Dwight Chester

Dwight Chester 1835–1914

Dwight Chester was born in Otsego County, NY in 1835. He became one of Newton’s most prominent civil servants, First Baptist Church members, and MA state representatives.

In 1866 he came to Newton as the Boston manager of Aetna Life Insurance for New England, a position he held until his death. He and his wife Mary lived at 7 Parker St in Newton Centre. They had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth died in infancy. His wife Mary died in 1891. Chester later married Anna Walker in 1894.

Chester was a FBCN deacon, treasurer, and superintendent of the Mission School. He was treasurer of the Baptist Massachusetts Missionary Society for 26 years, treasurer of the Gardner Colby Fund for Ministerial Relief, and the Baptist Home. He was a trustee of Andover-Newton. He was President of the Newton Centre Trust, which he helped form in 1894, until his death.

He served on the Newton Board of Aldermen in 1879, ’80, ’81, ’83, ’84 and was president of that body for four years. He was the representative to the MA legislature in 1891, ’92, ‘93, ’94. His advice to young men seeking to make a mark in the world was “Follow the precepts of David, Solomon, and Jesus.” 

7 Parker St., built around 1870, the home of Mary and Dwight Chester.