Chester Judd was born in Courtland County, New York, on April 7, 1816, and when about four years of age immigrated with his parents of Washington County, Ohio and in 1830 to Lawrence County.  Shortly afterward, he returned to Marietta, Ohio to learn the carpenter's trade.

In 1837 he married Miss Mary Burch, and in 1838 he removed with his family to Burlington, Ohio, and became a boatman on the Ohio River.  He was owner and captain of the steamer "Lady Bryan," which he plied in the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati trade for several years.

In March, 1854, he moved with his family to Hamilton County, Illinois, where he built a beautiful country home which stands to this day.  This home is occupied at present by his granddaughter, Margaret McPherson, and her husband, James.

Chester Judd was a man of genius and enterprise, which he proved in many ways, and especially in building and operating the first steam flour mill in Hamilton County, Illinois.

Mr. Judd could trace his lineal descent back for many generations, being a direct descendant of Deacon Thomas Judd who came over from England in 1633 on account of religious persecution and settled with the Pilgrim Fathers in the state of Massachusetts.  Chester Judd was a son of Giles and Catharine Judd, who were natives of Connecticut.  His grandfather, Asa Judd, and his oldest uncle, Samuel Judd, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and his father, Giles Judd, was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Chester and Mary Judd had two sons, John and Albert.

Chester Judd became a member of the Dahlgren Methodist Church, in 1872, and he remained a faithful member there until the time of his death.  He died on January 27, 1901, and was buried at Richardson Hill Cemetery.

Albert Judd, son of Chester, served in the Civil War.  He was first married to Mary A. McCoy, and they had six children, three of whom died young.  Ed, Merritt and Alice were their surviving children.  After the death of his first wife, he was married to Laura McCoy, and to them was born a daughter, Margaret.