Hello to everyone!
Wow - what a nice Christmas Season we had here in the Midwest. Not very cold and No Snow.. I kind of missed the snow but on Christmas Morning we did get some at my daughters house near Chicago.. By the time we got back home to Rock Falls (100 Miles to the West) it was gone. We never got any at all here at home. I trust you all had a great Christmas and a Safe New Year. As I write this I have to tell you that I got a New Computer - and my Family Tree Maker Program would not Restore.. So here I go again!! I'm trying to get FTM to do something - (yeah right). I'm not making a cry for help just yet because I do have everything on my husbands computer at the moment. We shall see.

There is a new book on the market that the Descendants of the David Chadwell Kesterson will want to purchase. John Wilson is the Author/Historian of "Hamilton County Pioneers". He has kindly sent me some of the information. He has featured Abraham "Abel" Kesterson and family. Abel was the son of David. In the book he talks about the children of Abel & Margaret. Out of courtesy to the Author I can't reproduce what he has written here. You can order the book through the Hamilton County TN Gen. Society. Cost is $38.50 (non member) shipping included. Its $35.00 if you are a member of the Society. 3949 Hixon Pike Chattanooga TN 37415.

We have considered the theory that Penelope Kesterson born about 1833 TN was the daughter of Abel & Margaret (Cook) Kesterson but now I think we have to rule her out of this family. I once thought that the 1840 Census had a "female" of her age not reflected on the 1850 census but that was not the case. What I did was miss daughter Mary who was married in 1849. We are back to square one with Penelope who married John Pellam around 1855 place unknown. The fact that the Hamilton Co Marriage records for that years is missing, doesn't help matters. John moved his family to St Louis shortly after/during the Civil War. In 1850 she was living with the Joseph Shropshier family in Hamilton Co. She might have been related - she might have been working for them. We need to keep looking for the answers.

To continue with the "meaning" of the Kesterson Crest. Jenna Cain has found this translation. "Timor omnis abest" translates to "All fear is far away". This pretty much says the same thing that Brian Kesterson previously translated. Knowing the history of this very strong family, I believe it a very fitting motto. No one could help build a country as this family did, without strong faith in themsleves and the ability to keep fear at bay.

CORRECTION!! William Kesterson (s/o George) of Caldwell KY b abt 1810 married for the 2nd time to Lourena (Nichols) Scroggins 24 Feb 1856 in Barry Co MO. I had published the date as "1866" but have found out the real date is "1856" - so please correct your records. This means that his wife Sarah died between 1850-1856. Lourena was Sarah's sister, both of them daughters of Nathaniel Nichols/Susannah Ward. Sorry for the confusion but I contacted Barry Co MO and they verified the date.

Dorothy Pack has joined our Greene Co TN gang of researchers. She started looking for her husband Davids family, and of course this lead her to the Kesterson Kollections Website. David is a descendant of Lydia Elmina Kesterson wife of Noah L Pack. Some time ago Shonda Hazzard came forward with information on Minnie Isabelle Kesterson who we discovered was the d/o John & Sarah Elizabeth (Ailshie) Kesterson. Now Dorothy has connected us with the sister of Minnie who is Lydia Elmina Kesterson b 2 Oct 1876 and died 17 December 1948. Lydia married Noah L Pack 22 June 1895. I had information that Noah's middle name was Lafayette - but Dorothy thinks it might be Lee. That questions still needs to be resolved. For now we'll go with Noah L. The excitement comes in the fact that up till now we didn't have any children for John and Sarah and now we have 3. Lydia and Minnie had a brother named Ira A who married a Minnie E. There are several members of this line buried in the St Josephs Chapel Cemetery in Midway, Greene Co TN. Some are buried among the Kestersons that I don't know yet.

