Descendants of John and Catherine Lester
Second Generation 
2. John LESTER II 10 (John Sr.1) was born on Mar 7, 1776 in Montgomery Co., Va.,11 died on Sep 21, 1851 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 75,12 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #5, Rt. 8, Floyd Co., Va. [No Longer In Existence].10
General Notes: John Lester, first child and eldest son of John and Catharine, was named for his father. Even though he was John, Jr., he is referred to in history as John II. According to the custom of the time, he was often called John Lester, Sr., when he was the eldest Lester living in the community, which causes some confusion.
John married Polly Terry, daughter of Josiah Terry, and liced for about eighteen years near his parents in Montgomery County. In 1820, he bought the large home tract of Charles Simmons and moved to present Floyd County. He lived about six miles north of the present town of Floyd. The house stood some distance behind the white frame house of George Simmons which was built years later and is now seen on the hill on present Route 8. Lester Cemetery #5 was on his place. It has since been destroyed.
John Lester was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Governor of Virginia in 1831 and was a member of the first Floyd County Court. He served the community in that capacity until his death. Men in that day dignified the office of Justice of the peace and made its service one of honor and distinction. he also served as Sheriff of Floyd County, 1844-45. He was a prominent and influential citizen, a successful farmer, a large land owner and a slave owner. He owned a large property at the time of his death.
His will, dated April 19, 1851, probated October 16, 1851, names his wife Mary and his nine children. He appointed his sons John III and William T. as executors of his estate. John III died suddenly seven months after his father's death and the administration of the estate passed through several hands. The estate was not properly settled and much of it was dissipated. In 1890, years after John's death, some of the heirs brought suit to gain possession of their inheritence. Nearly all of the principals had died by that time but eventually a satisfactory settlement was reached. The suit furnished some previously unknown information about the family.
John married Mary Ann (Polly) TERRY , daughter of Josiah TERRY and Unknown , on Oct 5, 1802 12.,13 Mary was born in Mar 1781 in Montgomery Co., Va., died in 1862 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 81, and was buried in Floyd Co., Va.
General Notes: The name "Mary" is recorded in Deed Book IJ, p. 276 and 277, in 1826 in the County Clerk's office in Christiansburg, Va. The marriage record lists her name as "Polly".
Children from this marriage were:
13 M i. Noah LESTER .
General Notes: Dorothy Fay Lester's records do not include this person, nor do Marguerite Tise's.
+ 14 M ii. Hulen LESTER 27,28 was born about 1803 in Montgomery Co., Va. 27 and died in 1880 in Shelby Co., Ind., about age 77.27
15 F iii. Mathilda LESTER 27 was born in 1805 in Montgomery Co., Va. 27 and died before 1851.27
General Notes: 3b.Matilda Lester, b. 1805?(M), d. before 1851, m. Sept 23, 1825(M),
Archelaus Weddle, son of Martin Weddle.
John Lester II left a bequest of $100 to his granddaughter, Julia
Ann Weddle, daughter of Matilda, and it is assumed that Matilda
was not living in 1831 when her father made his will. According
to family tradition, they moved to Lee County, Virginia - nothing
further known.
4a.Julia Ann Weddle.
Mathilda married Archelaus WEDDLE , son of Martin Weddle WEDDLE and Unknown , on Sep 23, 1825 in Montgomery Co., Va..27
+ 16 F iv. Malinda LESTER 27 was born in 1807 in Montgomery Co., Va. 27 and died between 1890 and 1900 in Floyd Co., Va..27
+ 17 M v. John LESTER III 30 was born on Nov 1, 1808 in Montgomery Co., Va. 30 and died on Apr 1, 1852 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 43.30
+ 18 M vi. Jacob Hiley LESTER was born about 1811 in Montgomery Co., Va. 32 and died about 1845 in Floyd Co., Va., about age 34.32
