There are few more inspiring examples of self-won success in the history of KIamath County's timber industry than that furnished by the career of Irving Ernest Kesterson, who has by steadfast adherence to the right principles of business and perseverance in surmounting obstacles, won an enviabie place in the annals of this county. He is a native Oregonian, born at Gold Hill, June 18, 1893, studied in the public schools of Washington and Oregon, graduating from high school at Grants Pass, Oregon. He lived at home until he was 18, then started learning the various angles of the timber industry. His father, George Harvey Kesterson, is a typical westerner, born on a farm near Dixon California, on June 10, 1864, the son of John J. Kesterson who imigrated from Lexington (Lafayette County) Missouri, during the pioneer days of the Golden State. He married Sarah Foster, also a native of Lexington, a woman devoted to her home and family.
George H. Kesterson attended the schools of tbe Sacramento VaIIey, Sacramento City, California, and Montesano, Washingtnn, and finished with a business course at Olympia Washington. His life was spent in the west, farming nearDixon, also in Washington and Oregon when he moved to the Rogue River country in 1889. He was greatly interested in the lumber industry and built the Cascade Lumber Company mill at Pinehurst, the Cheney Creek Lumber Compmy mill near Grants Pass, the Cow Creek mill near Glenda1e, Oregon, and the Evaus Creek mill at Dorris, California in 1903, which he operated for 13 years. His next undertaking was the Swede Basin Lumber Company at Grants Pass in association with William Spalding and Son, and is still operating that mill. In all of the above milling companies Mr. Kesterson held the office of president. In Washington he was in the furniture and undertaking business a number of years. G. H. Kesterson married Clara May Carr, born in Portland July 4, 1871 and died August 7, 1917. She was active in the Eastern Star and church work. Her children are: Harvey Leroy, died in infancy; Florence May bom April 1, 1800; Irving Ernest; William Ivan, born April 22, 1895.
After a few years of obtaining the rudiments of lumbering by working for others I. E. Kesterson started his own company under the name of the Kesterson Lumber Company at Grants Pass. In 1917 he was joined by his brother, William Ivan, in a partnership arrangement in a sawmil1 operation in Klamath County, Oregon, when they took over the original Burkhardt Lumber Mill near Dorris. This mill had been operated by Captain Semon for some years until foreclosure proceedings when the Kesterson brothers acquired ownership from the bank holding the mortgage. This mill burned in 1921. In 1922, the brothers took over the Topsy Lumber Company, at Topsy, Oregon, moved it to Dorris and there erected the Kesterson Lumber Company mill, successfully carrying on the business until 1930. During 1929, they built the present modern mill on the site of the old Whiteline Ranch one of the first settlements made in Klamath County, and during 1930, this plant started operations under the name of the Kesterson Lumber Corporation, becoming one of the major lumber companies in the Northwest. It handles Ponderosa pine exclusively, and is one of the most complete mills under one roof in the county, including dry kiIns, box factory, planing mill and saw mill, with a capacity of 50.000,000 board feet, and employs 500 workmen. The company has its own logging camp, fells its own timber and its production has been gradually increasing with its products being shipped to every state in the Union. The company has the fullest cooperation of all its employees and the personnel receives satisfaction in the creation of good jobs and opportunities for their employees.
Mr. Kesterson was united in marriage at Grants Pass, Oregon, June 30, 1915, with Goldie S. Jennings, a native of Oregon and they have three children: Eva. (Mrs. Don Bradley) born in Grants Pass on April 4, 1916, resides in Klamath Falls; Aimee K., born in Grants Pass on July 10, 1918, is a graduate of Stanford, Class of 1939, and lives here; and Irving E., Jr. born in San Francisco, California, on May 8, 1926, resides in this city. Mr. Kesterson is a member of Klamath Lodge No. 1247 B.P.D.E., the Chamber of Commerce; is president of the Klamath Lumber Company Inc.; president of the Klamath Properties, Inc., of San Francisco; and president of the Pacific Division of the National Wooden Box Association. He is deeply interested in all civic movements in Klamath County and is ready to lend his cooperation to all worthy projects. His career is an example of what perseverance and square dealing will accomplish for the person with a definite go
Contributed by Robin Bailey
