Husband Wesley Chambers 1 2 3 4
Born: 13 Sep 1829 - Harborcreek Twp, Erie Co, PA 2 4 5
Christened:
Died: 18 Mar 1896 6
Buried:
Father: David Chambers (1805-1890) 1 5
Mother: Mabel Nash (1801-1840) 1 5
Marriage: 20 Sep 1860 6
Wife Cordelia J. Bonnell 4 6 7
Born: 2 Feb 1830 - Harborcreek, Erie Co, PA 4 6
Christened:
Died: 7 Nov 1903 6
Buried:
Children
1 M Fred Nash Chambers 9 10
AKA: Frederick Chambers 8
Born: 10 Jul 1861 - Tidioute, Deerfield Twp, Warren Co, PA 9 11
Christened:
Died: 3 May 1918 11
Buried: - Oil City, Venango Co, PA
Spouse: Bertha L. Williams ( - ) 9
Spouse: Anna M. Chambers ( - ) 8 11
2 F Anne Lee Chambers 4 12
Born: - Rouseville, Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Dr. August Carl Morck (1859-1925) 13 14 15
Marr: 1889 - ? Venango Co, PA
3 M George D. Chambers 6
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1919
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Wesley Chambers
He grew up in Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, acquiring his preliminary education in the common schools there. He made the most of his literary opportunities, later studying at Allegheny College, Meadville, and during his early manhood taught school in the winter seasons, following farming in summer. He was caught by the gold fever, and made his way overland by team to California in 1849, spending several years in the gold regions and undergoing the typical experiences of prospectors in those days.
Returning to Pennsylvania in 1860, he immediately became interested in the oil fields of the western section of the dtate, late in the same year locating at the town of Tidioute, Warren County, and subsequently at Rouseville, Venango County. On Aug. 1, 1861, he came to the Rynd farm in that neighborhood, though he made his home at Rouseville during most of the time that he was interested in that property, and he was soon busy transporting oil to Oil City and Pittsburgh, both by team and boat, from various points along Oil creek. It was in 1864 that he began production on his own account, his first operations being on the Beers & Cornen farm, on Cherry run, and unprofitable. In 1865 he ventured operations on the Rynd farm, where he did well, remaining there until 1867, and in 1868-69 he made another attempt at production on Cherry run. In 1875 he became interested in the Bradford field and a year and a half later was associated with J. T. Jones and others in the formation of the Bradford Oil Company, of which he was the first president. His operations in oil became very extensive, taking him into Armstrong (at Parker's Landing) and Butler counties, in Bradford, Warren, McKean, Clarion and Venango counties, Pennsylvania, and Allegany County, New York, and in 1880 he was one of a group that organized the Union Refining Company and erected a plant near the mouth of Cornplanter run in Oil City. The undertaking turned out well. He spent much of the time of his business career in developing the business of producing oil. He was one of a small class of men who had the vision and business sagacity to foresee the future of the oil business and the vital part that it was to play in the industrial welfare of the nation. At the same time, he had the determination to follow his judgment and pursue the producing business when the lot of the producer was most discouraging. The correctness of his judgment is confirmed by the present state of the oil industry.
Mr. Chambers was also interested with Mr. Jones and others in the organization of the Ouray Mining Company of Colorado, and became its president and one of the managing directors. The mines were situated in the southwestern part of Colorado, in the almost inaccessible San Juan Mountains, and though for years the supplies for the miners had to be taken over the Rockies in freight wagons at great cost, and the ore brought out in the same way, the enterprise prospered.
Mr. Chambers was always zealous in behalf of the general welfare, believing that all citizens should share in the responsibility for good government and work together toward the attainment of ideal conditions, and few men performed their duties of citizenship as well. In 1876 he removed to Oil City, where he ever afterward made his home, and he was always active in securing good officials and promoting beneficial measures of all kinds. In the early days of the Greenback party he joined the movement and was one of its most enthusiastic supporters, and he was one of the leaders in his section of the State, during the most powerful days of the party being offered the nomination for lieutenant governor of the State and for congressman. He declined both honors. As his ideas matured he became more and more liberal in principle and breadth of mind, disregarding party lines when he had a cause to work for. He believed thoroughly in the abolishment of intoxicating liquors as beverages, and had the courage to come out as an open advocate of the constitutional prohibition of the liquor traffic in the days when such opinions were highly unpopular.
From the time of his return from the West he took a sincere interest in church work, and he gave generously to the churches of all denominations in Oil City, but his particular interest was in Trinity M. E. Church. He served on the board of trustees and helped with the church management for years, being one of the building committee when a fine house of worship was erected about 1880. He also responded liberally to calls for help from struggling churches elsewhere. His appreciation of music as a part of the church services led him to help freely to secure the best possible, and the large number whom he assisted to secure adequate vocal training exemplifies his practical interest in everything which attracted his attention. [CAB, 592]