19 M vii. Amos LESTER was born about 1813 in Montgomery Co., Va.
Amos married Susannah LESTER about 1835.34
+ 20 M viii. Bird (Byrd) William LESTER 34 was born about 1815 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died about 1864 in W. Va., about age 49.19
+ 21 M ix. William Terry LESTER was born on Jan 18, 1818 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died on Mar 1, 1890 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 72.34
22 F x. Catherine Jane LESTER was born about 1820 in Montgomery Co., Va.
3. James LESTER Sr. (John Sr.1) was born in 1779 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died in 1860 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 81.14
James married Chloe (Cleo) WILSON , daughter of Benjamin WILSON and Sarah NUTON(NEWTON) , on May 11, 1815 in Montgomery Co., Va..15 Chloe was born in 1793 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died between 1855 and 1860 in Floyd Co., Va.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 23 M i. Lynch S. LESTER Sr. was born on Sep 16, 1815 in Montgomery Co., Va., died on May 5, 1891 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 75,36 and was buried in Floyd Co., Va.
+ 24 F ii. Rhoda LESTER was born about 1816 in Montgomery Co., Va., died about 1895 in Floyd Co., Va., about age 79, and was buried in Floyd Co., Va.
+ 25 M iii. Lindsey Johnston LESTER Sr. was born on Apr 11, 1817 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died on Jul 21, 1898 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 81.
26 F iv. Mahala LESTER was born in 1819 in Montgomery Co., Va. 36 and died in Floyd Co., Va.
27 M v. James LESTER Jr. 38 was born in 1819.38
General Notes: James Lester was a convict in the penitentiary of Virginia when his father died in 1860.
James married Ann Eliza BELDIN on Oct 6, 1842.19 Ann was born in 1815.
28 F vi. Lockey LESTER 39 was born in 1823 in Montgomery Co., Va..36.,40
+ 29 M vii. Leftwich LESTER was born in 1824 36 and died between 1890 and 1899.41
+ 30 M viii. Lewis LESTER was born on Sep 13, 1826 in Montgomery Co., Va., died on Mar 13, 1863 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 36,42 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #2, Floyd Co., Va..42
31 F ix. Cloah Ann LESTER was born in 1832 in Floyd Co., Va..36
32 F x. Catherine LESTER was born in 1833 in Floyd Co., Va..43
33 F xi. Julia Ann LESTER was born in 1836 in Floyd Co., Va..43
34 M xii. Stephen LESTER was born in 1836 in Floyd Co., Va..44
4. Samuel LESTER (John Sr.1) was born about 1781 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died in 1847 in Alabama, about age 66.16
General Notes: C. Brandt May writes: Samuel apparently lived in Floyd Co., Virginia until 1798 or thereabouts. He moved to Tennessee in about 1830 and thence to Alabama where he died in 1847.
Noted events in his life were:
• He has conflicting birth information of Alt. Birth, 1782 and Montgomery Co., Va..
Samuel married Nancy COX on Dec 5, 1818.17 Nancy was born on Aug 17, 1798 in Montgomery Co., Va. 16,17 and died in 1864 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at age 66.16
General Notes: C. Brandt May writes: Nancy lived in Floyd Co., Virginia until 1830 and
removed to Tennessee, thence to Alabama for two years. After her husband
Samuel's death in 1847 she removed to Cape Girardeau Co., Missouri.
Children from this marriage were:
35 F i. Mary LESTER .
+ 37 F iii. Leticia (Lettie) LESTER .
38 F iv. Catherine LESTER .
39 M v. Lorenzo LESTER .
40 F vi. Permelia LESTER .
41 F vii. Louisa LESTER .
42 F viii. Amanda LESTER .
+ 44 M x. Calvin J. LESTER 16 was born on Jun 15, 1830 in Floyd Co., Va.,16 died on Aug 27, 1913 in Wyman, Arkansas, at age 83,16 and was buried on Aug 30, 1913 in National Cem., Fayetteville, Washington Co., Arkansas 16.,46
5. Abner A. LESTER Sr. (John Sr.1) was born about 1783 in Montgomery Co., Va.,18 died about 1871 in Floyd Co., Va. (Jackson Tnshp.), about age 88,18,19 and was buried in Floyd Co., Va., Pine Creek Cem.
