Copied from the Franklin County Times, Russellville, Alabama,
Dated: Thursday, August 29, 1929

(The spelling in this newspaper article is copied as it was printed.
by: Ann Glasgow, great-granddaughter of Wiley Robertson Hester.)

Was last of his generation and was widely known and highly respected

Mr. Wiley R. Hester died Tuesday night, August 27, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Britton, at Belgreen. He had been ill some time and his death was not unexpected by his host of friends throughout Franklin county, of which he was an honored pioneer.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at Belgreen, conducted by the Methodist pastor, Rev. Bowen, and were largely attended by relatives and friends. Interment was in Belgreen cemetery.

Mr. Hester was the oldest member of the large Hester family in Franklin county, having celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday anniversary July 25. He was an upright citizen and enjoyed the respects and esteem of all who knew him. He reared eleven children, all of whom survive him. His wife died several years ago. His children are:

Mrs. Mollie King, Belgreen; Mrs. Ella Ezzell, near Pleasant Site; Ed Hester, Belgreen; Mrs. J. L. Sparks, near Frankfort; John Hester, Texas; Charles Hester, Belgreen; Walter Hester, Belgreen; G. Hester, near Boonville, Miss; Mrs. Dora Britton, Moorewood, Oklahoma; Herbert Hester, Spruce Pine; Mrs. Cora Britton, Belgreen.

Mr. Hester also is survived by over 100 grandchildren and great-grand children. He served in the Confederate army, making a splendid record.

History of Hester Family

Mr. Marshall C. Hester, clerk of the circuit court, is a grandson of Mr. Hester, and he has kindly supplied The Times with a brief history of the Hester family of Franklin county, obtaining a large part of it from the 110-year-old Bible, which had been in the possession of his grandfather many years.

William (Buck) Hester was born January 27, 1780, and his wife, Amy Malone, was born March 17, 1789. They were married October 18, 1805, in North Carolina, where they were born.

In the spring of 1818 Buck Hester and his oldest son, Roling Hester, came to Alabama and settled about four and one-half miles east of Russellville, built a log cabin, cleared a few acres of ground, made a little corn crop, and then in the fall of the same year they went back to North Carolina on their ox cart after the family.

Buck Hester and his wife had a family of eight boys and eight girls, to-wit:
   
Roling Hester, born January 23, 1807, married Lucendy Richardson.
Nancy Hester, born October 11 1808, married John Richardson.
John Hester, born July 16, 1810 married Sarah Bowen.
Polly Hester, born July 24 1812; married _________Bourland.
Judy Hester, born June 13, 1814; married Simeon Wates.
Salley Hester, born March 26, 1816; married Linsey Moore.
Wm. H. Hester, Jr., born March 25, 1818, married Milissia Lindsey.
Robt. B. Hester, Jr., born December 20, 1819; married Sara and
__________ Williams (sisters).
Chesley B. Hester, born June 24, 1822; married Salley Rickard.
Amy Pemie Hester, born January 12, 1824; married Levi Rickard.
Sermirah Hester born December 8, 1825; married Henry Rickard.
Pertheny Hester, born July 25, 1827; married Juno. Pump Malone.
Huldah Hester, born March 31, 1829; married Carioli Rickard.
Jackson Hester, born February 22, 1831; (not known if he married).
Hudson Hester, born September 5, 1833; married Catherine Thorn.
Lucus N. Hester, born July 30, 1835; married Martha Elledge.

Roling Hester’s Family

The following is the family of Roling Hester, the oldest son of Buck Hester:
Wm. Carroll Hester, born October 14, 1829; married Jane Bolton.
John Chess Hester, born May 28, 1832; married Mary Ann King.
James Goodloe Hester, born September 26, 1833; (never married).
Mary Ellender Hester, born August 22, 1838; married Richard Green Malone.
Rolling B. Hester, born May 20, 1840; married first, Welthy Malone;
second, Eva Malone; third ______Cantrell; fourth, Mahaley Stone.
Starling R. Hester, born August 9, 1842; married Fannie Windom.
Wiley R. Hester, born July 25, 1844; married Morn Christiny Thompson.
Nancy L. Hester, born September 26, 1846, married Sidney King.
Robt. M. Hester, born August 26, 1848; married first; Huldah Malone;
second, Mattie Warnick; third Susie Lee.

Wiley R. Hester’s Family

Mollie Joe Hester, born March 11, 1869; married Wm. R. King.
Rebecca Luella Hester, born February 9, 1872, married Garrison Ezzell.
Jas. Edward Hester, born September 21, 1872; married Rebecca Sparks
Jeruther Alma Hester, born August 27, 1876; married J. Lemuel Sparks
John Rolin Hester, born April 19, 1878, married George Lowery.
Charlie Tartner Hester, born Nov-2, 1879; married Annie Britton
Walter Alex Hester, born November 17, 1881, married Jessie Hooper.
Wiley Gee Hester, born March 31, 188* , married Alice Bolton.
Pobbie Eudora Hester, born August 12, 1886; married, Edgar Britton.
Wm. Herbert Hester, born June 13, 1889; married Elizabeth Britton.
Cora Ethel Hester, born December 25, 1892; married James Britton.

*Small hole in paper.