Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 1219. SARAH A. SLOAN A lady of remarkable executive ability and rare intelligence, and the popular proprietress of the Forest Grove Hotel, is of Puritan ancestry, who emigrated from Old England to New England in the early settlement of the colonies, in proof of which is cited the fact that the first man ever buried in New London was a Chesbro, which was her maiden name. Her father, P. F. Chesbro, was born in New London in 1802. He married Miss Rebecca Smith, a native of Washington county, New York, whose grandfather was Captain Allen, a native of Scotland. He married in the city of Castile, a pure Castilian, a Spanish lady of an honorable family. Mrs. Sloan's parents had seven children, three of whom are now living. She was born in Chautauqua county, New York, August 13, 1828, and was reared, educated and resided in her native county until she was thirty-two years of age, when she came to Oregon. She was married in 1848 to Mr. Chester Sloan, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, on September 26, 1848. His people were early settlers of Madison county, New York, and were highly respected people. In 1861 they came to Forest Grove, where they rented for a couple of years the Alvin T. Smith place, and then removed to eastern Oregon, where they engaged in the stock business, in this, then, wild, unsettled region. They were for three years, in the strictest sense of the word, pioneers, and experienced all the hardships and vicissitudes of that kind of life. They were isolated from all society and the pleasures of civilization, but found many opportunities to assist their fellow-men, both with shelter and food, which were bestowed with that generous hospitality which makes receiving a pleasure. After three years of this wild life, among cattle and Indians, they returned to Forest Grove, where, in 1865, they opened the Forest Grove Hotel, where she has presided for twenty-seven years, with that generous, painstaking hospitality so characteristic of the lady, and so charming to behold. She has entertained many of the men who now hold the highest official positions in the State. During all these years she recalls with pleasure that no worthy poor person was ever turned unsatisfied from her door. Thus she has grown alike in popularity with the rich and poor, enjoying, after all these years, the good-will of all. She has three sons: Eugene C., a fine appearing and promising young man, who died in his twenty-fourth year; the other two, James P. and George O., the latter of whom was born in Forest Grove, still reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sloan own several excellent pieces of property in Forest Grove; that on which the hotel stands, and the adjoining property, besides a number of large blocks in the city, which Mr. Sloan and their sons have planted to prunes, which are now bearing plentifully. He and son have also devoted the prune orchards to the choice productions of choice breeds of thoroughbred poultry, in which they have been quite successful, having many prize specimens. The principal varieties are Plymouth Rock, Wyandots, Brown and White Leghorns, and Italian Games. Mr. Sloan is a Republican, honest and industrious, quiet and unassuming, hospitable and generous, and much respected and esteemed by his fellow-citizens, all of which may be truthfully said of his estimable wife, who is one with him in his ambitions, and sorrows and cares. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.