Chesmore Alfred M.

Notes:

According to Fred Hunt present owner of Chesmore Seed Company the company started back in 1878.
The following biography of Alfred M. Chesmore is an early history of the Chesmore Seed Company:
Biographical Sketch of A. M. Chesmore, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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A. M. Chesmore, dealer in standard farm machinery, wagons and grass
seeds, general agent for manufacturing company's goods, Buckeye grain
drills, Barley's reversible tooth harrow, D. M. Osborne's goods,
Minnesota Chief thresher, Garr, Scott & Co.'s threshers, engines, etc.
Mr. Chesmore established this business in 1878. He is a native of
Massachusetts, and emigrated to Missouri in 1863. He was raised a
farmer, and was married in 1864 to Miss Lucy E. Brown, a native of
New Hampshire. They have six children. He is a Mason and a member
of the Missionary Baptist Church. By a fire, in 1879, he sustained
a severe loss.
Reuben Chesmore was the father of Alfred M. Chesmore and his mother was Elizabeth Upton. Reuben is buried at Mount Mora Cemetery here in St. Joseph , but Elizabeth is not. She must have died back in Massachusetts. Alfred was born July 30, 1838 in Westminster, Worcester, MA. He died July 12, 1900 in St. Joseph, Missouri and is buried at Mount Mora Cemetery. He married Lucy Eliza Brown in 1864. Lucy Brown was born in Winchester, NH and was the daughter of Jacob Brown, 2nd and Mary Francis Hartwell. Both parents are buried in Old Maysville Cemetery, DeKalb County, MO. I think Jacob died in St. Joe though... Lucy's descendants go back to Thomas Browne of Lavenham, Suffolk County, England and wife, Bridget Bateman. He came over on the Confidence in 1637 to Watertown, MA but shortly after helped start the town of Sudbury. He moved a few years later to Concord, Midddlesex Co., MA where they lived until Bridget's death. He then moved to Cambridge where he remarried and had several more children. He is buried in First Parish Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex County, MA. This information about Lucy came from Sonia Abate a distant relative. Lucy is also buried at Mount Mora Cemetery. They had the following children: Bertha, Margaret, Flora, Mary Drucilla, Carlton, Harry (became a doctor), Robert and Alfred. Alfred M. Chesmore also served in the Civil War as a Lieutenant in the 43rd Missouri Infantry Union Army.
The earliest record other than this biography is the St. Joseph City Directory for 1878. It has Alfred M. Chesmore, agricultural implements, 209 S.4th, bds. 10th, sw corner of Faraon Street. This remains the same until in 1887 which has Alfred M. Chesmore selling agriclultural implements first at 216 S. 4th St. and then on 708 S. 10th St. in St. Joseph. His father Reuben G. Chesmore must have helped in the original company at 708 S. 10-th St. because he is listed at that address in 1889. Reuben G. Chesmore died in 1895. The Chesmores were joined by James B. Farber in 1888 and the company name was changed to Chesmore and Farber. Alfred’s daughter Bertha served as bookkeeper and clerk for the company. Alfred M. Chesmore died in 1900 . He is listed as the President in 1900 of Chesmore-Eastlake Mercantile Company. He resides at 823 Charles. Alfred his son is a clerk at Wyeth Hardware and Manufacturing Co. and Carlton R. works for his father at Chesmore-Eastlake Mercantile Company as Secretary Treasurer and F. A. Brown is the Vice President. It is at 206-2-8 S. 4th St. At that time James B. Farber starts his own company Farber Seed Company selling field and grass seeds at 731 S. 4th in competition with Chesmore-Eastlake. In 1901 after Alfred Chesmore’s death, Carlton is the President and Mary Drucilla Chesmore became the Secretary-Treasurere. They moved the location in 1902 to 213-215 S. 4th St. In 1924 the business was Chesmore Seed Company at 409 Felix retail and office and warehouse at 210-212 S. 3rd St. Carlton Chesmore sold the company to Fred Hunt son of James E. and Clara Chase Hunt in 1985. In 1986 It is the Chesmore Seed Company and Fred C. Hunt is President and Carolyn Tanner Secretary -Treasurer. They sell seeds wholesale at 1302 S. 4th St. At the present time Fred Hunt’s daughter Nancy Mulvaney is running the company and Fred is semi- retired and in his 80’s, but still very active. The business is at 5030 East 36 Hwy and they also have Chesmore Irrigation at the same location.

