Sacramento County
Biographies
GEORGE W.
CHESLEY
GEORGE W. CHESLEY.--In the chronicle of events attending the growth of Sacramento, from an outpost of civilization to her present proud position, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch must always remain a central figure. As an old-time merchant, yet in the front rank of commercial circles, as well as a citizen who has always taken a pride in the advancement of the city of his adoption. Mr. Chesley commands the respect, esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, in a degree, and to an extent, seldom observed. He is a native of Dover, New Hampshire, born February 3, 1822, his parents being Richard and Mary (Twombley) Chesley, both of whom came of old New England families. His father, who was a contractor, died when the subject of this sketch was a mere boy in years, and he, after going to school at Lynn something over a year, went to Boston to live with a sister who had married and located in that city. There he commenced his first occupation in life, —that of clerking in a dry-goods store. At the age of seventeen years he went to Providence, Rhode Island, and resided there until the 2d of February, 1849, when he went to New York, having determined to try his fortunes on the golden shores of California. On the 5th of February the “Crescent City” steamed out of New York harbor with Mr. Chesley as a passenger, and she was the second steamer to make the trip to Chagres, the “Falcon” being the first. On the 25th of May following, after having been engaged on the Isthmus in the auction and ticket brokerage business, Mr. Chesley resumed his journey to San Francisco on the steamer “Oregon”, Captain Pierson. On the 13th of June, 1849, the “Oregon,” steamed through the Golden Gate, and Mr. Chesley landed on California soil. He at once embarked in the auction and Commission business in connection with John A. Clark, son of ex-Mayor Aaron Clark, of New York, and John Johnson, under the firm name of Johnson, Chesley & Clark. That firm continued until March, 1850, when it was dissolved, and Mr. Chesley came to Sacramento and engaged in the auction business, on the corner of Sixth and K streets, which was the center of the cattle and horse market, great droves of these animals being almost constantly about. He was burned out here in the great fire of 1852, and this decided him to return to San Francisco. There he was interested in real estate, having purchased some fifty and 100 vara lots, and subdivided them. These yielded him, $3,100. Chesley street was laid out, and took its name in his honor. In 1854 Mr. Chesley came back to Sacramento, and in the following year, forming a partnership with Mr. Bradley (now a retired capitalist of San Francisco), and ex-Mayor Bryant, started the wholesale house of Chesley & Bryant, in the block below the present store on Front street. In 1860, Mr. Bradley, who had previously sold out came back into the firm, which then became Chesley & Bradley. In 1863 the latter’s interest was purchased by Mr. Chesley, and the firm became G. W. Chesley & Co., which is the present style. In 1862 the business was removed to the present location (twenty-eight years ago), and now the house is well known and does an extensive business throughout California and adjoining States and Territories. No house on the Pacific Coast enjoys a better reputation among its patrons than that of G. W. Chesley & Co. Mr. Chesley was married at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1844, to Miss Alice Marie Whipple, a descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Chesley is a lady of rare gifts and accomplishments, and her letters, written from Paris during the Franco-Prussian war, afforded material of almost dramatic interest to her friends in California. She was in the French capital when it was besieged by the German hosts, and endured with great fortitude all the horrors of the dark days of the celebrated siege. Mr. Chesley is a member of the San Francisco and Sacramento Societies of California Pioneers, and has been for three years president of the latter body, despite the unwritten law which confines any member to but a single term in the executive office. He is a member of the Improvement Association, and of the Water Commission. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was an active member of Engine Company No. 3, and is prominently identified with the exempt firemen. Mr. Chesley has always been in the front rank in everything having a tendency to advance the interests of Sacramento, and to add to her reputation for hospitality. He was chairman, and an active manager of the committee, having in charge the entertainment of the visiting members of the National Encampment, G. A. R., and the marvelous success of that entertainment will always mark a brilliant page in the history of Sacramento. Mr. Chesley is a kind-hearted, hospitable gentleman of the old school, who has been an eye-witness and participant in the wonderful progress of California from the pioneer days; nevertheless he yet ranks among the most active and enterprising men of the capital city. His fund of information concerning the early days of California has a peculiar interest, and his anecdotes of those times, bringing together, as they do, scenes and incidents, both humorous and pathetic, have a charm which makes them always appreciated by his friends.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Pages 733-734. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.