Kesterson Biographies







KESTERSON BIOGRAHIES

Thomas Jesse "Steve" Kesterson
April 4, 1869 - 12 March 1914

Thomas J. (Steve) Kesterson was born in East Tennessee April 4, 1869. He came to Burnett County Texas with his family when a small child. A few years later they moved to Liberty Hill in Williamson County Texas. Steve grew to young manhood in this place, attending school all he had chance to between farm labor and other responsiblitiies, he having lost his father and was forced, with the help of his only brother, to be the main support for a frail mother and two small sisters.

When I think of him now, it seems he was never a child. It seems his lot in life was always to do for others. He accepted this duty with a courage that knew no bounds, he had such a determination to do what was right and to accomplish something worthwhile in this world. A jovial disposition that always won him friends, Steve was not contented to settle down on the cotton farms of south Texas, he longed to know something of the West. He wanted to be cowboy and he had what it took to be a pioneer.

When he became of age he started out in company with a neighbor boy to go West. They each had a little money. After about three days journey the other boy got cold feet and made his way back home, but Steve knew what he wanted and went on alone. On his road he came in contact with a party taking a herd of cattle to this part of the state and he teamed on with this herd. He landed in the Canadian breaks in the spring of 1890. He worked near Canada for quite a while and part of the time at Miami (sic). It was here where he got hot his first good work with Mr. O.H. Nelson, a fine ranch owner.

He worked for M r. Nelson for some time and in some way met up with Mr. Bugabee (sic), another well know ranch owner at Clarendon. He got work from Mr. Bugabee and while at this place he made the acquaintance of the Goodnights and the Dyers. He made a deal with Mr. Lee Dyer to come to his ranch which was west of Goodnight. Here he stayed for seven years, working and batching with Charley Tank. Ben Ransom and Walter Ransom and Jim Owens also worked on the Dyer ranch. Old Mr. Bill Vaughn was fence rider for the ranch then.

By this time Steve had gotten hold of a nice plot of ground and had accumulated a nice bunch of white face cattle. He improved a little home on his land, five miles northeast of the station of Goodnight, over near the "Juan" place and settled down in this home that he had worked so hard to secure, and one that anyone might be proud to own. But it was not complete until he made a trip to his old home in south Texas and brought back the girl who had been waiting for him. He married Miss Pearl Askew at Marble Falls, Texas and they came west to the little nest he had planned and built, where he might bring his bride and where he would not have to keep eating sour dough bread.

They were very successful stock farmers and lived very happily for quite a while. Two children were born to them - Robert and Mary, but like many other happy homes, sorrow came when Steve lost his health, still a young man. He sought the best medical aid but to no advantage and after about two years on March 12, 1914 at St. Anthonys Hospital in Amarillo, his brave spirit took its flight and his little family were left to mourn a great loss.

His daughter has since passed away, his son lives in Amarillo and his widow lives in East Amarillo. The five other cowboys I referred to working on the Dyer ranch have all passed on also.

Written by his sister Dolla (Kesterson) Bailey Dodge April 1939 - Contributed by Brother Claude


Click here for Family Photos / History

Back