He left Africa around the start of the American Civil War in 1861, first moving to Liverpool and London, England, and then to the United States.

[4] During the upcoming of the civil war Chester served as a recruiter of black troops and raised the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.

He passed the winter of 1866-67 at the court of Alexander II of Russia where he was given the title Captain Chester in deference to his service in the war.

He visited the 1867 International Exposition held in Paris where he met Lysius Salomon, Alexandre Dumas, and Ira Aldridge.

On this street will be the T. Morris Chester Welcome Center, in partnership with the McCormick Public Library and the Commonwealth Monument Project.