St Joseph Chapel Cemetery, Midway, Greene Co TN
A.W. 1909-1960
Albert W. 1909-1960 w - Glenna M 1904-1935
Alice Roselle October 2, 1924-July 2, 1925 Dau of I.A. & M.E. Kesterson
Betty September 23, 1929-September 20,1930
Clarence 1905-1975 w-Millie 1913-1999
Ila May June 10,1894 - June 5, 1920
Inf - 1903
Ira A. 1874 - 1948 w-Minnie E 1883-1958
James Berlin 1929-1955
John 1844-1895 w-Sarah E. 1846-1920
Lillian E. Livingston April 19,1901-January 6, 1932
Lyle M April 27,1900-March 6, 1970

Pearl Ragon July 24, 1901-October 5, 1990 w/o Lyle
Billy S. (Sam) January 10, 1928 - March 26, 1970 s/o Lyle
Myrtle Cobble August 22, 1899-January 8, 1952
Nora A December 16, 1906 - October 28, 1908
Rome September 2, 1906 - January 29, 1934
I'm stuck on the identity of Myrtle Cobble, Nora A and Betty.. The rest I've figured out. Somewhere I found info that Myrtle Cobble was married to a James Kesterson, her 1st husband was Raymond Rhea. Betty and Nora A are children - daughters of who?

MINUTES, COURT OF PLEAS, & QUARTER SESSIONS Vol 3 1834-1839 Campbell TN
John Kesterson Pgs 261. == Then in Vol 4 1839-1846 there were several more entries.
John Kesterson pgs 304,305,427 and Martha (his wife) Pg 233.
As much as I would like to know the details of this Court matter, I can't afford to pay the required fee to get all these documents. I do send for as many of them as I can, but its impossible to send for all that I find. This one is a $10.00 fee for Non-TN Residents and a $5.00 fee for TN Residents, so anyone who lives in TN could save us $5.00 if they send for the records. John Kesterson was the son of Hazzard Kesterson - he was married to Martha Wilhite. I don't know of any descendants for this particular line - but some of you might know some

Thanks to James W Kesterson of Winter Haven FL we now have a list of the Kestersons and related families buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Fountain City, Knox Co TN.

Andrew Hugh Campbell 29 Sep 1891 - 03 Jan 1965 (h/o Lillian)
Lillian Kesterson Campbell 24 Dec 1895 - 12 Apr 1985 (d/o A B & Mary)
Joe B.S. Kesterson 23 Jan 1904 - 11 Feb 1960 (s/o AB & Mary)
Goldie O Kesterson 18 Jul 1904 - 09 Mar 2001 (w/o Joe)
James Rice Kesterson 22 Jul 1900 - 11 Feb 1945 (s/o Clinton Rice)
Clinton Rice Kesterson 22 Sep 1853 - 24 Jun 1934 (S/o Reuben & Adaline)
Mollie Wheeler Kesterson 04 Aug 1860 - 12 Jun 1953 (w/o Clinton Rice)
Inf Dau of M W & Ella S Kesterson 26 Feb 1920 (child of Matt Wheeler)
Matt Wheeler Kesterson 10 Jul 1892 - 06 Jul 1954 (s/o Clinton Rice)
Ella Susong Kesterson 16 Apr 1894 - 21 Feb 1973 (w/o Matt)
Walton Alfred Justice 26 Feb 1920 - 03 Jul 1986 (s/o Lois)
Lois Kesterson Justice 3 Oct 1917 - 2 Feb 1992 (d/o Matt & Ella)
Robert Neil Kesterson 4 Nov 1887 - 8 Aug 1890 (s/o Reuben & Frances)
Dr. Robert Neil Kesterson 12 Jul 1858 - 4 Dec 1931 (s/o Reuben & Adaline)
Frances Otey Kesterson 14 Nov 1861 - Jun 23 1959 (OTEY w/o Reuben Neil)
Tom O Kestrson 11 Jan 1890 - 21 Oct 1978 (s/o Reuben & Frances)
Elizabeth S (Betty) Kesterson 23 Jun 1921 - 16 Jan 2002 (Sisk w/o Thomas Otey)
A B Kesterson 19 Feb 1848 -21 Oct 1925 ( s/o Reuben & Adaline)
Mary D Kesterson 18 Jan 1859 - 8 Apr 1909 (Dohfrty/Dougherty w/o A B)
Neil Dohfrty Kesterson 4 Aug 1897 - 16 Jun 1899 (s/o A B & Mary )
Thomas J Kesterson 15 Jun 1846 - Apr 26 1885 (s/o Reuben & Adaline)
Reuben Kesterson 1 Jan 1820 - 15 May 1888 (s/o David)
Adaline Henderson Kesterson 3 Dec 1820 - 22 Sep 1861 (w/o Reuben)
John Kesterson 21 Dec 1855 - Sep 17 1856 (s/o Reuben & Adaline)

