KESTERSON KOLLECTIONS
NEWSLETTER
Volume 33 Nov 1, 2002
Christine Walters
KESTERSON KOLLECTIONS
NEWSLETTER
Volume 33 Nov 1, 2002
Christine Walters
Here it is that time of year again. Fall is here - Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner. Hope everyone had a great summer. So whats new in the Kesterson World? I didn't hear from many of you in the last 3 months so once again, it looks like a smaller edition. Have any of you found anything new?? Please let me know if you did.
James S Kesterson m Jane Langley 7 Oct 1882 Book 3 Pg 82. I have information that her name was Sarah Ellen but I wonder now if that is correct? James Stephen was the s/o Harvey Kesterson/Charlotte Casteel s/o John & Nancy (Cadwell) Kesterson.
George W Kesterson m Nancy H Manker 9 Apr 1891. She was the d/o James Manker - Elizabeth Rian (Ryan). George was the s/o Jeremiah Kesterson/Nancy Jane Parker s/o Peter
Found a Virginia Kesterson who died 25 Sep 1949, buried in Calvary St Marys Cemetery in Pike Co IL. The only other Kestersons buried there was Delmar L and some of his family. He was the s/o Joseph W Kesterson/Emily Carlton.. Any ideas who she is?
1. Fred Kesterson age 35 (born abt 1885) arrived at the Port of New York from Liverpool England on 21 Jan 1920 on the ship Cedric. He was a US Citizen from Little Rock AR, his address was 1400 Schiller Ave. My best bet is that he was the son of Willis Vincent & & Susan (Prickett) Kesterson. The ships record say he was age 35 - My records show him born in 1880. I wonder why its so hard to get an age correct?
2. Noah Kesterson age 26 (born abt 1893) arrived at the Port of New York from Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama on 30 Aug 1919 on the ship Abangarez. He was a US Citizen from Asheville NC. This man is positively identified as Noah Jack Kesterson, the son of Abraham H & Temperance Ann (Wheeler) Kesterson. Abraham was the s/o James & Margaret (Lovely) Kesterson who was the son of Hazzard Kesterson of Anderson/Campbell TN.
3. Samuel Kesterson age 29 (born abt 1878) arrived at the Port of New York from Progreso Yucatan Mexico on 3 Aug 1907 on the ship Seguranca. He might have been from Virginia - very hard to read but he was US Born.
None of these people were immigrants - all were on visits or business and I would love to know why they traveled to those places.
There was also a Bertol Jesterson who arrived from Liverpool England 5 Nov 1894. He was 22 years old. He was from NY and the name was spelled clearly - probably not one of ours. Also found a Juke Karterson born in Finland, sailed from Scotland - doubt if he is one of our either.
Have heard from Gloria Markus who has some information on the mystery of Hannah Parker Jones Kesterson. Hannah might have been a rather difficult woman. Her marriage to William Kesterson was not entirely happy. None of us can hope to know the true circumstances. She told her grandaughter, Elva Onie Kesterson, that she did not want to be buried in the same cemetery with him. Hannah is buried at Liberty Cemetery and William is buried at Fellowship Cemetery. William died at a youngish age - only 47 and I've not heard the reason for his death. Benjamin was born several years after the death of William so its safe to say that Ben is definitely not a son of William. He is said to be the son of the local Doctor - Ben Jones. According to the family, the eldest son John was very angry with his mother when he found out she was pregnant and threatened to starve her death, or nearly did. John was the breadwinner of the family after his fathers death so he was the one who had to take care of his mother. John is on the 1900 with Hannah, but in the 1920 Census Hannah is living with her son Benjamin. Hannah gave one final insult to William when she named this child Benjamin - after his father Ben (my guess only), and at the same time gave Ben the Kesterson name. By all appearances its possible that Edward really was a son of Williams. In 1900 Edwards age was given as 17 but thats close enough to think that he might well have been born in 1882 - after his father William had died. But we might never know for sure. It is feasible that Edward was also the child of Ben Jones, but it doesn't seem logical that Hannah would put herself in that kind of jeopardy twice does it?
The Kesterson Crest: There is a motto at the bottom of the Crest that says TIMOR OMNIS ABEST.
Brian Kesterson has attempted to translate its meaning, Timor - loosely translated means "fear". Omnis - loosely translated means "everything" or "all". Abest - is ?? Do any of our other "Kesterson Scholars" (loosely translated) know what the motto means? The picture of this Crest is on Robin Kesterson's myfamily.com site and its also on my website should you want to review it again.