Reuben Chesmore was the father of Alfred M. Chesmore and his mother was Elizabeth Upton. Reuben is buried at Mount Mora Cemetery here in St. Joseph , but Elizabeth is not. She must have died back in Massachusetts. Alfred was born July 30, 1838 in Westminster, Worcester, MA. He died July 12, 1900 in St. Joseph, Missouri and is buried at Mount Mora Cemetery. He married Lucy Eliza Brown in 1864. Lucy Brown was born in Winchester, NH and was the daughter of Jacob Brown, 2nd and Mary Francis Hartwell. Both parents are buried in Old Maysville Cemetery, DeKalb County, MO. I think Jacob died in St. Joe though...Lucy's descendants go back to Thomas Browne of Lavenham, Suffolk County, England and wife, Bridget Bateman. He came over on the Confidence in 1637 to Watertown, MA but shortly after helped start the town of Sudbury. He moved a few years later to Concord, Midddlesex Co., MA where they lived until Bridget's death. He then moved to Cambridge where he remarried and had several more children. He is buried in First Parish Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex County, MA. This information about Lucy came from Sonia Abate a distant relative. Lucy is also buried at Mount Mora Cemetery. They had the following children: Bertha, Margaret, Flora, Mary Drucilla, Carlton, Harry, Robert and Alfred. Alfred M. Chesmore also served in the Civil War as a Lieutenant in the 43rd Missouri Infantry Union Army.
The following family members are buried at Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, MO
Robert B. Chesmore 28 Aug 1887-29 Jul 1902
Dr. Harry P Chesmore 3 Oct 1877-26 Sep 1959
Reuben G. Chesmore 13 Nov 1808-3 Mar 1895
Alfred M Chesmore 30 Jul 1838-12 Jul 1900
Lucy E. Chesmore (wife of Alfred M.) 16 Apr 1844-3 Feb 1926
Mary Drucilla Chesmore 2 Sep 1871-16 Jul 1930
Also buried there are James B. Farber 16 Sep 1856-5 Jul 1924 and his wife
Alice Farber 14 Jan 1863-9 Nov 1944

Fred Hunts parents James E. and Clara Chase Hunt are buried in Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, MO
Clara Chase Hunt 1876-1957
James E. Hunt 1873-1952


History of the Farber Seed Company after it became a competitor to Chesmore Seed Company:
Biography of James B. Farber from Buchanan County and St. Joseph page 543
James B. Farber, seed dealer, at 725 South Fourth Street, is a native of Iowa. He was born in Chariton, September 16, 1856. He was educated in the schools of the town of his birth and came to St. Joseph in 1883. He engaged in the implement and seed business, the firm being known as Chesmore & Farber. He is now in the seed business exclusively. He was married to Miss Alice Ashford of St. Joseph. They have one sone Reuel A. Farber, age 18, whose halftone appears on this page. Fraternally Mr. Farber belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
In 1900 James Farber is listed as the Manager of Farber Seed Company at 731 S. 4th St. His brother Mark J. Farber is a physician at 520!/2 Francis St. In 1902 James Farber is the Manager and W. P. Graham is the President, H. Stringfellow is the Secretary-Treasurer. The location of the business is listed at 4th and Mary Sts. James Farber remains the Manager in the St. Joseph City Directory until 1926 after his death and Reuel A. Farber is the President and Myrell M. Farber Vice President, Horace Stringfellow Secretary-Treasurer.
Need to get recent history from Linda Farber retired anesthesiologist.
The Stringfellow family is also buried at Mount Mora:
Catherine Ann Adams Stringfellow b. Georgetown D.C. 6 mar 1826 d. Haywood, IL 18 Jul 1885
Benjamin F. Stringfellow b. Frederickshire, VA 3 Sep 1816 d. 25 Apr 1891
Horace Stringfellow 1859-1949 (might be the President of Farber Seeds in 1900)
Eleanor A Stringfellow 1860-1947 (wife of Horace)
John Henry Stringfellow 1861-1950
H. Franklin Stingfellow 1878-1937
Rosetta Stringfellow 1880-1958 (wife of H. Franklin)
Esther B. Stringfellow 1874-1949
Elizabeth Stringfellow 1912-1935
William E Stringfellow 1868-1946
John H. Stringfellow Sr. 1819-1905
Ophelia Stringfellow 1828-1912 (wife of John H.)
(not all buried together)

Alfred married Brown Lucy Elizabeth on 13 Mar 1864 in DeKalb, DeKalb County, MO. Lucy (daughter of Brown II Jacob and Hartwell Mary Frances) was born on 16 Apr 1844 in Winchester, Cheshire County, NH; died on 03 Feb 1926 in St. Joseph, Buchanan, MO; was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Chesmore Flora
2. Chesmore Bertha Elizabeth was born on 05 Apr 1865 in DeKalb County, MO.
3. Chesmore Margaret H. was born on 03 Dec 1866 in DeKalb County, MO.
4. Chesmore Mary Drucilla was born on 02 Sep 1871; died in 16 Jul 1930; was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO.
5. Chesmore Carlton Russell was born on 23 Nov 1873 in DeKalb County, MO.
6. Chesmore Harry P. was born on 03 Oct 1877; died on 26 Sep 1959; was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO.
7. Chesmore Alfred Ransome was born on 30 Jan 1881 in St. Joseph, Buchanan, MO.
8. Chesmore Robert was born on 28 Aug 1887; died on 29 Jul 1902 in St. Joseph, MO; was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO.