Another Chester Defection

Like his half-sister Carrie Raschka, in 1915 John Chester moved his family from Ainsworth to Hobart. At least I think that's what happened. As late as October 1913 he was still being described as "John Chester of Ainsworth," though he no longer owned any land there, but I can't say that I know exactly where he was living after that. The newspaper report of the birth of his daughter Daisy on March 30, 1914, did not specify where that happy event occurred.

The suspense ended with a report in February 1915 that John, Emma and their four children had moved to Hobart, into the "John Hancock house on Lincoln avenue" in the Joryville neighborhood, and I still can't say I know exactly where they were living because I have no idea which house was John Hancock's.

Nor do I know exactly what John (Chester, that is) was doing with his time. Perhaps he was living off the money he'd made selling his land to his brothers. He wasn't exactly idle:

While John Chester was vulcanizing an auto tire at his home last Sunday afternoon [June 13] about 1:30, Ed Humes, standing several feet away, lighted a match and an instant later there was a flash, and Mr. Chester's right hand was severely burned from the explosion of a small quantity of gasoline they were using.

It's July before we hear of John doing anything to earn a living. Then, in the same issues of the Hobart News that mentioned his having a float in Hobart's impressive Fourth of July parade, John began advertising his new line of work:



John seems to have been an auto enthusiast, so I suppose that work would suit him.

Later that month he added another element to his business — he bought the Trueman pool and billiard room business on Main Street. Only about a week before, Lloyd Arnold and Fred Londenburg had bought it from Mr. Trueman; then they turned around and sold it to John.

The Gazette said that John would operate the pool room "in connection with his auto livery." That sounds like a pleasant way to run a couple of businesses — hang around shooting pool until someone calls up wanting to rent a car. The only downside to the pool-hall business would be the need to deal with fights and drunks ... on the other hand, has John ever seemed like a shrinking violet? — he may have found it amusing to break up a fight or throw out a drunk now and then, as long as his pool tables didn't get broken.

In reporting on the purchase, the Gazette noted that John was then "in Detroit several days getting some auto repairs." Those must have been some impressive repairs, to require travel to Detroit.


Sources:
♦ "Additional Local." Hobart News 30 Sept. 1915.
♦ Advertisement. Hobart News 8 July 1915.
♦ "Hobart Has a Record Celebration Saturday." Hobart News 8 July 1915.
♦ "Personal and Local Mention." Hobart News 9 Oct. 1913; 2 Apr. 1914; 18 Feb. 1915; 17 June 1915.
♦ "Pool Room Changes Hands." Hobart Gazette 16 July 1915.
♦ "Pool Room Changes Hands Again." Hobart Gazette 30 July 1915.