According to the "Legend" previously presented, Jeramia was born about 1770 in Fairfax County VA. A couple of years earlier, Meriday Kesterson his brother, was born in Winchester VA. Around 1790 the brothers moved on - through Parkersburg WVA into Ohio and settling in Indiana. We can track Meriday's movements to a great degree, but nowhere can we find any mention of "Jeramia". We have found records of "John" - but are they the same person? Jeramia is said to have died in Ohio in 1835..
The Legend presents the Jeramia line as:
Jeremiah Kesterson 1770 VA - 1835 OH
George Kesterson
George Franklin Kesterson 1830 Orange IN
George Washington Kesterson Aug 1861 -
I stop the lineage here because this is where the records of the "Legend" and the hard research of Marvin Beatty differ. Marvin has proof of his research through Pension Papers and other material. While we cannot find any "proof" of the Legend entries. There was indeed a George Washington Kesterson - and he was born in 1861 on the 6th of August. He was the "ONLY" son of Alfred Kesterson 1841 IN - 8 Oct 1862 Perryville KY (Civil War). The father of George Washington Kesterson in the "Legend" is suppose to be George Franklin Kesterson born in 1830. If this George was the father of Alfred - he would have been about 11 years old when Alfred was born - so the writer of the Legend has the birth wrong - and possibly the name wrong as well. We can find no record anywhere for George Franklin Kesterson in Indiana or Ohio. We do find records for Alfred, as he appears on the 1850 Census of Dubois IN as the oldest child of Jonathan Kesterson & Mary A Painter.
So far the father of Jonathan Kesterson has not been discovered. According to the legend he would be the son of Jeramia and I'm inclined to believe that this Jonathan is the son of Jeramia! Jonathan was born 1818 OH died 1878 IN.
The Legend says:
Jeremia Kesterson 1770 VA-1835 OH
George Kesterson
George Franklin Kesterson 1830-14 Oct 1862 Civil War
George Washington Kesterson 1861-1934
In Reality we have:
Jeremia Kesterson 1770 VA-1835 OH
Jonathan Kesterson 1818 OH-1878 IN
Alfred Kesterson 1841-8 Oct 1862 Civil War
George Washington Kesterson 1861-1934
You can see the records are similar between George Franklin Kesterson and Alfred Kesterson. Might Georges name have really been George Alfred Kesterson? They both seem to have died in Oct in the Civil War in 1862 - but there is no record of George Franklin Kesterson in the Civil War with a death date as presented. There is a record of Alfred Kesterson on that date.
Was the writer of the "Legend" confused with his names - did he mistakenly enter the names incorrectly? What happened? Well, we will never know unless somebody comes forward with some more basic, provable information. We have to go with the research of Marvin Beatty and his family history - Its documented and looks very solid to me. While I would love to think that the "Legend" presented Jeramia's family correctly, its sad to say that we can't document it or verify it.
I am working with the assumption that Jeremia is the ancestor of the following family. I hope you will send me "anything" that will prove it - or - disprove it.
Generation 1 JEREMIA KESTERSON born about 1770 Fairfax Co VA (As per the Legend)
Generation 2 JONATHAN KESTERSON was born Abt. 1818 in OH, and died 27 Apr 1878 in Owensville, Gibson IN. He married MARY A PAINTER 19 Mar 1840 in Dubois IN. She was born Bet. 1822 - 1825 in IN or TN. Jonathan appears on the 1850 and 1860 Dubois IN Census living next door to Eleanor Kesterson w/o George Parsons on the 1850 Census. Eleanor could well be a sister of Jonathan's. Wilsons History of Dubois Co IN writes about the Church this family attended. You can find this on the Kesterson Churches webpage. Children of Jonathan Kesterson and Mary Painer are:
1. Alfred Kesterson b 1841 Dubois IN died of Small Pox 8 Oct 1862 Perryville KY (Civil War)
2. Benjamin M Kesterson b 1843 Dubois IN d 3 Apr 1862, Cumberland Ford, Perryville KY (Civil War) Benjamin was in Co G 49th IN Mustered in Nov 21 1861. His mother "Mary" applied for Pension # 262467 Cert # 244802
3. Margaret Kesterson b 27 Dec 1844 Dubois IN d 13 Jan 1918 Mt Carmel IL 4. Samuel Kesterson b 1847 Dubois IN d 8 Oct 1862, Perryville KY (Civil War). Buried Dubois IN Cuzeo Cemetary or Robert Hall Cemetery
5. Nancy Kesterson b 18 Apr 1850 Dubois IN
6. John T Kesterson b 1851 d before 1880
7. Mary Kesterson b 11 Jun 1852 Dubois IN. This might be the same Mary that married Thomas Corwin Jones.
8. James Kesterson b 1854 Dubois IN
9. George Kesterson b 27 Oct 1858 Dubois IN
10. Eliza Jane Kesterson b 21 Nov 1861 d 13 Oct 1862 Dubois IN. Buried Robert Hall Cemetery age 10mts 22 days
11. Grant Kesterson b 10 Apr 1864 Dubois IN d 20 Apr 1914 Gibson IN
Generation 3 ALFRED KESTERSON s/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 1841 in Dubois IN, and died 08 Oct 1862 in Perryville KY. He married Martha Elizabeth Beatty 13 Sep 1860 in Dubois IN, daughter of Robert Beatty and Phoebe Winninger. She was born 28 May 1840 in Dubois IN, and died 25 Feb 1923 in Dubois IN, buried in Cuzeo Cemetery Dubois IN. Albert Kesterson was killed in the Battle of Chaplain Hills in Perryville, KY and was brought home and buried on the Robert Hall farm in Dubois County IN by his father. Enlisted October 1861 Co I 38th IN Vol and was also listed in Co G 49th IN
Child of Alfred Kesterson and Martha Beatty is:
1. Georege Washington Kesterosn b 6 Aug 1861 Dubois IN d Feb 1934 Ft Wayne IN
MARGARET KESTERSON d/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 27 Dec 1844 in Dubois IN, and died 13 Jan 1918 in Mt Carmel IL. She married (1) Frederick G Weaver 31 Jan 1880. He was born Mar 1836 in Switzerland. She married (2) W Walker Aft. 1886.
