Diane Stephens wife of Glenn Stephens who descends from the John & Malinda Dorsey Kesterson Line in Howard AR. Glenn is the s/o Raymond Lee Stehpens s/o Charles Jefferson Stephens, s/o James H Stephens, s/o Mary Kesterson and Wm P Stephens, d/o John and Malinda. You can get more details from Diane or myself should you need them.

Margie Mitchell wife of John Robert Mitchell who is a descendant of Elizabeth Berry Kesterson of VA who married John W Mitchell.

Dale Dwight Kesterson goes back to John S Kesterson who married Sarah Huff. WHO is this John S - where does he fit in?? I have a feeling he might tie in with Willis Kesterson/Catherine Gregory. A Son? Open to any ideas?? Dale is s/o Earl Ray Kesterson & Ester Lou Browsey, s/o Marion Dale Kesterson, s/o ALonza Kesterson who was the s/o John S.

Mary Morstad is another descendant of Vincent Kesterson. Mary is the d/o Edwin Ford, s/o Marion Augusta Ford, s/o Octavia A Kesterson and John Covington Ford d/o Vincent.

Marjean Rowe wife of Garry Rowe who is from the Howard AR Line s/o Addie Irene Price and Wm Edward Rowe, d/o Daniel Fletcher Price s/o Robert Edward Warren Price, s/o Annis Kesterson and Michael Price, d/o John and Malinda

Brenda Smith is a descendant of William Kesterson of Tippah MS. Many of you will remember that we found William at age 15 living in the home of Ezekial Alexander in the 1850 census. During the same Census was John Kesterson age 10 in the home of Christopher Robinson. I still believe that both these boys were brothers and might possibly be the sons of Samuel Kesterson who lived in Tippah MS in 1840. On that years census was Samuel with a wife and two sons same ages as William and John. Brenda is of course trying to find out who William was the son of. The Alexander family left Tippah MS and moved to Texas where we next find William on the 1860 census - married to Mary Catherine McPherson. They had at least 1 daughter - Sarah Francis Kesterson born about 1861 who married Robert Wm Broadway. William is believed to have died in the civil war. Brendas husband is a descendant of this line - if you have any info - please let us know. Another fact to be considered it that William was taken in by Ezekial Alexander who married Mary Robertson. John was taken in by Christopher Robinson. Could the Robinson/Robertson be the same?

Claudia Eagan Claudia Eagan seems to be a descendant of the very EARLY Kestersons of Pope/Cass/Bond Co's in IL. Remember, here was Robert, Peter and Larkin living there very early on?? Here is Claudia line Richard Kesterson Cass Co IL M Mary Jane HUSTED in 1840 Cass Co IL. Son Richard Henry Kesterson born about 1860 married Alice M Gilliland. Richard Henry moved the family to OR where son Arthur Franklin Kesterson was born. Then Arthur moved to Clinton Co OK. Richard Henry named his first son Larkin Kesterson and I think he named him after his great grandfather who would have been Larkin Kesterson of the early 1818 Pope Co IL Tax list. We are digging around Pope Co now - looking for the connections so if anyone has anything let us know.

Barbara (Jones) Carrow has found us and all of the Kesterson Researchers for Mills Iowa will be interested. She is a descendant of David Parker Jones who was the s/o Wm Thomas Kesterson and Hannah Ulred. David was b 4 Sep 1855 in Mills IA d 26 May 1936 and his wife was Mary Ellen Lockwood b 16 Oct 1861 DesMoines IA d 18 Dec 1945. You can get the rest of their descendants by writing to me or getting in touch with Barbara.

Please be sure to visit the Kesterson Website as I continually add new members and their families all the time. Plus new information on the Kesterson Family is being added nearly every day. Let me know when you find new stuff so I can put that on the site too.

I have a note in my files that Samuel Kesterson s/o John Kesterson/Malinda Dorsey, of Howard Co AR, and his wife Sarah Propps deeded land for the church in its present location in Fellowship. Does anyone have any further details on this transaction? Does anyone have, or can you get a picture of the church as it is today or better still as it was back then? If so please email it to me so I can get that up on the Churches of Our Past on the Website.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Mills Co IA Of Rawles township on section 29 was organized in 1871. The original members were William KESTERSON and wife, Hannah UTTERBACH, Elizabeth UTTERBACK, Celia TROTH, Isaac VENTIS and wife, Elizabeth KESTERSON, J. B. FALDEN and wife, M. A. M. McPHERRON, and others. A frame church is owned by the society, built by William Kesterson. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Kelly, who organized the church.