General Notes: 2d. Abner Lester, b. l783(M), d. April 1871(F), of pneumonia, m. Oct 14, l806(M)Rachael West, b. ca. l875, sic., (M), d. Oct l871(F), dau of Isaac West Sr. & Rosanna West; 6 children: Fleming, Pauline, Abner Jr, Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth.
Abner was fourth child and fourth son of John & Catharine Lester. Abner and his sister Mary married sister & brother.
Abner and Rachel moved to present Floyd County, date undetermined but probably about 1809 when he acquired a tract of 500 acres from Rachel's father, Isaac West Sr. This land was on Big Run on Middle Ridge. They lived at this place for about 40 years. All the children were born there and three married while they lived there: Pauline married Jacob Wickham, Abner Jr. married Mary Ann Helms and Sarah married James Kelly. Fleming moved to the town of Jacksonville about 1840 and married there.
About the year 1850, Abner bought land on West Fork Creek and moved
near the Toncray furnace and iron mines, about one mile south of present
Rt. 221. Abner Jr. and family moved with him and they lived within 100 yards of each other. Ann married James Ross from Patrick County, and Elizabeth married Levi Thompson, a near neighbor.
Apparently they were not happy in this place and in 1854 moved back to their old home neighborhood. Abner Sr. acquired a grant for 266 acres of land on Beaver Dam Creek and Little River. This was all in woods, and Abner Jr. hired John & George Goodson to clear an acre of land and to build a house. The house was a log house with a separate log kitchen and an entry between the two; it had a stone chimney. While the house was being built, Abner and Rachel lived on an adjoining tract in the double cabins called "the Bryant cabins" on old Bent road. When the house was completed, Abner Sr. and Rachel moved in with Abner Jr. and family.
Abner Sr. became crippled (cause unknown -arthritis?) and for the last 20 years of his life could walk only with two crutches and could do no work.
In October 1861, Abner Jr. was enrolled in the Confederate States Army and left home. According to his daughter, Barbara, he was uneasy and unhappy about leaving his family as his wife was critically ill and there was no one to care for his children but, she stated, Abner Sr. assured him that his wife and children would have a home and that the land would be theirs if he (Abner Sr.) died.
Abner Jr.'s worst fears were realized; his wife Mary Ann died in October 1861, shortly after his departure, and he died of fever seven months later. He died in Emory & Henry Hospital and his body was brought home by Parris Dobbins and buried in Pine Creek Cemetery (later moved). The children were left orphans. The youngest was two years old and the oldest was twenty-three. The children supported themselves "by their own hard labor," said Barbara.
John W. Lester was 18 when his father died. In a few months he also joined the Confederate Army and was away three years. He returned on leave several times to work the crops.
Abner Sr. and Rachel lived with their grandchildren and were supported and cared for by them. Rachel was often away visiting her children and spent much of her time with her daughter Elizabeth Thompson.
In July 1867, Fleming Lester "persuaded" his father to live with him in Jacksonville. Abner Sr. remained with Fleming until his death at the age of 88, in April 1871. Rachel died six months later in October 1871 at the home of her daughter Elizabeth. (Much of this account was given by Barbara, Abner Jr.'s oldest daughter, in a deposition.)
The disposition of the land owned by Abner Sr. became a matter of
dispute in the family and had to be settled by a suit in Chancery Court.
18
Noted events in his life were:
• Death Cause: Pneumonia, Apr 1871. 18
Abner married Rachael WEST 18,19 on Oct 14, 1806. Rachael was born about 1788 in North Carolina 19, died in Oct 1871 in Floyd Co., Va. (Jackson Tnshp.), about age 83 18, and was buried in Floyd Co., Va., Pine Creek Cem.
