 
by Carol McCartney
August 24, 2005 - Pike County Express, Pike Co. IL My search has found few answers. If it wasn't for the website, George Kesterson left no clues he ever lived in Pike County - but it's printed on the informational highway for everyone to see. His movie credits from 1924 to 1947 are not enough for Mr. Link, he wants to know about Kesterson's "life in Pike County prior to his move to Hollywood." From internet, we can get a list of the titles of the 175 movies George appeared in, the year they were made, and the parts he played from barfly to henchman to express agent to uncredited posse rider, cowhand, smuggler, townsman, wagon guard, rustler, rodeo hand, cavalryman, telegrapher, rifleman, brawler, bank robber, clerk, wagon and stage driver, rancher, gambler, pony express rider, deputy, bad man # 5 as well as Ned Davis in "Romance of the Wasteland" or Bob Strong in "West of the Rockies". We can get pictures of George as he acted in the productions, a snap shot of his wife, his grave stone and biography from his daughter, Frances Lorraine (Ksterson) Zazulak. However, there is nothing in Pike County history. Perhaps a reader can help Mr. Link fill in blanks of Art Mix/George Kesterson's life in Illinois. His ancestors lived here, perhaps there are genealogy searchers who find more than in a Google search which produced the following. George Washington Kesterson was born in Pike County Illinois on the 18th of June, 1896, the second child of George Washington Kesterson (Sr) and Nancy Helen Manker, who were married Pike County IL April 9, 1891. The elder George was the son of Jeremiah Jefferson Kesterson and Nancy Jane Parker, who were married Feb. 2, 1860 also in Pike county.  Jeremiah was born July 15, 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. Pike County history cannot be faulted too much, for in 1912, George's father bought a horse ranch in Edmonton Alberta, Canada. George was 16 years old and received first-hand knowledge of horses and "cowboy" ways. The next recorded place of the young man is 1928 when he acted in movies. He began his career under his real name but later chose "Art Mix" which is also on his tombstone. He died Dec. 7, 1972 and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. Where did the family live in this area? Did he leave any relatives or former neighbors in Pike County who could brag about knowing a movie star? To help answer Mr. Link's question, what type of life did George have before he left the area? Did he live in town or countryside? What type of work did his father do?
A study of the 1872 and 1912 atlases shows the names in George's background "Kesterson", "Manker', and "Parker" all in a neighborhood in Newburg Township. Whether these are the correct families of George is unknown (They are), but his known ancestors are buried in Bethel cemetery. Jefferson and Nancy J. Kesterson and four of their children as well as Peter Kesterson rest under the trees close to the fence in the old cemetery on the griggsville-Detroit road. If George lived in section 9 or 16 of Newburg township, likely he was a farmer and raised livestock as most did. However, he might have worked in a business in the area; the Manker mill on Blue Creek; the Lightle Blacksmith shop or the Seeds Creamery. What was their life like in Pike County? Did George walk or ride his horse to Bethel "Nip & Tuck" or Center school? Did the family attend Bethel church? How and why did the Kesterson family travel to Canada? Did the 1930's movie audience at the Pittsfield theater on North Madison know they were watching an actor from their hometown? Art Mix/George Kesterson was the "good guy" in a tall white hat.
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