BIO: Thomas Morris CHESTER, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 256.
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  CHESTER, THOMAS MORRIS, son of George and Jane Maria (Russell) 
Chester, was born March 11, 1834, at Harrisburg, Pa.  In January, 1851, 
he entered the preparatory department of the Avery College, Allegheny 
City, where he remained until January, 1853, when he sailed for 
Liberia, West Africa, in the ship "Banshee," arriving at Monrovia on 
the 3d of June, of the same year.  At Monrovia he attended the 
Alexandria high school for one year, then returned to America, and in 
December, 1854, entered the junior class of Thetford Academy, Vermont.  
He graduated from that institution in 1856.  In January, 1857, he 
entered upon the duties of superintendent of recaptured Africans from 
American slave vessels at Cape Mount, Liberia, to instruct them in 
civilized customs.  He published and edited the Star of Liberia, at 
Monrovia, and was the correspondent of the New York Herald at that 
point.  In January, 1862, he returned to America on account of the 
civil strife, and assisted in recruiting the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-
fifth Massachusetts regiments, the first colored troops raised for the 
war.  In 1867 he went to England, entered Middle Temple, one of the 
Inns of Court at London, for the study of law, and was called to the 
English bar in 1870.  While in England he was appointed aide-de-camp to 
President Payne, of Liberia, with the rank of major, and was intrusted 
with important missions to the courts of Russia and Belgium.  In July, 
1870, Avery College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.  
On his return to the United States in 1871, he went to New Orleans, and 
received the appointment of storekeeper in the custom service.  In 
March, 1873 he was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of 
Louisiana, by being admitted to the Supreme Court of the State.  
Governor Kellogg the same year appointed him brigadier general of the 
First brigade of Louisiana militia.  In 1875 he was appointed district 
superintendent of public education of the first division, comprising 
seven parishes, including the white and colored schools, and in 1876 
superintendent of the fifth division, comprising thirteen parishes.  In 
1878 he was appointed United States commissioner for the district of 
Louisiana.  On the 22d of June, 1881, he was admitted to practice in 
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and at the November term, 1882, made 
his first appearance at the bar of his native city and county.