History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed. by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 812. [Bourbon County] [Paris Precinct] FRANCIS LEWIS McCHESNEY, editor of the Western Citizen, was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, December 7, 1829. His father, David McChesney, was a native of New Jersey, and came from an old Revolutionary stock. His great-grandfather was born in Edinburgh, Scotland; was four years old he was brought to America by his parents; attended Princeton College; was elected to the Continental Congress, but died on his way to take his seat, and, it is said, his property was confiscated by the British Government. David McChesney, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier of the War of 1812, and, we are informed, was on shipboard with Francis Barton Key, when he wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner." A few years after the war he was married in Georgetown, D. C., to Ann Wise Webster, of Prince George's County, Md. His great-grandmother, whose name was Stephens, was, with her children exiled from Holland, after the beheading of her husband. Her mother's maiden name was Lynn, and the family came to Maryland among the early settlers with Lord Baltimore. Among the near relatives on the mother's side was General George W. Childs, who was a conspicuous soldier in the war with Mexico, and for many years a prominent officer in the regular army. In 1832, the family came to Kentucky, and located at the Grand Crossings in Scott County. Here they remained until 1837, when they moved to Frankfort. David McChesney died August 24, 1839, aged about forty-four years, his wife surviving with six children, of whom Lewis (the subject) was the youngest. Left at the age of less than ten an orphan, he was deprived of the advantages of an early education, and he does not know when or where he learned to read or write. He was never taught either of them in any school, but somehow or other he picked them up. In 1841, he entered the Presbyterian Sunday School at Frankfort, and each year, for three years, bore off the highest prize among the boys for reciting the largest number of verses from the Bible. >From 1841 to the anniversary in 1842, he recited 2,953 verses; from 1842 to 1843, 2,600 verses; and from 1843 to 1844, 2,650 verses. The last two years the scholars' lessons were limited to fifty verses each Sunday, and during that time young McChesney was not absent a single Sabbath. He learned during these three years the New Testament by heart, and also a portion of the Old Testament, and this, he believes, was the foundation of all his after education. He was in the habit of sleeping with the New Testament under his pillow, and each morning before rising he would read over the next Sunday's lesson ten times. As early as in 1840 he took a deep interest in political matters, and the next year, being only eleven years old, made an arrangement with a neighbor, Orlando Brown, Esq., son of U. S. Senator Brown, to go to the post office each day for the Louisville Journal, the agreement being that he should first read the paper, and then take it to Mr. Brown. Of course this was an invaluable source of political information. In 1845, Mr. Brown also befriended him, not only in proffering the use of his splendid library, but also in advising him as to the proper course of reading he should pursue, and for several years he availed himself of these great advantages. By the time he was fifteen years old, he became a Sunday School teacher, and to this time, after the lapse of thirty-seven years, he still retains a class. He was a member of debating societies with Justice John M. Harlan, now of the Supreme Bench, Senator George Vest, of Missouri, Judge James Harlan, of Louisville, Col. S. I. M. Major, now of the Yeoman, Col. Thomas B. Monroe, Jr., the editor of the Lexington Statesman before the war, and who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. In 1846, he was elected first Presiding Brother of an organization called the Younger Brothers of Temperance. His successor was James Harlan; he was succeeded by John M. Harlan, he by Edward H. Taylor, Jr., now Mayor of Frankfort, and E. L. Samuel, now Cashier of the Bank of Kentucky at the same place. In 1847, the lodge had a public celebration, with procession, music, etc., and on this occasion he was the orator of the day, and made his first public address, being then about eighteen years of age. He subsequently attended, for a short time, Mr. B. B. Sayre's Classic School, and afterward the school taught by Rev. Jno. R. Hendrick, recently deceased. In 1851, he entered the Junior Class of Centre College, Danville, then under the Presidency of Rev. Dr. John C. Young. Here he was gaining some reputation as a speaker, winning every question he discussed, when he was stricken down by a severe sickness, which lasted nine months, and which completely broke him down, and he was forced to abandon his studies. When less than fourteen years of age, in 1843, for nine months, he had worked at the case in the Yeoman printing office, Frankfort, and after the failure of his health at college, in 1853, he went to Louisville and became a compositor in the office of the Daily Times, then conducted by William Tanner and Cols. J. T. Pickett, Theodore O'Hara and W. W. Stapp. He afterward worked at Hull & Brothers, and also at the Democrat office. In 1855, he was elected President of the Louisville Typographical Union. In 1856, he went to Cynthiana, where he became one of the publishers of the Age, then edited by Jabez H. Johnson, afterward well known