** Am I right in assuming that this is William Kesterson whose wife was Hannah ULRED?

Paul Heinegg wrote a book called
Free African Americans of VA, NC, SC, MD & DE

He has mentioned a couple of Kesterson women in it. Its very interesting reading to say the least and tells quite a tale about the Indian, Africian American and White establishments in the 1600-1700's. Some recognizible names associated are: Bailey, Baker, Berry, Davenport, Gregory, Ivey, Key, Mitchell, Overton, Pinn, Pittman, Price, Sorrell, Webb. Its hard to say if any of these names are the actual people belonging to our Kesterson line but here are a couple who do.

PINN FAMILY: Robert Pinn b 1710 presented by the churchwardens of Wicomico Parish Northumberland Co VA on 16 Aug 1733 for absenting himself from church. He was in Lancaster Co on 13 Jan 1744 when his son, Robert, no age or race mentioned, was bound to Thomas Dogget as an apprentice cooper. Robert Sr may have been the brother of David PINN b about 1720 "an Indian" taxed in Benjamin Geroge's Christ Church Parish, Lancaster Co household in William Tayloe's list for 1745 and called David Pinn, an Indian, in Benjamin George's Christ Church Parish household in the 1746 list of Dale Carter. Robert was probably married to Margaret Pinn who bound her son, Robert, to William Downman as an apprentice shoemaker in Lancaster County on 11 May 1751. Robert and Margaret's children were: i. Robert, born say 1740
ii. ?Rawley Pen, born say 1742
iii. John, born say 1750, a "Free" head of a Northumberland County household of 3 "Blacks" in 1782 . His 9 July 1785 Northumberland County will, proved 9 July 1792 but not recorded, mentioned (his wife?) Ann Kesterson, who was to receive all his estate as long as she remained single or married a free person. However, if she married a slave, then the entire estate was to go to his sister, Sally Nickens. Ann Kesterson was probably the Nanny Pin who was head of a Lancaster County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:357]. She was probably the sister of Judith Kesterson who married Edward Sorrell, 13 April 1789 Northumberland Co bond.
iv. ?Sally Nickens, called the sister of John Pinn in his 9 July 1785 Northumberland Co will, probably the wife of Amos Nickens.

SORRELL FAMILY: Edward Sorrell b abt 1753 was 79 years old when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Northumberland Co Court on 14 Aug 1832 [M804-2246, frame 0911]. He married Judith Kesterson, 13 April 1789 Northumberland Co bond, Charles Curtis security. He was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland C household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:996]. He married Dorcas Lewin on 15 December 1814 in Lancaster County. He died 7 July 1839, and his will was proved in August 1840. His widow, Dorcas, born about 1791, moved to Baltimore about 1846 where she applied for and received a survivor's pension on 21 November 1853 [M804-2246, frame 0927]. His children were James Sorrell b abt 1790, m Polly Luen (Lewin), 13 November 1815 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security. Cambia Sorrell born abt 1808 "daughter of Edward Sorrell," married Holland Evans, 4 February 1824 Northumberland County bond, Moses Blundon security. Edward Sorrell Jr., b abt 1797, married Betsy Harriman, 1 January 1817 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security. Steptoe, married Miranda Lewis, 10 September 1827 Northumberland County bond, Edward Sorrell sec. Delia, married William Toulson, 10 February 1827 Northumberland County bond, Steptoe Sorrell, "son of Edward Soreall father of Dealy Soreall," security. Mary, married John Edwards with the consent of her father, Edward Sorell, 20 November 1833 Northumberland Co bond, James Sorrell security. Emily, "daughter of Edward Sorrell," married Samuel Green, 13 February 1837 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security. Walter, who testified on behalf of (his mother?) Dorcas Sorrell when she applied for her husband's pension.

(I still don't know who these two Kesterson Women were. Judith and Ann were both probably born in the 1760's and we don't have any such girls born with those names around that time. So - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???)

