John Foy Chidester was born in Spanish Fork, Utah County, February 2, 1853. When very young he and his parents moved to Washington County. At an early age he learned to play the violin and gave freely of his talent for the entertainment of others. He was married twice; his first wife was Mary Nichol and after her death he married Almina Worthen. He entered public life as a constable in the town of Washington. He moved to Panguitch in 1885, in which year he was admitted to practice in the Utah bar. Until 1895 all criminal cases in the southern part of the state were taken to the Second Judicial Court at Beaver for trial and the prisoners were also housed in the Beaver County jail. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention and was elected Senator from Garfield County to the First General Assembly of Utah in 1896. After his term as Senator expired, he was elected District Attorney for the Sixth Judicial District which office he held until he was appointed the District judge. At this time he moved to Richfield. Throughout his entire term as presiding judge he had but one of his decisions reversed—that of a negro for murder. He was then acting in place of a judge from Salt Lake who had been disqualified. Sometime later the original decision was honored. During the years of his public service his course was marked with earnest devotion to duty, but sometimes a situation arose which caused a smile upon his countenance. One such case was a divorce action. The defendant owned a large tract of very choice farming land. When Judge Chidester asked the woman plaintiff, "On what grounds are you suing for divorce?" She answered, "Oh, about eighty acres." Although he never attended an accredited law school, he was considered one of the best versed men in law in the community. His advice and help were given to anyone who came to him. He was a deeply religious man and gave great service to his church. Judge Chidester passed away July 7, 1917 at Richfield, Utah.
Treasures of Utah History