We can proudly lay claim to at least "one", true to life, on the big screen, full fledged cowboy, in our Kesterson family. This would be George Washington Kesterson, also known as, Art Mix. I hope you enjoy what we've been able to put together on him so far.

George was born in Pike County Illinois, on the 18th of June 1896, the second child, and the first son, of George Washington Kesterson (Sr) and Nancy Helen Manker, who were married in Pike County IL, 9 April 1891. The elder George was the son of Jeremiah Jefferson Kesterson and Nancy Jane Parker, who were married 2 February 1860 also in Pike County IL. Jeremiah was born 15 July 1840 in Caldwell County KY, the son of Peter Kesterson and Betsy Cherry. Peter migrated from Caldwell County KY to Pike County IL before 1850 and remained there until his death in 1864. Peter was the son of George Kesterson and Lettice Baker, who settled in Caldwell County KY around 1800. Prior to that the family lived in Greene County TN and are descendants of Thomas Kesterson of Northumberland County VA .

Although born in Illinois, George also lived in Canada from around the age of 16. Around 1912 George's father bought a horse ranch in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Living on a horse ranch certainly gave George the first hand knowledge and expreience to ride a horse and learn the "cowboy" ways. Its not exactly known when, or even "if" George SR left Canada, but we do know that George's mother Nancy (Manker) Kesterson died in Orange County California 14 June 1942. We're still looking for the place and time of death for George Sr. Our Cowboy, George (Art) was definitely back in the states by the late 1920's as he launched his film career by 1928. According to some of the writings I've seen, he also worked in a circus and even tried boxing before he started acting.

Frances Lorraine (Kesterson)Zazulak Daughter of George Kesterson (Art Mix)
The "Life" he left in Canada

George made some movies under his real name, but then he became Art Mix. There were some legal problems using the name Art Mix, but I guess court battles resolved the issue and George Kesterson was allowed to use the name "Art Mix" for the rest of his career. Art was known for his very tall White hat, which he is wearing in this picture. He most often played the "good guy".

Here George is wearing the customary tall hat and is in a scene with Charles Starrett in one of his movies called Outlaws Of The Prairie. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1937. If you look closer you can see that this picture is Autographed.. Wouldn't you like to find one of these pictures somewhere? What a great find that found be!

This is another scene from Outlaws of the Prairie, also shown in the last paragraph. Some other movies of interest would be The Silent Western, Saddles and Sagebrush (1943), North From the Lone Star (1941), The Ghost Rider (1935), Rustlers of Red Dog (1935), The Rawhide Terror (1934), Mason of the Mounted (1932) , The Riding Tornado (1932), The Texan (1932) and Romance of the Wasteland (1924)

In this picture you can see Russ Hayden about to mix it up in Overland To Deadwood, a Columbia Picture released in 1942. This one was one of the Charles Starrett series in which Hayden played the second lead. Art Mix is standing on the far right.

Our Kesterson Cowboy was in at least one movie with actor John Wayne! I call that an honor no matter how you look at it. The movie was called Sagebrush Trail and was released by Monogram Pictures, 8 Dec 1933. Maybe it can be found through our local video stores.

More - ART in the MOVIES

George was married to a beautiful, Cuban born screen actress by the name of Inez Gomez. She was in a couple of movies with him and if you want to think "romantically", they might have met on the set. Inez was George's 2nd wife and we are still looking for a marriage license or date. I'm assuming he married her sometime after 1828.
Inez was born 17 August 1891 and died on the 19th of November 1942 The burial location is still unknown but it was probably in Los Angeles. Recently found information in the possession of Daryl Zazulak, Georges Grandson, are some papers indicating that Inez had at least one son named Donald Jack. Two other names, Del and Ralph Jack were also found among his papers. We would be happy to find anyone in the "Jack" family who knows about Inez Gomez and her time with Art Mix.

ART - THE LAST YEARS Retirement - "The End"

George died on the 7th of December 1972.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale California. Notice the tombstone says "Art Mix".

Vale of Memory Lot 1662.

STILL IN THE NEWS - 2005 And the Legend still lives

I am happy to report that so far 5 connections have been found from Georges family. These people would be:

Daryl Zazulak (His one & only Grandson)
Nancy Hatmaker (A Neice and she has met him)
Andrea Mitchell A Great Neice
Becky Daniels A Great Neice
Terry Hodgson A Great Neice
Daniel Kesterson A Great Nephew
Kevin Kesterson A Great Great Nephew

As for me - well my grandmother, Nora Holland Dolby would have been his 3rd cousin. Leaving me somewhere way down the line, but still a "proud" cousin.