"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1411.
 

CHESTER SKEELS

     For nearly thirty years Chester Skeels has watched, and had a part in, the
growth and upbuilding of Benton county, Ore., to which locality he came from
Illinois. He was born August 6, 1833, in Franklin county, Ohio, and there his
earliest boyhood days were spent. When yet a small boy, however, his parents
removed to Delaware county, that state, later going to Union county.
     After his marriage, which occurred in the latter county in 1855, and united
him with Miss Margaret Brannan, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, Mr. Skeels moved
back to Delaware county, there following the tinner's trade for a short time.
Not being satisfied with the latter occupation, however, he discontinued its
prosecution and the same year went to Piatt county, Ill., and near Monticello,
bought a tract of land which he improved and cultivated, making it his home for
twenty years.
     As has been previously intimated, the year 1875 marked the arrival of Mr.
Skeels and his family in Oregon, and more particularly in Benton county. His
farm of seventy-two acres, located one mile from the city of Albany, while not a
large acreage, is so utilized and managed as to produce results which might do
credit to a tract of much larger size. Mr. Skeels makes a specialty of raising
fruits and vegetables, and in the raising of potatoes is especially successful,
his close proximity to market being a large factor in his success.
     Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Skeels only five are living, as
follows : Harvey; Hulda, the wife of N. E. Anderson; O. V., the wife of William
Peacock; Alice, who became the wife of Frank Hughson; and Zua, now Mrs. William
Yoder. In politics Mr. Skeels votes for the candidates of the Populist party,
but has no inclination or desire to hold public office, as was proven when he
refused the office of justice of the peace, to which his fellow-citizens had
elected him.
     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.