as "Yuba Dam." In 1857, he was chosen as Mr. Johnson's successor as editor of the Age. In January, 1858, he married Miss Eliza Belle Remington, of Cynthiana, youngest daughter of Mr. Greenup Remington, the oldest citizen of that place. In December of the same year he went to Washington City as the correspondent of the Louisville Daily Courier, and remained there for several months. In April, 1859, he purchased an interest in that paper and moved to Louisville, and in a short time became its political editor. His connection was with the Courier was served in 1860. As a part of the political history of that day, it may be stated that Mr. McChesney was the first editor in the State to take position in favor of the protection of slave property in the Territories. This position he first took in the Cynthiana Age, and, subsequently, in the Louisville Courier. It is proper also in this connection to state, that the Louisville Journal, then edited by the able journalist, George D. Prentice, advocated the same doctrine with equal zeal, and with great ability; and also that Justice John M. Harlan, and others equally prominent, also were conspicuous in their extreme pro slavery views at that time, and on this question "out-Heroded Herod." In 1861, the civil war began, and Mr. McChesney was known as a sympathizer with the South in its unequal struggle. He had been educated to believe in the right of secession, and he aimed always to follow his principles whenever they might lead. As far back as 1852, when no one dreamed of a dissolution of the Union, in Chamberlain Society, at Centre College, he had made his first speech, in debate, in favor of the right of secession, and, when the proposition was submitted to a voter of the members of the society, his side won the question. Immediately afterward, however, when the question was debated as to whether the citizens of Lexington were justifiable in the suppression of Cassius M. Clay's Abolition paper, the True American, he took ground against their action, and so earnest and vigorous was his effort on this occasion, that at one time his remarks would be received with hisses, followed by a wild applause, and on this question, too, he carried the day. In September, 1861, he abandoned his home at Cynthiana, to which he had returned; but being assured that he would not be molested, he again returned. But, in a very short time, a squad of Federal soldiers came to his home, and he was marched through the streets by a file of soldiers and taken to Camp Frazier. He met there W. W. Cleary, Esq., then a member of the Legislature, who had also been arrested for disloyalty. These arrests caused much excitement, and large numbers of citizens were starting off, intending to go to the South, fearing that, if they remained, they would be sent to Camp Chase, or to some other Norther prison. The Federal authorities soon discovered that they had made a mistake, and, in order to quiet the fears of the people, through the influence of Judge W. W. Trimble and J. W. Peck, two prominent Union citizens of Cynthiana, both Cleary and McChesney were unconditionally released, and their release caused universal rejoicing. For several months he was left undisturbed. But, in the following June (1862), he was again placed under arrest, and made his escape, going at once to Canada. He remained a few weeks at Toronto, and, being without means, it became necessary for him to obtain some employment. A position was secured on the Montreal Daily Advertiser, as local editor, which he held about one year. In August, 1863, at the solicitation of leading Southerners in Canada, he went to Richmond, Virginia, going over land through the Federal lines. The subject of his mission was to induce the Confederate Government to organize an expedition for the release of the prisoners on Johnson's Island. He presented this subject to the Government, and the proposition met their approval, and an expedition was organized to accomplish this purpose, under command of Lieutenant Wilkinson, of the Confederate Navy, and the sum of $100,000 was appropriated to carry out the project. The men placed in charge of the expedition were among the flower of the Confederate Navy, including Lieutenant Bradford and others. Owing to the treachery of some one, after the party started, the attempt was a failure. A similar enterprise met with a like fate the next year. In October, Mr. McChesney returned from Richmond, crossing the Potomac River at Britain's Bay, and taking the public conveyance to Washington City, passing the Federal pickets at the Navy Yard Bridge, and escaped without being arrested. Had the object of his mission become known, and had he been arrested on his way from Richmond to Canada, it is not unlikely that his life would have paid the forfeit for his devotion to the Confederate cause. But he had counted the cost, and willingly and cheerfully took his life in his hands, trusting that thereby the release of the prisoners at Johnson's Island might be effected. In October, 1864, at the request of Mr. John Porterfield, then of Montreal, before the war a prominent banker at Nashville, Tenn., Mr. McChesney went to Toronto, and met Hon. Jacob Thompson, the Confederate Commissioner to Canada. The object of his mission was to ask Mr. Thompson to entrust to Mr. Porterfield, without security, the sum of $100,000, the latter agreeing to go to the city of New York, and with that sum purchase gold for shipment abroad, with a view of breaking down the price of green-backs, and thereby injuring the credit of the Government. To some extent, the effort was successful. The money