Noted events in her life were:
• She has conflicting birth information of Montgomery Co., Va.. 18
• She has conflicting death information of Aug 20, 1860. 19
Children from this marriage were:
+ 45 M i. Fleming W. LESTER 47 was born in 1812 in Montgomery Co., Va. 47 and died on Nov 1, 1885, at age 73.47
46 F ii. Pauline LESTER 48 was born about 1815 in Montgomery Co., Va. 48 and died before 1871.48
Pauline married Jacob B. WICKHAM 48 on Nov 3, 1835 in Floyd Co., Va..19 Jacob was born in 1803 48 and died on Mar 23, 1891 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 88.48
+ 47 M iii. Abner LESTER Jr. was born on Sep 18, 1818 in Montgomery Co., Va.,19 died on May 27, 1862 in Abington, Va., at age 43,19 and was buried in Floyd Co., Va., Pine Creek Cem..19
48 F iv. Ann E. LESTER 49 was born in 1820 in Montgomery Co., Va..49
Ann married James B. ROSS 49 on Nov 1, 1852 in Floyd Co., Va. 19.,49
49 F v. Sarah(Sally) LESTER was born in 1824 in Montgomery Co., Va. and died about 1863, about age 39.19
General Notes: She took her own live during desparate times. See p. 70 of the source. 50
Sarah(Sally) married James A. KELLY on Dec 16, 1850.19 James was born in 1829 and died in 1882, at age 53.
Noted events in his life were:
• He served in the military Pvt., Co. H, 54th Va. Inf., CSA. 50
50 F vi. Elizabeth LESTER 51 was born in 1827 in Floyd Co., Va.,51 died on May 19, 1900 in Hancock Co. Ind., at age 73,19,51 and was buried in Crown Point Cem..51
Elizabeth married Levi THOMPSON 51 on Dec 16, 1852 in Floyd Co., Va. 19.,51 Levi was born in 1833 51 and died on Jan 17, 1894 in Hancock Co. Ind., at age 61.51
Noted events in his life were:
• He served in the military Pvt., Co. E, 25th Va. Inf., CSA. 51
6. William S. LESTER (John Sr.1) was born on Oct 7, 1785 in Montgomery Co., Va.,20 died about 1866 in Floyd Co., Va., about age 81, and was buried in Alum Ridge, Floyd Co., Va.
William married Rebecca SIMMONS , daughter of Charles SIMMONS and Eleanor (Nellie) BOOTH? , on Jan 10, 1809 in Montgomery Co., Va. Rebecca was born on Mar 5, 1790 in Floyd Co., Va. and died about 1861, about age 71.
Children from this marriage were:
51 M i. Champ Chandler (Camden) LESTER 29 was born on Nov 3, 1809 and died on Nov 9, 1888 in Lester, Raleigh Co., W. VA., at age 79.
General Notes: The town of Lester, W. Va. is named after him.
Champ married Rachel McALEXANDER , daughter of William McALEXANDER Sr. and Tamar BOOTHE .29 Rachel was born in 1817 and died in 1881, at age 64.
General Notes: They moved to West Virginia.
+ 52 M ii. Charles S LESTER was born about 1811 and died about 1897 in Lester, Raleigh Co., W. VA., about age 86.
+ 53 F iii. Byer LESTER was born about 1814 in Virginia and died on Jan 10, 1879, about age 65.
54 M iv. John Simmons LESTER was born on Nov 30, 1816 in Floyd Co., Va., died on Dec 27, 1882 in Raleigh Co., W.Va., at age 66, and was buried in Lester Cemetery, Raleigh Co., W. VA.
General Notes: Married Mary Bradtcher Akers in 1850 in Montgomery Co., Va.
55 M v. James Patterson Preston LESTER was born on Nov 3, 1818 and died on Nov 23, 1903, at age 85.
General Notes: Married Sarah Howard Moore 20 Dec 1838
56 F vi. Delilah LESTER was born on Nov 11, 1820.
57 M vii. Boston LESTER was born about 1823 and died after 1880.
General Notes: Married Elitha.
