Frank Chester Robertson
Encyclopedia
Frank Chester Robertson was an American author best known for his western
novels. He published over 150 hard cover books and countless other short stories, serials and newspaper articles. In later years, he also wrote a column for the Provo Herald called, “The Chopping Block”.
, Idaho. His father became a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and moved his family to Chesterfield
, Idaho. His family was farmers. To help support his family while his father was away on LDS Missions, Robertson herded sheep and his mom briefly became a postmistress. In 1914, he obtained a 320 acres (1.3 km²) homestead in the hills a few miles east of Chesterfield. In 1919, he married Winifred “Winnie” Bowman with whom he had three children. After moving to Ogden
Utah in the 1920s and then Salt Lake City, Robertson and his family settled in Mapleton
Utah in 1937. He lived the rest of his life in Mapleton, writing stories and working in his Cherry orchards.
In 1954, the Western Writers of America
presented the Silver Spur award for best juvenile story for Robertson's story, Sagebrush Sorrel. He was also the 1959-1960 President of the Western Writers of America. His library of letters, note and correspondence were donated to BYU
's Harold B. Lee Library
.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
novels. He published over 150 hard cover books and countless other short stories, serials and newspaper articles. In later years, he also wrote a column for the Provo Herald called, “The Chopping Block”.
Early life
Robertson was born in MoscowMoscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, Idaho. His father became a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and moved his family to Chesterfield
Chesterfield, Idaho
Chesterfield is a ghost town in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. It is located in the Portneuf River Valley at an elevation of . The community includes a cemetery and former buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints such as a former meeting house, amusement hall and...
, Idaho. His family was farmers. To help support his family while his father was away on LDS Missions, Robertson herded sheep and his mom briefly became a postmistress. In 1914, he obtained a 320 acres (1.3 km²) homestead in the hills a few miles east of Chesterfield. In 1919, he married Winifred “Winnie” Bowman with whom he had three children. After moving to Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
Utah in the 1920s and then Salt Lake City, Robertson and his family settled in Mapleton
Mapleton, Utah
Mapleton is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,809 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mapleton is located at ....
Utah in 1937. He lived the rest of his life in Mapleton, writing stories and working in his Cherry orchards.
Career
Robertson started writing short stories while in Chesterfield. He wrote his first novel in 1924 titled, The Foreman of the Forty Bar. The novel was first published in People’s Popular Monthly and then syndicated in several newspapers. It was published as a book in 1925. His most popular book was his 1950 autobiographical book, A Ram in the Thicket: The Story of a Roaming Homesteader Family on the Mormon Frontier, which was later condensed in Reader’s Digest. His prime writing years were from the 1920s to the 1940s, but continued writing until his death. He wrote under several pseudonyms including Frank Chesterfield, Robert Crane and King Hill.In 1954, the Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America, founded 1953, promotes literature, both fiction and non-fiction, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional western fiction, the more than five hundred current members also include historians and other non-fiction writers as well as authors...
presented the Silver Spur award for best juvenile story for Robertson's story, Sagebrush Sorrel. He was also the 1959-1960 President of the Western Writers of America. His library of letters, note and correspondence were donated to BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
's Harold B. Lee Library
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
.