KESTERSON'S In The MILITARY
  
Flag images from: "My Story of the War" by Mary A. Livermore 1888
 SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
George S. Kesterson
Enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war on September 18, 1899, at Frankfort IN in Company A, Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain William H. Collier. He was sent to St. Louis, where the company remained until October 20th of that year, then went by rail to San Francisco, leaving that city in November on a transport to Philippine Islands, by way of Honolulu, landing in the city of Manila in December, 1899. From there the company was sent to Datangus, where it did guard duty, having a few skirmishes and remaining there until 1900. Then they were sent to Iloili remaining there until 1901 on guard duty, and having several skirmishes. These troops were then ordered to San Francisco and were mustered out on June 30, 1901, in that city. Young Kesterson's experiences abroad were of much value to him and he talks interestingly of them. (Clinton Co IN History Pages 558)
George was the son of William & Lillian (Douglas) Kesterson and the husband of Callie Williams.
Thomas Armstrong Kesterson
Discharged in 1899 - The son of James Roland & Eliza Jane (Walker) Kesterson. Thomas was born 14 October 1853 in Anderson Co TN, died 1 March 1907 in
Roane Co TN. Buried in the New Hope Baptist Cemetery in Anderson Co. Married to Sarah Jane Russell and the father of Hattie
Tennessee Kesterson and Jesse James Kesterson (possible foster child). Thomas and Sarah were divorced in 1898.
the war he met and continued to live with Eliza Jane Dunn.
Janice Blake sent us the following which she obtained from the Veterans Admin.
Private Thomas A. Kesterson enrolled June 21, 1898 at Knoxville, TN in Company C, 4th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry and was discharged on May 6, 1899 at Savannah, Georgia. He served in Cuba and contracted malaria about January 1, 1899. He was treated at a hospital in Sanklespirites, Cuba. He died on March 1, 1907 as the result of an explosion of a powder mill in Tennessee. We have a copy of both the military and explosion records.
Prior to entering the military, he divorced Sarah Jane Russell Kesterson on February 5, 1898 but failed to record the divorce decree. It was necessary that they go back to Court and the final decree was granted and recorded on September 26, 1900. We have a copy of the divorce proceeding.
Also, after leaving the military, he married Eliza Jane Dunn (daughter of James Dunn and Mildred Malone Dunn) on September 30, 1900. She was born August 11, 1870 in Knox County, TN and died January 30, 1931 in Anderson County, TN. We have a copy of the marriage certificate.
Thomas is buried next to Eliza in the New Hope Cemetery, AEC#32, near Knoxville, TN; Sarah is buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery, at Garten, Fayette County, West Virginia.
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