58 M viii. Gordon LESTER was born in 1824.
59 M ix. Ballard LESTER was born on Mar 21, 1827.
60 F x. Susannah Jane LESTER was born in 1828.
61 M xi. William LESTER was born in 1833.
General Notes: Twin of Rebecca Lester. Married Frances Rebecca.
62 F xii. Rebecca LESTER was born in 1833.
General Notes: Twin of William S. Lester.
8. Mary LESTER (John Sr.1) was born on Apr 2, 1790 in Montgomery Co., Va., died on Aug 28, 1876 in Rhea Co., Tenn., at age 86, and was buried in Concord Cemetery, Rhea Co., Tenn..21
Mary married Isaac WEST Jr. on Nov 4, 1806.21 Isaac was born on Jan 23, 1782 in Montgomery Co., Va. 21 and died on Apr 1, 1826 in Rhea Co., Tenn., at age 44.21
Marriage Notes: Isaac and Mary West moved to Tennessee ca. 1809. Isaac owned a farm and mill in Rhea County. He was killed over a boundary dispute. Isaac was the grand-nephew of the artist Benjamin West.
Marguerite Tise, the source of my information credits Mrs. Jean W. Mueller, a great-great-great-grandaughter of Mary Lester West with providing her the information included in her book.
Children from this marriage were:
63 M i. Warren WEST was born about 1807 21 and died on Jan 24, 1838 in Florida, about age 31.21
Warren married Rachel SMITH on Dec 20, 1827.21
64 F ii. Matilda WEST .21
+ 65 F iii. Susan (Susannan) WEST 21 was born in 1811 52 and died in 1860, at age 49.52
66 F iv. Charlotte WEST .21
67 M v. Jeffrey WEST was born about 1820 21 and died on Jul 15, 1862 in Camp Morton, Indiapolis, Ind., about age 42.21
Jeffrey married Ollinda SMITH on Sep 24, 1843.21
68 F vi. Alethia WEST .21
Alethia married Living
69 F vii. Mary Ann WEST .21
70 F viii. Elizabeth WEST .21
9. Rhoda LESTER (John Sr.1) was born in 1793 in Montgomery Co., Va. 22 and died in 1865 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 72.22
General Notes: James Curtis Lester's records show marriage date as 3 May 1812.
Rhoda married William SIMMONS , son of Charles SIMMONS and Eleanor (Nellie) BOOTH? , on May 5, 1812 in Montger, Fincastle Co., VA..22 William was born in 1788 and died in 1851, at age 63.
General Notes: He was fined for boot legging and took three horses to pay fine.
Will probated in Floyd County, January 1852, WB B, p. 265.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 71 M i. James L. SIMMONS was born in Sep 1811 in Montgomery Co., Va. 53 and died on May 16, 1901 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 89.54
+ 72 F ii. Sarah (Sally) SIMMONS was born in 1813 and died in 1849, at age 36.
+ 73 F iii. Mary (Polly) SIMMONS 56,57 was born on Apr 4, 1815 in Montgomery County, Virginia, died on Jan 19, 1897 in Floyd County, Virginia, at age 81, and was buried in Cemetery Near New Beaver Creek Church Of The Brethren, Fcva.
+ 74 F iv. Adeline (Ady) SIMMONS 56,57 was born in 1818 in Montgomery County, VA.
+ 75 M v. Calvin L. SIMMONS was born in 1822.
+ 76 M vi. Harvey D. SIMMONS 58 was born in Nov 1825 58 and died after 1900.58
+ 77 M vii. Erasmus M. SIMMONS was born in 1827 and died in 1897, at age 70.
+ 78 F viii. Rhoda L. SIMMONS was born in 1830.
79 M ix. William Callaway SIMMONS 59 was born in 1832 59 and died on Jan 2, 1862, at age 30.59 The cause of his death was bronchitis.59
William married Eliza WEDDLE 59 on Jan 1, 1860 in Floyd Co., Va..59 Eliza was born in 1835 59 and died on Jun 5, 1862, at age 27.59
General Notes: No children.
