Biography
Mary Ester Josephine Parker Chidester was born 2 April 1809 in Vernon, Oneida County, New York, United States to Jared Joshua Parker (1770-1854) and Esther Hull (1778-1814) and died 3 February 1879 Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. She married John Madison Chidester (1809-1893) 28 December 1829 in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York.
Zions Camp Participant
This Judith Mehr rendition depicts struggles endured by members of Zion's Camp, an expeditionary force to help Church members in Jackson County redeem their brethren.
One of the most interesting episodes in the early history of LDS Church was the march of Zion's Camp (1834). The members of the Church in Missouri were being persecuted, and the Prophet Joseph made it a matter of prayer and received a revelation on February 24, 1834. The Lord instructed the Prophet to assemble at least one hundred young and middle-aged men and to go to the land of Zion, or Missouri. (See D&C 130:19–34.)
Zion’s Camp, a group of approximately one hundred and fifty men, gathered at Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1834 and marched to Jackson County, Missouri. By the time they reached Missouri, the camp had increased to approximately two hundred men.
In the summer of 1832, John heard the preaching of Elders Joseph Wood and David Patten. He was soon baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained an elder the following year. In 1834, word came that the Prophet Joseph Smith was organizing a group of men to march to the aid of the Saints in Missouri. John and his family immediately headed to Ohio. About 60 miles outside of Kirtland, John, Mary, their two-year-old son, and their three-month old daughter joined Zion’s Camp.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Peck Chidester (1831-1897) | 23 December 1831 Somerfield, Monroe County, Michigan, United States | 10 January 1897 Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States | Susannah Foy (1831-1902) |
| Eunice Emily Chidester (1833-1905) | 18 February 1833 Florence, Madison County, Ohio, United States | 21 January 1905 Price, Carbon County, Utah, United States | Levi Nehemiah Harmon (1829-1874) |
| Mary Jane Chidester (1836-1837) | |||
| Jared Chidester (1838-1839) | |||
| David Chidester (1840-1929) | 5 January 1840 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois | 8 March 1929 Richfield, Sevier County, Utah | Rebecca Ann Price (1845-1929) Margaret Jane Pearson (1839-1912) |
| Joshua Parker Chidester (1843-1894) | |||
| James Madison Chidester (1845-1845) | |||
| Esther Chidester (1846-1914) | |||
| Willard Darwin Chidester (1850-1917) | |||
Siblings