E.S. Chesbrough was one of the most prominent of 19th-century civil engineers. Although today he is best known for his work in Chicago, he played a seminal role in the design of water and sewage systems throughout the country, as the following obituary, in the New Haven [CT] Register, of 23 August 1886 relates:

ELLIS SYLVESTER CHESBROUGH
Death of the Man Who Devised New Haven's Sewerage System

Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough, the eminent engineer who devised the New Haven sewerage system, died at his residence in Chicago last Wednesday [Aug 18; see note below]. Mr. Chesbrough in 1870-71, associated with his brother, J.C. Chesbrough [sic]*, devoted several months' labor to the plan of sewering the 130 miles or more of New Haven streets. About one third of this distance has been sewered, and the plan which Mr. Chesbrough defined is still being followed.

The deceased was born in Baltimore county, Md., July 6, 1813. In 1828, when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was making preliminary surveys, young Chesbrough was employed as chainman. He was a favorite with the engineers, and from the first was encouraged in his upward career as a civil engineer. In 1830 he was appointed assistant engineer on the Alleghany railroad, and one year later became engineer, and subsequently chief engineer of the Paterson and Hudson, now the southeastern division of the Erie Railroad.

From 1831 to 1836 he was engaged in the location and construction of the Boston and Providence Railroad, and on surveys of the Taunton and New Bedford railroad, and in 1836 was appointed resident engineer of the proposed railroad from Concord to Lowell. From 1837 to 1843 he was engaged in railroad building in South Carolina and adjacent states as senior assistant engineer on surveys and construction of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston railroad. In the financial panic of 1836 he was out of employment, and decided to go into the shops of the Providence and Stonington railroad and learn the practical use of tools. In 1844 he was again railroading, and constructed the Stonington branch of the Boston and Providence road, and in 1850 was made sole commissioner of the Boston water works. He was in 1851 appointed the first city engineer of Boston, continuing until 1855.

During these years, he investigated the English system of sewerage and upon his report, it was introduced in this country for the first time. In 1855 he commenced his great work of providing Chicago with a system of sewerage. In 1856 he visited Europe and made a report on the principal systems of sewerage there. To him was also due the conception and construction of the entire water works scheme of Chicago.

In addition to other duties, he has advised in projects of tunneling Detroit River, planned the Fullerton avenue conduit, Chicago; the Pittsburgh water works, sewerage at Indianapolis, water works in Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Akron, O., and was consulting engineer on water questions in New York, Boston, Cambridge, Toronto, Detroit and Memphis, and in sewerage for Boston, Providence, Memphis, Peoria, Dubuque, Des Moines, Burlington, Ia., and Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1880 he was appointed consulting engineer and took a prominent part in preparation of plans for extension of the New York Water supply, which is still in progress.

* more likely Isaac Collins Chesbrough (1814-1893)
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A more extended professional appreciation may be found in the Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies Vol. VI:1 (Nov. 1886), "E.S. Chesbrough, A Memoir," by Benezette Williams, pp. 1-10.

E.S. Chesbrough was one of the most prominent of 19th-century civil engineers. Although today he is best known for his work in Chicago, he played a seminal role in the design of water and sewage systems throughout the country, as the following obituary, in the New Haven [CT] Register, of 23 August 1886 relates:

ELLIS SYLVESTER CHESBROUGH
Death of the Man Who Devised New Haven's Sewerage System

Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough, the eminent engineer who devised the New Haven sewerage system, died at his residence in Chicago last Wednesday [Aug 18; see note below]. Mr. Chesbrough in 1870-71, associated with his brother, J.C. Chesbrough [sic]*, devoted several months' labor to the plan of sewering the 130 miles or more of New Haven streets. About one third of this distance has been sewered, and the plan which Mr. Chesbrough defined is still being followed.

The deceased was born in Baltimore county, Md., July 6, 1813. In 1828, when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was making preliminary surveys, young Chesbrough was employed as chainman. He was a favorite with the engineers, and from the first was encouraged in his upward career as a civil engineer. In 1830 he was appointed assistant engineer on the Alleghany railroad, and one year later became engineer, and subsequently chief engineer of the Paterson and Hudson, now the southeastern division of the Erie Railroad.

From 1831 to 1836 he was engaged in the location and construction of the Boston and Providence Railroad, and on surveys of the Taunton and New Bedford railroad, and in 1836 was appointed resident engineer of the proposed railroad from Concord to Lowell. From 1837 to 1843 he was engaged in railroad building in South Carolina and adjacent states as senior assistant engineer on surveys and construction of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston railroad. In the financial panic of 1836 he was out of employment, and decided to go into the shops of the Providence and Stonington railroad and learn the practical use of tools. In 1844 he was again railroading, and constructed the Stonington branch of the Boston and Providence road, and in 1850 was made sole commissioner of the Boston water works. He was in 1851 appointed the first city engineer of Boston, continuing until 1855.

During these years, he investigated the English system of sewerage and upon his report, it was introduced in this country for the first time. In 1855 he commenced his great work of providing Chicago with a system of sewerage. In 1856 he visited Europe and made a report on the principal systems of sewerage there. To him was also due the conception and construction of the entire water works scheme of Chicago.

In addition to other duties, he has advised in projects of tunneling Detroit River, planned the Fullerton avenue conduit, Chicago; the Pittsburgh water works, sewerage at Indianapolis, water works in Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Akron, O., and was consulting engineer on water questions in New York, Boston, Cambridge, Toronto, Detroit and Memphis, and in sewerage for Boston, Providence, Memphis, Peoria, Dubuque, Des Moines, Burlington, Ia., and Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1880 he was appointed consulting engineer and took a prominent part in preparation of plans for extension of the New York Water supply, which is still in progress.

* more likely Isaac Collins Chesbrough (1814-1893)
------------------

A more extended professional appreciation may be found in the Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies Vol. VI:1 (Nov. 1886), "E.S. Chesbrough, A Memoir," by Benezette Williams, pp. 1-10.