+ 80 F x. Permelia (Molly) H. SIMMONS was born in 1835.
10. Hulen LESTER 23 (John Sr.1) was born on May 6, 1795 in Montgomery Co., Va.,23 died on Jun 27, 1888 in Montgomery Co., Va., at age 93,23 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va..23
General Notes: Hulen Lester was the youngest son and ninth child of John & Catharine Lester. He had an unusual first name and if we could know the background of this name, we would know more about the history of the family. So many different spellings of the name can be found in the records of Montgomery and Floyd counties that it is difficult to determine the original spelling, but it is believed to have been Heulings or Hulings. As previously stated, records show that the Lesters and Heulings lived in the same community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and adjoining New Jersey in the 1700's. Some of them intermarried. This was a name which appears to have had a special meaning to John Lester as he gave it to his youngest son. Could it have been his mother's maiden name? The name was carried on in the family by Hulen’s older brother John and his sister Catherine who each gave it to their first sons, and by later generations. As for Hulen himself, the name appears most often as it is written here. This is the spelling in the census records, in the signature to his will, and on his tombstone, though it must be borne in mind that Hulen did not read or write and only made his mark. Hulen Lester and Eleanor (Nellie) Simmons were married June 3, 1819. Nellie was 18 and Hulen was 24. Nellie was the daughter of Charles and Eleanor Simmons (see Charles SIMMONS). This was the third marriage between the Lester and Simmons families.
Hulen was the only one of the eleven children of John & Catharine Lester to establish his home in Montgomery County. He built a two-story, white frame house (date unknown) on Little River, about a mile below his parents’s log home and below the first Lester Cemetery. The house stood between the road (present Rt. 602) and the river and was not far from the confluence of Brush Creek & Little River. His youngest son, Charles D. Lester, inherited this property and lived there. After Charles D.’s death his son Letcher Lester lived there until 1913 when the house burned up and all its contents - no trace of its location can now be found.
Hulen Lester was a man of property and large land holdings. At one time he owned more then 1000 acres of land. He gave each of his children a farm or the equivalent. Son James died at the age of 15 and was too young to receive any property; daughters Catharine and Ellen were given money and personal property. All his children lived near him - Harvey later went West.
Hulen Lester was an invalid with a "spinal disease" (as stated in the 1880 census) for at least the last 8 years of his life and was bedridden for some years before his death. Catherine and Ellen appear to have devoted themselves to nursing their parents.
Nellie died in 1881 at the age of 80; she and Hulen had been married 62 years. Hulen died at the age of 93, an unusually long life for that time. He was the last of his family.
Hulen and Nellie Lester had 10 children, 34 grandchildren, and 223 (known) great-grandchildren. Their children: Paradine, Joshua, Ira, Aveline, Floyd, Harvey, Catharine, James, Charles D., Ellen.
Hulen married Eleanor (Nellie) SIMMONS , daughter of Charles SIMMONS and Eleanor (Nellie) BOOTH? , on Jun 3, 1819 23,24,25.,26 Eleanor was born on Feb 12, 1801 in Montgomery Co., Va., died on Sep 28, 1881 in Montgomery Co., Va., at age 80, and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va.
Marriage Notes: "My Ancestors" by L. G. Lester has a second marriage date on page 10. It is
3 June 1819.
James C. Lester says married May 31, 1819. [Marriage records at County Clerk's Office, Christiansburg, Virginia - Register "A", Page 165 and 366 indicates Eleanor was a Simmons before marriage and the daughter of Charles Simmons.]"
General Notes: Names of children from the will of Hulen Lester dated 9 Jan 1874. Marriage records at County Clerk's Office, Christiansburg, Va., Register A, p. 165 and 366 indicates Eleanor was a Simmons before marriage and the daughter of Charles Simmons.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 81 F i. