CHESTNUT, William - 1899
Source: Crawfordsville Sunday Star 2 Jan 1899
William Chestnut, aged 92 years, died suddenly on Saturday evening at the home of his son-in-law, John Munns at Waynetown. He had been in his usual good health all day and his death was a surprise. Since his wife's death six years ago he had made his home with the Munns family. His funeral will be on Monday at Wingate, his home and where he first settled in early days of the county. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 6 January 1899
Wm Chestnut, who died at Waynetown on Saturday last was buried here on Monday. Mr. Chestnut was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, October 28, 1807, making him ninety one years, two months and three days old at the time of his death. His parents were among the pioneer residents of eastern Ohio, and their family consisted of three sons and one daughter. In 1839, Mr. Chestnut in company with Dr. Thomas Chestnut, a twin brother, came to the then great west and settled in Newtown, Fountain County, Ind., the doctor practicing his profession while our subject engaged in other pursuits. Aug. 18, 1844, he married Miss Catherine Bever, a daughter of Mr. Christian Bever, one of our first settlers, who had a decade before, laid out the town of Pleasant Hill, now Wingate. Soon after his marriage he moved for a time to Attica and engaged in the mercantile business. He afterward, in partnership with his brother-in-law, the late M. C. Bever, engaged in merchandising here and was successful. In 1850 he moved to the old homestead just northwest of town now in the corporation of Wingate. Here he had lived until his wife died in 1893 since which time he has stayed mostly with his daughter, Mrs. John Munns, at Waynetown, but ever claimed this place as his home. Two children survive him, Mrs. Nannie Munns and Melville Chestnut, who lives at the old homestead at this place. Another son, Thomas, was killed in a gravel slide in Nebraska more than thirty years ago. While his twin brother engaged in the Methodist ministry, Wm Chestnut never united with any church but lived the life of a pure upright Christian gentleman and filled the full measure of an old time gentleman. He was quiet, friendly and sympathetic, never uttering an unkind word of criticism against anyone. He had no enemies but was respected and loved by all who knew him. With an acquaintance with him of more than half a century we never heard anyone say an unkind word of him. His funeral was preached at the M. E. Church here on Monday at high twelve by Rev. C. W. Postill, assisted by Rev. Chas. Jakes, of New Richmond, after which he was laid to rest in the old cemetery in the north end of town, by the side of his companion who had preceded him by more than five years.
Source: Waynetown Despatch 7 Jan 1899 p 1
Worn out in the battle of life, William Chestnut at the ripe old age of 91 years 2 months 3 days passed into the future life on Saturday of last week. Mr. Chestnut was born at Chilicothe, Ohio and with his twin brother, Dr. Thomas Chestnut came to this vicinity about the year 1832. He was married to Catharine Bever in the year 1844 to which union 3 children were given – one daughter and two sons. The daughter, Mrs. John W. Munns and one son are left, the mother, father and brother, all having passed into the great beyond. Mr. Chestnut was a man of much business ability in his early life and was well and favorably known in business at Attica, Crawfordsville, Newtown and Wingate. He was a life long republican and gave his political energy to the support of his party. For the past five years he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. John S. Munns and until recently devoted himself to reading the daily papers and to books. It was realized that he was slowly growing weaker and that life was softly slipping but no thought of the end being so near had come to the family. He arose in the morning as usual, eat heartily at breakfast and dinner and before the evening came was sleeping the sleep of death, having expired in a moment after having stepped from the house and returning by the aid of Mrs. Munns. The funeral services were conducted from the ME Church at Wingate by Rev. Postill on Monday. Interment taking place at the cemetery just north of town. - kbz