CONVEYANCE OF DEEDS - July 1848 - July 1881 Roll #26 Campbell Co TN
Kesterson, John to David, Sampson - 51 (1851)
Richardson, T to Kesterson, T - 212 (1861)
Lovley, James to Kesterson F - 212 (1861)
Kesterson, T to Bramer, Caloway & Co. - 243 (1865)
John and F (Frederick) are both sons of Hazzard Kesterson.
I'm thinking that the T Kesterson is another of Hazzards sons - one that we didn't know about before. According to the 1840 Census Hazzard did have a Male child before and after the birth of Frederick - both are still unaccounted for. Now there was another Thomas Jefferson Kesterson in Hamilton Co, the son of Reuben Kesterson from Claiborne Co TN. But this Thomas Jefferson was born in 1846 so he was too young to be buying land here in 1861 and I don't think he arrived in Hamilton Co until at least 1875. My theory still sticks - this T Kesterson has to be a son of Hazzard.

While on the Campbell Co TN subject - did you know there is a "Kesterson Cemetery" there? I've found two burials in it. William Andrew & Pearl (Hammons) Martin. When I tried to find the location of the cemetery - none found. Must have been called Kesterson for a reason??

GRANTS PASS, ORE.(Josephine County) - The City of Grants Pass has agreed to loan $25,000 and grant $3,000 to the Grants Pass Museum of Art, the owner of a historic downtown building in the midst of an extensive renovation. The Museum owns the Harmon/Kesterson Building, a two-story building in the 200 block of the city's "G" Street National Historic District. Built in 1904, the building currently houses the Museum on the second floor, with commercial tenants occupying the ground floor. (Who was the Original Kesterson Owner? I'm guessing it would have to have been George Harvey Kesterson (1864-1951) s/o John J & Sarah (Foster) Kesterson of Lafayette Co MO.

I had an interesting email from Tom (Kesterson) Blair . Tom is a descendant of the John Henry Kesterson Jr family, through his son Leland D Kesterson. This branch of the family went to Oregon sometime in the late 1890's. Thomas was abandoned and raised by the Blair family. You will definitely want to read his book which is online and free. Toms adventures in life are numerous and he freely talks about himself and his family life. Well worth the reading. Tom Blair Book,

BURLINGTON HAWKEYE Burlington IA 30 Jul 1864

Severe Fighting at the Front: Cairo (Illinois) Jul 26

Col Hicks has been relieved of the command of Paducah.

General Payne has prohibited all persons occupying houses , other buildings, orlands as tenants in the district of West Kentucky from paying rent therefor except to landlords or owners of undeviating loyalty , and after the first of August rents for occupancy of buildings or lands to disloyalists must be paid to the post quartermaster, and no payment of rent to be made to disloyal persons from date of order to August first will be valid.

General Payne also restricted the sale of arms and ammunition to persons in or connected with the army, and to such only as have permits from his headquarters. The purchase of supplies can only be effected by a permit from the surveyor, and merchants can only bring goods into the district by conformity strictly to section 58, of the regulations of the Treasury Department.

A large number of the disloyal citizens of Paducah have been ordered to leave the state immediately. The notorious guirella KESTERSON will be shot at Paducah tomorrow. Gen. Payne has already confiscated to the use of the Government 15 stores belonging to disloyal parties in Paducah.

**I don't have any idea who this Kesterson might have been but if he was "Notorious" there should be something written about him somewhere. He may or may not have been from KY.

HELENA INDEPENDENT Helena MT 15 Nov 1931

Indianapolis INDIANA
TOM WILL WATCH HIS DRINKS NOW
The after effects of a drunk 11 years ago proved an unpleasant surprise to Thomas Kesterson.

Tom, then a sailor, got drunk in Manila. It was one of those kind of stupors that causes a person to lose track of events which occur between the time he "passes out" and wakes up with a headache and a strong taste in his mouth.

Just recently Tom learned the effects of that drunk. Rose Delos Reyes, a Manila woman came to Indianapolis with two children, declaring that she was his wife and that Kesterson was the father of one of the children.

Kesterson filed for divorce saying that Rose "got this plantiff drunk" and that they were married with "only Fillipons present". He asked annulment for the marriage.

