THE LIFE & TIMES OF CHESTER LOOPER
February 23, 2019
by Joe McCamish
FYI - CHAPTER ONE / narrated version under STORIES tab
CHAPTER ONE
Chester was born on May 28, 1890, in Livingston, Overton, Tennessee, United States. His mother was Sarah Ann Allred, who was 25 years old when Chester was born. His father was Anthony Center Looper, who was 25 years old.
EARLY LIFE IN WEST FORK
Chester Looper was born, the middle of five sons, to Anthony Center Looper and Sarah Ann Allred on May 28, 1890. His early years were spent on the family farm in the small community of West Fork, located about ten miles from Livingston, Tennessee. Even as a young boy, Chester was no stranger to tragedy. His older brother Jonathan died the year before he was born, and his two younger brothers, Norman and Cordell, died before he was six. One of the saddest events in his life was the death of his beloved father on Christmas Day, 1896. After a long illness, Center Looper had finally succumbed to consumption or, as we know it today, tuberculosis. This left Chester and his older brother, Bill, too young to run the farm.
The following year their mother married one of Center Looper's cousins. Sarah Ann had four more children by Ike Bowman. Unfortunately, Chester and Ike did not see eye to eye, so he struck out on his own at fifteen.
Tennessee in 1890
A large state, Tennessee, is covered in rolling hills, flatlands, and rivers. During the 1800s, many immigrants from Europe and elsewhere relocated to Tennessee for religious and economic freedom. After serving in the Revolutionary War, many veterans were awarded land grants in Tennessee and moved there to make their living. The Mississippi River to the west facilitated trade and fishing during this time. Around 1 million Americans were living in Tennessee during the 1800s; communities like Chester's mainly consisted of farmers, plantation owners, and their slaves.
Chester's future wife, Stella Julia Qualls, was born four years after Chester in 1894.
Father died in 1896 - Chester's father, Anthony Center Looper, died at 31. Chester was 6.
Education
Public schools were present throughout Tennessee during Chester's childhood. Still, these school systems were plagued by problems, often not receiving the proper funding to buy basic supplies, let alone repair old facilities. Moreover, following the Civil War, integration in the state's schools was against the law, thus separating white and African-American students from one another, with African-American schools receiving far less funding. By the end of the 19th century, more secondary schools were appearing, providing more education for Tennesseans. However, one of the persistent problems with schools in the region was the lack of attendance, as no laws were in place mandating participation.
Spanish American War, 1898
During Chester's lifetime, the United States began establishing itself as a world power and intervening in international affairs in places like the Philippines, Hawaii, and Cuba. Unfortunately for U.S. foreign relations, this caused a lot of tension, resulting in several conflicts, including the Spanish-American War of 1898. Americans around Chester were shocked to read the sensational news articles detailing the alleged Spanish attack on the U.S.S. Maine in Cuba. Although only a few thousand Americans died in the war, the U.S. became a major player on the world stage. Many people around Chester learned about the war through "yellow journalism," or newspaper articles that contained exaggerated information to promote the fight and sell copies.
Recognized and Celebrated Holidays
In addition to the traditional and nationally recognized holidays celebrated by most Americans, including the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's, many people in Chester's town also recognized the holy days of their religion and some specific regional holidays. Tennessee is one of only twelve states, for example, which celebrates Good Friday as a state holiday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death. In addition, Confederate Memorial Day, also known as Confederate Decoration Day, was a holiday unique to the region, honoring those who died fighting in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
For many Tennesseans, the biggest holiday of the year was Christmas. Like numerous other Americans, they enjoyed decorating Christmas trees, buying presents for their loved ones, and spending quality time with their families. Some Tennesseans chopped down cedar trees to serve as the family Christmas tree. More Christmas-related merchandising, including cartoons, films, and iconic Coca-Cola advertisements, helped create the popular 20th-century perception of Santa Claus and his reindeer, among other holiday characters.
First Flight with the Wright Brothers, 1903
When Chester was 12, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully designed and flew the world's first heavier-than-air, human-piloted aircraft. That initial flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, lasted less than a minute and didn't gain much public attention. By 1905, though, Chester's local newspaper would follow the Wright Brothers closely as their increasingly sustained flights became a national sensation. Within a few short decades, the modern airplane would completely revolutionize travel for people worldwide.
Ford Motors, 1903
In June of 1903, when Chester was 13, Henry Ford changed transportation by founding the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. In its early years, the company revolutionized manufacturing with its improved assembly line version, which had been patented by Ransom Olds of the Oldsmobile company a few years prior. Ford's version of the assembly line used an innovative conveyor system in which the car chassis was towed by a rope from station to station, making production quicker and more efficient. Ford also set a precedent by providing a decent wage for his workers—$5 for a 9-hour day. Introducing the Model T a few years later allowed millions of middle-class Americans to access affordable automobiles.
