Chester B. Stivers, merchant, Ashley, was born in Hanover township May 30, 1839, and is a son of Samuel B. and Mary (Mosher) Stivers, natives, respectively, of Newport township, this county, and Easton, Pa., and of Dutch, German and Irish origin. He is a grandson og John and Phoebe (Barber) Stivers, the latter a member of an Irish family. The Stiverses (formerly Von Stiver) settled in Long Island in 1645, and soon after 1800 a branch came to Luzerne county, settling in what is now Newport township. In the family of Samuel B. Stivers there were eight children, viz.: Thomas B., Conrad L. (died at the age of seven), Chester B., Malinda (Mrs. Peter Smith), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Field), Hendrick W., Phoebe and Horace. Our subject passed his boyhood on the farm and attended the common school, afterward learning the shoemakers trade. He enlisted at Wilkes-Barre, August 18, 1861, as private in Company L, Twenty-third P.V., and March 1, 1862, was detached to Battery H, First Pennsylvania [Reserve] Artillery, as artificer. He was discharged November 26, 1863, re-enlisting the next day, being dismounted in May, 1864, and assigned to garrison duty at Fort Whipple. He also carried mail, did other detached service during the war, and was discharged at Philadelphia June 27, 1865. He then returned to Ashley, worked two years with an engineering corps, and in 1868 embarked in the grocery business, which he has since followed, and in connection with which he also ran a saloon in the same building, which he had put up in 1868. Mr. Stivers was married, March 15, 1866, to Miss Anna, daughter of Michael and Mary (Monahan) Donnelly, natives of Ireland. The issue of this union was five children, three of whom are living, viz.: William C.; Edward D., a farmer of Wright township, and Bessie J. Mrs. Stivers is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Stivers is a member of the F. & A.M. and the I.O.O.F. He is a Republican in his political views, and has held the offices of constable, assessor and councilman in Ashley borough, and in 1890 was appointed census taker. The great-grandfather of our subject, George Stivers, who died in New Jersey at the age of one hundred and twelve years, served seven years in the Revolutionary war, as did also his four sons, including John, whose gun is still in the possession of Mr. Stivers.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