** I can't figure out who this Thomas Kesterson was. I did find him on the 1930 Census
1930 Marion IN Indpls Pg 12A ED 398 Image 862
Claude MCCARTHY 41 1881 PA NY PA
Myrtle MCCARTHY 41 1881 TN TN TX Wife
Willa KESTERSON 59 1871 TX TN TX Mother in Law
Homer KESTERSON 34 1896 TN TN TN Brother in Law
Thomas KESTERSON 38 1892 TN TN TX Brother in Law
Rosa KESTERSON 25 1905 Philipines Wife of Thomas
Louisa KESTERSON 06 1924 Philipines TN Philipines d/o Thomas
James KESTERSON 02 1928 Philipines TN Philipines s/o Thomas

The ages of the children do not match what the News article says.. One of them should have been at least 11 year old. Apparently Thomas did live with Rosa for awhile - Both children are listed as Kestersons. I wonder if the Divorce/Annulment ever came through? I wonder if this story is even true? Anyone know who this Thomas might be?

NEW MEMBERS

Dorothy (David) Pack David Pack/ Stanley Harris Pack 1924 TN / Herman Lee Pack 1896 TN / Lydia Elmina Kesterson 1876 TN / John Kesterson 1844 TN / Isham Bailey Kesterson 1814 TN / Wm Kesterson Jr 1762 VA / Wm Kesterson Sr 1735 VA/ John Kesterson 1712 VA / George 1674 VA / Thomas 1648 England

Mercedes Pruitt Lockey Elizabeth Kesterson 1864 TN/ James Roland Kesterson 1828 TN / Sylvester Kesterson 1785 TN/ John Kesterson 1742 VA / John Kesterson 1712-1752 VA / George/Thomas

Patsy (Paschall) Haley Perry Kesterson Paschall TX / Mary Emma Kesterson 1889 TX / Walter Augustus Kesterson 1857 AR - 1916 Camp TX / William M 1828-1860 Sevier AR / John Kesterson 1797 NC (Methodist Minister)

Charlotte (Shipman) Corey Charlotte Shipman / Zama Lou Mason / Emily Louetta Green 1888 AR / Susan Blackwood 1852 AR / Andrew Jackson Blackwood 1827 TN / Rebecca Kesterson 1810 TN

Thomas Kesterson Blair Thomas Basil Kesterson Sr 1917-1981 OR / Noah D Kesterson 1879 MO - 1952 OR / Leland D Kesterson 1821 TN - 1905 OR / John Henry Kesterson Jr 1797 TN - 1873 MO / John Henry Kesterson Sr 1760-1843 / William Kesterson 1735 VA-1821 TN/ John Kesterson 1712-1752 VA /George Kesterson / Thomas Kesterson

Deanna (Coffman) Hendrix Herbert Dale Coffman 1947 MO/ Ernest Coffman 1901-1988 MO/ William I Coffman 1864-1942 MO / Rebecca Hopper 1842-1912 MO / Rhoda Kesterson 17 Oct 1759/ William Kesterson 1735-1821 / John Kesterson 1712-1752 VA / George Kesterson 1674-1733 VA/ Thomas Kesterson

Ruby (Blakely) Price Wm Wesley BLAKELY/ Ruby "Minnie" KESTERSON 1911 / John Wesley 1870-1939 AR / Samuel 1836 AR / John and Malinda

John Newton Kesterson John / Claude Demoy KESTERSON 1906 KY / John Washington KESTERSON 1871 KY / Andrew C KESTERSON 1833 KY/ Geo Kesterson 1796 TN/ Geo Kesterson Sr 1765 VA / William Sr 1735 VA / John 1712 VA / George/Thomas

Connie Kesterson Connie / Arland Gene KESTERSON 1948 / Eugene Clinton KESTERSON 1918 / George Washington KESTERSON (Greene Co TN)

Evelyn Kesterson McLemore Evelyn/ Burnis Henigar KESTERSON 1912 / George Delton KESTERSON 1890/ Wm E KESTERSON 1870 / Wm KESTERSON 1834/ John and Malinda

Ralph Daniel Fallin Richard Hobson FALLIN 1900 AL/ Thomas Hobson FALLIN 1866 AL / Richard Hobson FALLIN 1829 GA/ Jesse FALLIN 1806 VA / John Hobson FALLIN 1852 GA / Hannah/ George/ George/ Thomas