CHAPTER ONE
Chester was born on May 28, 1890, in Livingston, Overton, Tennessee, United States. His mother was Sarah Ann Allred, who was 25 years old when Chester was born. His father was Anthony Center Looper, who was 25 years old.
EARLY LIFE IN WEST FORK
Chester Looper was born, the middle of five sons, to Anthony Center Looper and Sarah Ann Allred on May 28, 1890. His early years were spent on the family farm in the small community of West Fork, located about ten miles from Livingston, Tennessee. Even as a young boy, Chester was no stranger to tragedy. His older brother Jonathan died the year before he was born, and his two younger brothers, Norman and Cordell, died before he was six. One of the saddest events in his life was the death of his beloved father on Christmas Day, 1896. After a long illness, Center Looper had finally succumbed to consumption or, as we know it today, tuberculosis. This left Chester and his older brother, Bill, too young to run the farm.
The following year their mother married one of Center Looper's cousins. Sarah Ann had four more children by Ike Bowman. Unfortunately, Chester and Ike did not see eye to eye, so he struck out on his own at fifteen.
Tennessee in 1890
A large state, Tennessee, is covered in rolling hills, flatlands, and rivers. During the 1800s, many immigrants from Europe and elsewhere relocated to Tennessee for religious and economic freedom. After serving in the Revolutionary War, many veterans were awarded land grants in Tennessee and moved there to make their living. The Mississippi River to the west facilitated trade and fishing during this time. Around 1 million Americans were living in Tennessee during the 1800s; communities like Chester's mainly consisted of farmers, plantation owners, and their slaves.
Chester's future wife, Stella Julia Qualls, was born four years after Chester in 1894.
Father died in 1896 - Chester's father, Anthony Center Looper, died at 31. Chester was 6.
Education
Public schools were present throughout Tennessee during Chester's childhood. Still, these school systems were plagued by problems, often not receiving the proper funding to buy basic supplies, let alone repair old facilities. Moreover, following the Civil War, integration in the state's schools was against the law, thus separating white and African-American students from one another, with African-American schools receiving far less funding. By the end of the 19th century, more secondary schools were appearing, providing more education for Tennesseans. However, one of the persistent problems with schools in the region was the lack of attendance, as no laws were in place mandating participation.
Spanish American War, 1898
During Chester's lifetime, the United States began establishing itself as a world power and intervening in international affairs in places like the Philippines, Hawaii, and Cuba. Unfortunately for U.S. foreign relations, this caused a lot of tension, resulting in several conflicts, including the Spanish-American War of 1898. Americans around Chester were shocked to read the sensational news articles detailing the alleged Spanish attack on the U.S.S. Maine in Cuba. Although only a few thousand Americans died in the war, the U.S. became a major player on the world stage. Many people around Chester learned about the war through "yellow journalism," or newspaper articles that contained exaggerated information to promote the fight and sell copies.
Recognized and Celebrated Holidays
In addition to the traditional and nationally recognized holidays celebrated by most Americans, including the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's, many people in Chester's town also recognized the holy days of their religion and some specific regional holidays. Tennessee is one of only twelve states, for example, which celebrates Good Friday as a state holiday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death. In addition, Confederate Memorial Day, also known as Confederate Decoration Day, was a holiday unique to the region, honoring those who died fighting in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
For many Tennesseans, the biggest holiday of the year was Christmas. Like numerous other Americans, they enjoyed decorating Christmas trees, buying presents for their loved ones, and spending quality time with their families. Some Tennesseans chopped down cedar trees to serve as the family Christmas tree. More Christmas-related merchandising, including cartoons, films, and iconic Coca-Cola advertisements, helped create the popular 20th-century perception of Santa Claus and his reindeer, among other holiday characters.
First Flight with the Wright Brothers, 1903
When Chester was 12, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully designed and flew the world's first heavier-than-air, human-piloted aircraft. That initial flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, lasted less than a minute and didn't gain much public attention. By 1905, though, Chester's local newspaper would follow the Wright Brothers closely as their increasingly sustained flights became a national sensation. Within a few short decades, the modern airplane would completely revolutionize travel for people worldwide.
Ford Motors, 1903
In June of 1903, when Chester was 13, Henry Ford changed transportation by founding the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. In its early years, the company revolutionized manufacturing with its improved assembly line version, which had been patented by Ransom Olds of the Oldsmobile company a few years prior. Ford's version of the assembly line used an innovative conveyor system in which the car chassis was towed by a rope from station to station, making production quicker and more efficient. Ford also set a precedent by providing a decent wage for his workers—$5 for a 9-hour day. Introducing the Model T a few years later allowed millions of middle-class Americans to access affordable automobiles.