W.A. Chessman
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
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Mr. Chessman was born in Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 
August 19, 1830.  His early education was obtained in the district schools, and when on the threshold of manhood he followed the excitement of the times and went to California.  Taking passage 
by way of Cape Horn, he arrived at San Francisco, December 20, 
1849 and soon was engaged in mining in El Dorado County.  He 
followed mining in California for fifteen years with 
varying success, operating in El Dorado, Yuba and Toulumme 
Counties until the spring of 1865.

In 1865 Mr. Chessman came to Montana, and has since been 
identified with the interests of this State. His first location 
was at Alder Gulch, and subsequently he took up his 
abode in Helena.  He acquired some of the mining ground in 
Last Chance gulch, from time to time purchased other claims 
and finally obtained possession of a large amount 
of mining property.  These claims he worked for some time 
to advantage and then sold out the mining privileges for 
about $34,000 but retained the title to the land.  In 
1872 he purchased from Messrs. Trutt and Atchison, the ditch 
for these privileges, the same being then in use, supplying 
water to miners--one known as the Helena or Big 
Ditch and the other the Yaw-Yaw Ditch--and in 1875 he began 
the construction of a bedrock flume in Last Chance Gulch.  
This flume was completed in three years, at a 
cost of $30,000 and was used for the purpose of working 
over the old ground and rewashing the tailings from the first workings of the rich Last Chance Gulch.  This ground he continued to work until the construction of the Montana Central Railroad, 
the advent of which so enhanced the value of this land that it 
was worth more for building purposes than for mining.  In these operations Mr. Chessman acquired title to some 400 acres of ground lying at the mouth of Last Chance Gulch, much of which is now occupied by the city of Helena for depot grounds and terminal facilities.

After the placer mining was stopped, the water in the ditches 
was sold to the market gardeners and farmers in the lower portions of the valley for irrigating and at the time of the organization of the Helena Consolidated Water Company, the interests wre 
sold to this company.  Mr. Chessman was one of the originators 
of the company and subsequently became president of it.  The company was incorporated October 1, 1889, 
the other officers being as follows: vice president--A.J. 
Davidson; secretary: J.B. 
Clayberg; treasurer: S.T. Hauser.

In addition to these interests, Mr. Chessman has been actively 
engaged in other operations in the state--notably mining and stock raising. He is president of the Bald Butte Mining Company, vice-president of the Helena Electric Street Company, and is 
largely interested in quartz-mining in other parts of the 
state and in Idaho.  For twenty three years he has been connected with the Helena Fair Association; is a trustee of St. Peter's Hospital and has been identified with this institution ever 
since its organization.

Mr. Chessman is a man of family.  He was married February 4, 
1875 to Miss Penalope V. Newhall of Galena Illinois and they have three children, two sons and a daughter.  One son is deceased.