Children of Margaret Kesterson and Frederick Weaver are:
1. Alonzo Weaver b 13 Feb 1883 Gibson IN
2. Female Weaver b 11 Apr 1885 Gibson IN
Children of Margaret Kesterson and W Walker are:
3. W D Walker
4. Elmer Walker
5. Mary Walker
NANCY KESTERSON d/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 18 Apr 1850 in Dubois IN. She married James Clements. He was born 25 May 1827 in KY, and died 03 Oct 1907 in Dublis IN.
Children of Nancy Kesterson and James Clements
1. Sarah E Clements 1866
2. Thomas Clements 1869
3. Jesse Clements
4. Mary Clements 1877
5. Eliza J Clements 1879
JOHN T KESTERSON s/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 1851, and died Bef. 1880. He married Mary McCune 29 Oct 1869 in Dubois IN. She was born 24 Jan 1852, and died 24 Sep 1934.
Child of John Kesterson and Mary McCune is:
1. Samuel Kesterson b 1870 Dubois IN
GEORGE KESTERSON s/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 27 Oct 1858 in Dubois IN. He married Mary Newman 10 Jul 1880 in Owensville, Gibson IN. Marriage license issued from White Co IL - Married in Owensville. George was Marshall there 1894-1896
Child of George Kesterson and Mary Newman is:
1. John P Kesterson b 1881
GRANT KESTERSON s/o Jonathan Kesterson was born 10 Apr 1864 in Dubois IN, and died 20 Apr 1914 in Gibson IN. He married Nancy Leann Chapman, daughter of Levi Chapman and Mary Lemasters. She was born 1864 in Pike IN. Notes for GRANT KESTERSON: Information on Grant and his descendants from Mrs Wm F Kesterson Alexandria VA which I received 10 Sep 1996
Child of Grant Kesterson and Nancy Chapman is:
1. James Edward Kesterson b 5 Feb 1879 d 19 Feb 1959.
Generation 4 George Washington Kesterson s/o Alfred Kesterson was born 06 Aug 1861 in Dubois IN, and died Feb 1934 in Ft Wayne IN. He married (1) Alma Knight. He married (2) Lucinda Eleanor Nicholson 09 Mar 1881 in Dubois IN, daughter of Joseph Hogue Nicholson and Elizabeth Conrad. She was born 13 Nov 1863 in Dubois IN, and died 24 Jun 1924 in Ft Wayne IN. George Kesterson was written up in the History of Dubois Co IN
Children of George Kesterson and Lucinda Nicholson are:
1. Charles Chester Kesterson b Abt 1882
2. William Franklin Kesterson b 6 Aug 1884 Cuzeo, Dubois IN d Jul 1961 AZ
3. Ida Elizabeth Kesterson b 6 Dec 1885 Dubois IN
4. Barbara Martha Kesterson b abt 1887
5. James Bryan Kesterson b abt 1889
6. John Cowan Kesterson b abt 1890
7. Harry Ingleton Kesterson b 28 Apr 1891 French Lick Springs IN d 15 Apr 1965 Santa Clara CA
JESSE CLEMENTS s/o Nancy Kesterson. He married Mary Kellams 18 Dec 1884 in Dubois IN, daughter of James Kellams and Leah Allen. She was born 10 Feb 1867, and died 30 Jun 1952 in Dubois IN.
Children of Jesse Clements & Mary Kellams are:
1. James R Clements 1885
2. Elizabeth J Clements Apr 1887
3. Leora D Clements Nov 1888
4. Leona D Clements Jul 1890
5. Ethel H Clements 18 Mar 1892 d 27 Sep 1905 Dubois IN
6. Richard N Clements 25 Dec 1893 - 28 Oct 1909 Dublis IN
7. Thomas C Clements Dec 1897
8. Elsa M Clements Sep 1889
9. ALma D Clements 22 Dec 1901 - 4 Apr 1986 Dubois IN
10. Herbert G Clements 28 Mar 1905 m Marie Parsons
11. Ella Mae Clements 1909
12. Marie Clements 1912
SAMUEL KESTERSON s/o John T Kesterson was born Abt. 1870 in Dubois IN. He married Minnie Byrum 13 Sep 1888 in Dubois IN. She was born Abt. 1870 in Effingham Co IL by 1894. Samuel was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his stepfather Daniel Nicholson. He was sent to the Indiana State Prison
Child of Samuel Kesterson and Minnie Byrum is:
1. William Kesterson b Abt 1890.
JOHN P KESTERSON s/o George Kesterson was born 1881. He married Ruth Hess 21 Apr 1902 in Gibson IN.
Child of John Kesterson & Ruth Hess is:
1. Mable M Kestersob b 14 Jun 1919 Knox IN
JAMES EDWARD KESTERSON s/o Grant Kesterson was born 05 Feb 1879, and died 19 Feb 1959. He married Mary Ann Jennings Abt. 1907. She was born 03 Nov 1880, and died 06 Apr 1968. James and Mary on on the 1910 Augusta Co VA Census along with one son Wm F age 1 and a brother in law, Jaber Jennings.
Child of James Kesterson & Mary Jennings is:
1. William Frank Kesterson b 25 Jul 1908 d 4 Mar 1977 Alexandria VA
Marvin Beatty has a Newsletter on line and a Website. Just click either one to visit them.
