Chester Lusk, deceased, was one of thepioneers of Albany, of 1836, and in October, 1839, he became one of the 12 proprietors of the site of Lower Albany, by purchase from the United States. He was born in 1802,. in Columbia Co., N. Y., and there grew to manhood and learned the trade of shoemaker. He went thence to Berkshire Co., Mass., and married Hannah Fitch, who was born in that county. They went soon after their union to Coxsackie, in the State of New York, removing shortly after to Pittsford, Monroe County, where Mr. Lusk worked at his trade between one and two years. He made another removal to Holly, Orleans County, where he lived eight years, and kept a hotel. At the end of that time he removed to Ohio, and located near Fremont, where he was engaged in farming two years.
In 1836 he set out from Fremont for Whiteside County, transporting his family and household belongings with horse teams. November 29 they arrived at Stake's Ferry, which was full of floating ice. They waited a week, and as soon as the stream was cleared they crossed, and passed the winter in a log house near the dwelling of William D. Dudley. In the spring of 1837 the family took possession of a claim at Albany. The location of his farm was at Sheep Grove, where he prosecuted his agricultural projects with energy. In 1850 he made the overland trip to California, and spent nearly two years in mining for gold. He returned by the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans. He opened a meat market at Albany on his return there, and also continued the management of his farm until his death in February, 1855. His widow is still living with a granddaughter, Mrs. William Herald, of Sloan, Woodbury Co., Iowa. Two children were born to them, Charles F. and Hiram P. The latter died when 10 years old.
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