was given to Mr. Porterfield; he went to New York, and early in November, 1864, as can be seen by reference to the New York papers at that time, several million dollars of gold was exported, and gold advanced from thirty to forty cents within the same time. General B. F. Butler was then commander in that city, and several bankers were arrested, but the true party was not discovered. It required the expenditure of less than ten thousand dollars to produce the large advance in gold from 215 to 254. The balance of the $100,000 was returned to the Confederate Commissioner. In assisting escaped prisoners, in visiting the sick, Mr. McChesney, although without means himself, was always successful; and among the mementoes of the past which he retains, and will hand down to those who come after him, is a splendid gold watch, the gift of twenty-one young men (Confederates), in recognition of his services in their behalf. In other matters in Canada he took an important, but not conspicuous part. His labors, however, were none the less effective; and of all his friends at this time, those who stick closer to him than a brother, are those who were in trouble in Canada. To illustrate: early last year, he met one of these friends, of whom he had never asked a favor, and after the usual greetings were over, his friend told him that he had thought much of him during the last few years, and then he asked him how he was getting along in the world. He had been greatly blessed, "and you," he said, addressing McChesney, "were a friend to me when I needed a friend, and now I authorize you whenever you need any money to draw on me at sight, I am rich,--I will never feel it." And then he continued, "Perhaps you may need something at this time," and with that he wrote out a check for $500 and handed it to him saying, "you can't conceive the pleasure it gives me to hand you that check. I am willing to divide my last crumb with you." Subsequently he furnished a larger amount, and within a few months, unsolicited, offered to guarantee that Mr. McChesney, if elected to the position of State Printer, should have all the means necessary to carry on the work, and this guarantee involved the advance of not less than $20,000. This is given as an illustration of the appreciation of Mr. McChesney's services by those who knew him best in times of darkness and of trial. Mr. McChesney has been a consistent Democrat all his life. His first vote was cast in 1851, Lazarus W. Powell for Governor, and John C. Breckenridge for Congress. In 1855, on "Bloody Monday" in Louisville, he was one of the fourteen hundred who voted the Democratic ticket against the Know Nothings. In 1856, he made the opening speech in the canvass in Harrison county against the Know Nothings. In 1866, he returned from Canada to Kentucky and became connected with the True Kentuckian office at Paris. While connected with that paper he conducted an animated controversy on the subject of "Woman's Rights" with Elder David Walk, a minister of the Christian Church of some note. The discussion excited much interest at the time. Mr. McChesney, in the preparation of these articles, prepared them while at the case, without writing them, in that way combining the mental with the mechanical in their composition. And this he does very frequently, and thinks the articles he prepares in this way are usually his best productions. He remained with the True Kentuckian until the first of February 1868, when, with L. T. Fisher, he became one of the publishers and editor of the Western Citizen. His connection with this paper has been continued more than fourteen years. During this period important questions have arisen, upon all of which he has taken position. Under his control the Citizen has advocated every measure believed to be for the interest of the people and the development of the resources of the State. He has also spoken a good deal upon questions of public interest. But, at best, the life of a country editor is not attractive or desirable. The press is regarded almost as common property to be used by the aspiring to promote their individual aims; to be the party organ; to make great men out of small material; to labor unceasingly for party, and to receive no reward, except in the consciousness of duty faithfully performed and principles conscientiously adhered to. Of him it may be said, as it has been of the literary man, "That he is like the candle which, in illuminating others, consumes itself." At the age of fifty-two Mr. McChesney is still in the editorial harness, and still writes about as well as at any period of his life. He is a ready writer, and easy, off-hand speaker, and has made addresses to the people on very frequent occasions. As age advances on him he loses very little of the buoyancy of his younger days. He frequently, in the social circle and in literary societies, and sometimes on public occasions, gives reading, being equally at home in the rendition of selections from Shakespeare as in imitation of the Dutch and Negro dialects. He has only one son, James R. McChesney, born in 1862, who is associated with him in the publication of the Citizen. McChesney Key Webster Stephens Lynn Childs Brown Harlan Vest Major Monroe Taylor Samuel Hendrick Young Tanner Pickett O'Hara Stapp Walk Johnson Remington Prentice Cleary Trimble Peck Fisher Bradford Porterfield Butler = Louisville-Jefferson-KY Cynthiana-Harrison-KY Danville-Boyle-KY Frankfort-Franklin-KY Prince_George-MD NJ TN District_of_Columbia Paris-Bourbon-KY Holland Canada Scotland http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/bourbon/mcchesney.fl.txt