Samuel Chessor was the son of James William Chessor and Bessie Cavender, and the husband of Evaline Coble.

Samuel was a successful farmer and miller. He built a large gristmill as well as a sawmill on his farm on Sulphur Creek. The first person to install a circular sawmill on the creek, much of the lumber that went into the houses built in the vicinity in the late 1880s and early 1890s was sawed on his mill. Samuel was a large land-owner. At one time he owned 16,000 acres; he owned all of Hurricane Branch, Powder Mill, and land all the way over into Russell Creek in Perry County. He settled his children on lands he had entered and helped them to get a start in life.

Samuel was best known as a preacher. He preached at the first log church house on Sulphur Creek, which was by the old Perryville Road. In 1888, a new church building was built just down the road on land donated by Benny Chandler, and Samuel preached there as well. Samuel and three of his sons, Jesse, Adam, and John T., as well as three of his grandsons, Rob, Samuel and John Wesley, helped in the building of the church house. The church, Lower Sulphur Church of Christ, is still in existence.

In addition to being known as a preacher, Samuel was also known for visiting the sick. He made herb medicine and attended to the sick and suffering.

Samuel and Evaline may have had as many as 17 children according to James E. "Uncle Jim" Chessor in "Glimpses of the Past." The 13 known children of Samuel and Evaline were: James Chessor (1842-1857); Gemima "Mima" Chessor O'Guin (1844-1883); Jesse Adams Chessor (1846-1915); Adam J. Chessor (1848-1910); Polly A. Chessor (born November 3, 1850, died unknown); Sallie B. Chessor Mathis (1852-1916); Agnes Chessor Bates Calkins (1854-1905); John Thomas Chessor (1856-1933); Nancy Ann "Nan" Chessor Bates (1851-1883); Elizabeth "Eliza" Chessor Allison (1854-1927); Susanna M. Chessor (born May 4, 1862, died unknown); Rosa M. Chessor Johnston (1865-1928); and Viola Chessor Rushton (1867-1904). All of these children are buried in Chessor Cemetery with the exception of Eliza (who is buried in Swiss Cemetery in Hohenwald, Tennessee), Polly, and Susannah. Polly, Susannah and the 4 other children who may have been born to Samuel and Evaline and who died as children may be buried in the Lynn Graveyard on the Old Perryville Road in Hickman County, according to Uncle Jim in "Glimpses of the Past."

Obituary of Samuel Chessor
Gospel Advocate, 8/30/1896

I, this beautiful Lord's day morning, will write you a few lines of the death of our much beloved brother, Samuel Chessor. Bro. Chessor was born A.D., Sept. 25th [sic], 1822. Fell asleep A.D., July 28th, 1896. Living through a period of 73 years, 10 months and 15 days.

Bro. Chessor became a member of the Christian church A.D. 1835, serving in the army of the Lord through a period of 60 years, during which time he was truly devoted to the service of the Lord. He was a kind husband, a benevolent father, an obliging neighbor, and was adored by all who knew him. At his death his much loved and cherished family can say for once they know and realize the meaning of the word bereft. But we are made to know that our loss is his gain, for while we miss his much loved presence, we know that he is in the presence of the angels there to sing as angels do, wear a crown of glory, and reign with Christ forevermore. Bro. Chessor, being brought up in the Christian faith, never departed from it, but grew strong in the Lord and the power of his might.

Kindness, gentleness, humility and love were prominent traits in his Christian character, his truthfulness and fidelity to his conviction were also conspicuous. He was always interested in Christianity, and "from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." It was very seldom that he talked long without giving the conversation a religious turn. In him everybody that knew him, had a friend upon whom they could depend. I never at any time had an assemblage of people so moved by the death of anyone as was of those who were present when we put this much loved father in his cold and narrow bed to sleep the sleep that knows no waking. There to await the judgment.

Bro. Chessor was sick nine weeks to a day, during which time he never failed to express himself as being ready and waiting for the summon to go, saying that all he dreaded was crossing the dark river of death. The day before he died he said that he could hear the singing in the elements. He requested his friends to come and sing for him favorite song, "My days will soon be past and gone." All through our dearly beloved brother's illness, no person ever received better attention - the best medical attention that could be summoned. And his eight beloved children and a host of friends stood ready to wait upon him in anything he asked for. Doing any and everything that was in their power to make his last hours on earth as pleasant as possible.

It can be said of our dearly beloved that no man as ever deserved more honor and praise than this beloved brother who has recently passed away. For want of talent, I cannot do justice to the memory of this good man, for if the deceased brother did not have a Christian walk, I know nothing of Christianity. His last words were, "God bless my children, I love them all." He has gone from this troublesome world and we are satisfied his troubles have ended. His absence leaves a great vacancy here, yes, when we look around his home, the vacant chair, and every nook and corner shows this, and when our minds are carried to church it is the same vacant seat, which he nearly always filled. Our loss is great, but it is his eternal gain.

Obituary and information regarding the life of Samuel Chessor was taken from The Chessor Family History 1783-1993 by John Will Chessor.