samuel Hayes. His wife having died, Col. Chester married Mrs. Jane P. Donelson in 1855. During the late war his four sons served in the Confederate Army with conspicuous gallantry. Col. Chester has led a remarkable life, full of honor, usefulness, enterprise, benevolence and manhood, and has the fullest confidence and respect of all who know him. The great State has no better citizen.

Goodspeeds History of Tennessee