New Information comes forth concerning Willis Kesterson and wife Catherine Gregory.
Brian Kesterson is a West Virginia Historian and Author, and a direct descendant of Willis. His lineage is give later under the New Members Section. We didn't have Willis' actual birthdate before now, it was 12 Feb 1792. Brian relates some tidbits on the children of Willis & Catherine: Cyrus Kesterson: was a farmer in Lubeck District and owned various tracts of land. He had an Irish servant named Lizzy Robison. Cyrus died Feb. 17, 1889. and is buried at New England Cem. his grave is unmarked. He also sold two acres of land to John W. Kesterson in 1885 on the Beckwith/Matheny property line. Franklin (Wm Franklin), married a woman by the first name of Melinda (It was Melissa Treadway), about 1843 or 44 (10 Oct 1844). They had two known children, Willis 1845 and Hester 1849. He was a cooper by trade the same as his father Willis. Henry Kesterson lived to be 93 years old. He married a woman by the name of Mary J.? or Mary K.? My grandfather said that "Uncle Hen" as they called him called his wife by the name of Kay. They lived in Lubeck District on the old part of Kesterson Road which is now called Meldahl Road in honor of some German aristocrat who settled in the Washington Bottom area. (The name of the road was changed in the late 1970's or early 1980's, part of it being designated Meldahl Road and another part being named Homewood Road. The far end of the road still retains the name Kesterson Road.) Henry and his wife took care of their nephew Jacob born 1863. Henry was also a cooper and died at the home of Frank Kesterson on Mill Branch at the Little Hocking River in Ohio. He had gone to visit and he loved walnuts and ate too many and died. The doctor said had he eaten a little salt with the walnuts he would have surely lived to see his 100th birthday as he was in excellent health. He and his wife are buried in the Lubeck Cem. in a depression, in unmarked graves not far from the Miller family grave lot. George T. Kesterson is believed to be a brother or cousin to the above. He came to Wood County from Augusta County around 1840 to 1850. He married Matilda A. Bains July 30, 1840 in Augusta County. He was a farmer and lived in a log cabin on old Kesterson Road ( now Meldahl Road).
Janelle Williams has finally found a Marriage License for James Polk Kesterson - Angeline Gower. They married on June 20, 1866 by Rev. Richard Cole; marriage Book 3 page 31 Sevier Co AR. His marriage to C M Murphy occurred 23 Aug 1883 in Pike Co AR. She would like to know what happened to C M Murphy? That marriage apparently only lasted about 3 years. Where did the marriage to Elizabeth Lokey occur. We have a date of 14 Dec 1886 but no location. James Polk had 3 children with his first wife Angeline - Mary, John W and Melinda and then I suspect Angeline must have died? Any help with this family would be appreciated by both Janelle, myself and others.
For those of you who keep track of the Arkansas line there is an error in one of the names we need to get corrected. Effie Doll Hudson is really Effie DELL Hudson 26 Jan 1879 - 21 Aug 1943 m Walter W Hunt. Effie was the d/o Mary Malinda Ashbrook/Andrew J Hudson d/o Lucinda Kesterson/Wm Ashbrook and Lucinda was the d/o John & Malinda. Its nice to keep these error to a minimum when we can.
Nevada Dell (Hunt) Harvell is her grandaughter and
was named for her so we know that Dell is correct.
I took a couple of days and went to the Bethel Methodist Church Reunion in Pike Co IL held August 11, 2002. I went to the Courthouse on the following Monday.. Here are a few things I found that will be of interest to the Pike Co IL Researchers.
I've added a wonderful story about the Waubonsie Methodist Church in Mills Co IA and a great picture taken and contributed by F Dean Alley. The news Article written by the Rev. Peter Jacobs, Pastor, first appeared in the Mills County Tribune November 7, 1906. Its too lengthy to put here in the Newsletter but I'll send copies to any of you who still get the Newsletter "offline". Thanks Dean, its this kind of contribution that is meaningful and pulls a family together.