Heads up - Vincent Kesterson Researchers. I found a couple of Bio's on the husbands of two of his grandaughters. Daughters of his daughter Belsora Kesterson Harrison. Both were in the Centennial History of Arkansas Volumes II and III

Dr. James F. Crump of Pine Bluff, who since 1905 has engaged in the practice of medicine in Arkansas, was born in Cleveland County, this state, in 1873, and is a son of James F. and Priscilla (Tisdale) Crump. The Crump family has long been represented in America. Early generations resided in Virginia, whence a removal was made to North Carolina. The grandfather was James Crump, who married a Miss Kendall, and their son, James F. Crump, Sr., was born in Anson County, North Carolina. He wedded Priscilla Tisdale, a daughter of Elbert and Fannie (Smith) Tisdale. Her father was originally from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and the Smith family was also established in Alabama at an early day. The grandfather in the maternal line was Abraham Smith, who came to Arkansas in 1840. The first of the Crump family to arrive in this state was James F. Crump, Sr., and his brother, who came about 1865 and settled in what was then Dorsey County, but is now Cleveland county. The first of the Tisdale family in Arkansas was the grandfather of Dr. Crump of this review, who also settled in what is now Cleveland County, and the Smith family was established in the same neighborhood, so that in several lines Dr. Crump is descended from old families of this state. His father served for four years under General Lee in the Confederate army. To him and his wife were born four children: James F.; Sidney, deceased; George E.; and Robert E., who is now superintendent of schools at Durant, Oklahoma.

Dr. James F. Crump of Pine Bluff was educated in the schools of Cleveland county and in the University of Arkansas, in which he pursued his medical source, being graduated in 1905. He at once located for practice in Cleveland county and in 1913 came to Pine Bluff, where he has remained. He specializes in the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat and has developed his skill and ability in this line to a high edge and ability and is thoroughly conversant with the most modern and scientific principles that have to do with his branch of the profession.

Dr. Crump was married to Miss Dora Harrison, a daughter of Jesse Harrison of Cleveland and of Balzora (Kesterson) Harrison. They have become parents of four children: Hazel, Lauriene, Jesse and George. Dr. Crump and his wife are member of the Methodist church and he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being interested in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the benefit of the community at large. Along professional lines he has membership with the Jefferson County, the Arkansas State and the American Medical Associations and he is a worthy exponent of the highest standards and ethics of the profession.

GEORGE BROWN: Cleveland county is proud to number among her representative citizens George Brown, a well known attorney and statesman with residence in Rison. His birth occurred on the 3rd of December, 1874, a son of John W. and Josephine (Case) Brown. The paternal grandfather, Abner Brown, enlisted for service in the Civil War from Tennessee and shortly after the close of that conflict removed with his family to Arkansas. Here John W. Brown was reared to young manhood and commenced farming. He has since followed agricultural pursuits, achieving more than gratifying success, and he is now living in the northern part of Cleveland county, on a highly improved farm. He is sixty-eight years of age. In Tennessee in 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Mrs. Brown to Miss Josephine Case, who is likewise in her sixty-eighth year. She is of Irish descent, members of her family having come from Ireland to America in 1850, location in West Tennessee. There Mrs. Brown was born. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown three boys and six girls were born, all but one girl living. George Brown, whose name initiates this review, is one of twins, they being the first born. In the acquirement of an education George Brown attended the public schools of Cleveland county and as a boy of fourteen years he started out in life on his own account as a farm hand. He likewise worked as a laborer in various sawmills in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma and at the age of twenty-five years started to study for the ministry. For three years he held pastorates in the rural districts of Cleveland county but in 1902 returned to his work in the sawmills, also securing work on various farms throughout the state. During his spare time Mr. Brown studied law, Judge Woodson Mosley, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work, being his preceptor. In 1907 he was admitted to practice in the circuit court of Cleveland county and he remained a constant student of his chosen profession, attending many lectures in the law department of the State University at Fayetteville. He never received his LL.B. degree, but in 1917 was admitted to practice in the supreme court. He now practices in all state and county courts and has an extensive and lucrative general clientage. He also does corporation work and is local attorney for the Lane & Bowler Company of Stuttgart, attorney for the Boke Oil & Gas Company of Rison and looks after the legal affairs of I.E. Moore and other large planters of this county. In 1905 Mr. Brown was elected to the office of justice of the peace, holding that position until 1090. Subsequently he represented Cleveland county in the Arkansas state legislature in the session of 1909-1911 and introduced the first state-wide prohibition bill in the legislature. He has served for short periods as deputy prosecuting attorney and in the absence of the regular prosecuting attorney served through one session of court in that office. He has also served through part of two terms as special judge, in the absence and disqualification of the regular judge and during the sessions of 1917 and 1919 and in the special session of 1920, was a member of the state senate. In 1919 he was joint author, with Senator Greathouse and Senator McFarland, of the bank guarantee bill, which was introduced by failed to pass in that session. In August, 1917, he volunteered for service in the United States army and went into training at Leon Springs near San Antonio, Texas. There the Seventh Infantry Officers Training Corps was stationed. After a tryout of twenty-seven days, however, he was honorably discharged and a short time after ward was commissioned by the president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, as a member of the district exemption board for the eastern district of Arkansas. After serving three months in that capacity he resigned to accept a commission as first lieutenant in the Arkansas National Guard and he was active in recruiting work until the government abandoned the volunteer system. He then offered his services to Major Moore, constructing quartermaster in charge of the government acid plant at Picron, this stae, was accepted and assigned to position as checker in the government store room. He served in that capacity until twenty days after the signing of the armistice, when he again received his honorable discharge. On the 23rd of January, 1910, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown to Miss Mattie Harrison, daughter of Jessie Harrison; a well known citizen of Rison. They have one adopted daughter, Hazel Kesterson Brown, seven years of age, who is a student in the local schools. Mrs. Brown is prominent in the social and club circles of Rison and is president of the Robert H. Crockett Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy at Rison. She is likewise worth matron of the chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star here. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church, to the support of which they are generous contributors. Mr. Brown is active in the affairs of the American Legion and is a charter member of Hale Post of Rison. Mr. Brown’s career has been notable, inasmuch as he has worked his way upward to a prominent position in legal and financial circles and also by reason of the excellent service which he has rendered in public office. Possessing a most genial and pleasing personality he has made many stanch and true friends and has won the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come into contact.

