John McFerron

John McFerron – unwittingly did one thing that keeps his name alive.  He was the first one to enter land on the site of the present city of Chester.  This he did in 1818.  Some years later, he sold his holdings to three men, Samuel Smith, J. L. Lamb and Thomas Mather who at once set about establishing some industries.  A slaughter house was built in the same year, and an important meat packing industry grew up.  At about the same time another man, R. B. Servant, built his castor oil press there.  As a name for the new town, Mrs. Smith, wife of one of the founding fathers, chose the name of her native town in England, and thus Chester is today the name of the city.