John Henry Kesterson (His wife is Dorothy) is looking for information on his father. John was born 14 Feb 1929 in Niagara Falls NY. His father was Arthur DeWitt Kesterson and his mothers name was Laura. They may or may not have actually married. John last saw his father when he was about 10 years old and was raised by foster parents, but upon reflection "thinks" it was his father but might well have been Jack Sailor, the man his mother had married. The only thing his mother ever told him was that his father was born in Parkersburg (Wood Co) West Virginia and believed to have been a Steel Worker. I believe that Arthur DeWitt Kesterson was the son of John Gavin Kesterson (at one time we thought his name was John DeWitt). John Gavin belongs to the Willis Kesterson/Catherine Gregory line. If anyone has knowledge of Arthur DeWitt Kesterson please be sure and let us know.
In the last Newsletter I told you there would be "Newspaper Articles" - well something happened to those files and I had to redo all of them. They are online now and you can view them under "Newspaper Articles" from the main menu of the Website. One of the stories is about Berry H Kesterson the Miner who was shot and killed in 1935. He was descended from the Pittsfield, Pike Co IL Kesterson. The other is about Charles E Malicoat who descended from one of the Howard Co AR lines. If you have other articles of interest be sure and send them to me.
Must have been an exciting time in Saline Co AR on August 29, 1883. A R Carmichael was charged with selling liquor without a license, Vince Kesterson and James Glidewell were the witness'. D F Dobbins and JD Dobbins were charged with the same crime and the witness was Vince Kesterson & James Cameron. While all this was going on J Suttle was charged with disturbing a religious congregation with Patrick Scott, Vince Kesterson and J N Medlock were witness'. Considering the time frame, Vince must be Willis Vincent Kesterson born in 1858, s/o Jerome Bonepart & Sarah (Pipkin) Kesterson.
I recently visited the Ellis Island Website. I lost the URL but you can find it with a "Google" Search. I was surprised to find 3 Kesterson entries..
NEW MEMBERS
Brian Kesterson is a new and most welcome addition to the fold. His line is Brian Kesterson / William Kenneth Kesterson / William Marshall Kesterson 1904 - 1988 WV/ James William Kesterson 1859 WV/ Jacob P Kesterson 1828 WV / Willis Kesterson 1792 -1870 WV / John Kesterson
Teresa Lynn (Truax) Clendinneng is a new found descendant of Clara Kesterson/Isaac Moore. She is of course hoping to find the parents of Clara.. Her line: Teresa / Linda Kay WARREN / Louella FLITCRAFT 1919 WI / Willis Kesterson FLITCRAFT 1873-1948 IN / Isabella MOORE 1853-1885 / Clara and Isaac. The use of the name Willis might be another clue that Clara could be the daughter of Willis Kesterson/Catherine Gregory - except for the marriage license which stated that Clara's mother was named Sarah????
Eddie Bailey Kesterson is a possible cousin of the Caldwell/Graves Co KY branch. Eddies father was George Bailey Kesterson b 4 Sep 1898 TN d 7 Sep 1963 in Los Angeles. George's mothers maiden name was Campbell. This information found on the CA death Index. Eddie was only 7 when his father died. George had two sisters (Mrs. Thomas Bennett and Mrs. Mattie Morton) living in CA and had gone out there himself to find a house for the family. Unfortunately he died before this was accomplished. I believe he is part of the Graves/Caldwell line as the name Bailey is being used. I know this is not conclusive - but its a clue. If anyone knows anything about George please let us know.
Stephanie (Jackson) Scott is a Kesterson/Blackwood Cousin.. Here is her line: Stephanie JACKSON / Alice Louise BLACKWOOD 1939 / Dallas Andrew BLACKWOOD 1917 / Andrew Jackson BLACKWOOD 1875 AR / Wm Boone BLACKWOOD 1850 AR / Andrew Jackson BLACKWOOD 1827 TN / Rebecca KESTERSON 1810 TN.
Larry (Carlene) Price is trying to determine the parents of William Kesterson who married a Mary J (Unknown) in VA. William was born around 1807. Here is Larry's line back to William. Larry Everett PRICE / Mamie Alice KESTERSON 1913 VA / Guy Robert KESTERSON 1891 / Henry Robertson KESTERSON 1859 / John Marshall KESTERSON 1837 VA / William. I suspect that William might be a son of Hazzard Kesterson by the age and place he was born. Several of Hazzards children are yet to be found. He might also be a son of Willis Kesterson who was a brother of Hazzard
I'm working on more of the stories and tales that Brian Kesterson (Wood WV) has sent me.. When I get them together - I'll probably do a Webpage on them.. Look for this in the next issue and Brian if you have any more interesting items be sure and send them..
Till next time - Happy Holidays to all
Chris