And last but not least a very exciting FIND. Mary Anne Deane sent me the John Kesterson Bible Entries. We believe John to be the brother of Vincent Kesterson. John was the Methodist Minister who traveled all over Alabama and Tennesse. He was first married to Catherine Graves Poole and later married Ann Hardeway. John died sometime around 1860 probably in Sevier County AR where he was visiting. He was listed on the 1860 Census in the home of George Daugherty and his wife Malinda. Anne descends through his son William Kesterson & Nancy Abernathy. Thanks for sharing the Bible Mary Anne.

Emalines 1st child William born May 22 1848
Emalines 2nd child Thomas born Oct 25 1850
Emalines 3rd child Margaret born Dec 30 1851
Emalines 4th child Frances born May 15 1854
Marthas child Victoria born Jul 20 18?8
Sallys child Isabella born Jun 30 1848
Susans child Ked/Kad born Aug 7 1849

Marriages:
John Kesterson & Catherine Y Pool Feb 10 1824
John Kesterson & Ann H Hardaway May 13 1847
Mary Agnes Kesterson daughter of J & C Kesterson to B Abernathy May 30 1849

Births:
John Kesterson Oct 16 1797
Catherine Y Kesterson Apr 25 1802
Frances Ann Margaret Kesterson Nov 13 1825 Sunday Morning 1:30
William Madden Kesterson Jul 7 1828 Monday
Mary Agnes Kesterson Aug 12 1830 Thursday 6 AM
Minerva Ann Mary Kesterson Dec 30 1832 Sunday 8:30 AM
Emily Elizabeth Kesterson Aug 2 1835 Sunday 10:30 AM
John Henry Kesterson Jan 17 1838 Wednesday
Rebecca Catherine Kesterson Sep 11 1840 Friday 12:00 Noon
John S Poole Apr 2 1821

Deaths:
Minerva Ann May Sep 10 1834 5 AM aged 1 yr 8 mt 11 days
Frances Ann Margaret Kesterson Nov 14 1839 7:35 PM age 14 y 42 Hours and 4 Min
John Henry Kesterson Jan 11 1841 2:35 AM Aged 1 Y 11 m and 25 days
Rebecca Catherine Kesterson Jul 18 1841 Age 10 months 7 days on Sunday Night
Catherine Y Kesterson my dear wife Oct 20 1842 Thursday 8:45 AM age 40
William Manden Kesterson Oct 22 1860 age 32 years 15 days Monday

We don't know who any of the first entries were but starting with the list of marriages, births and deaths I would assume are his children.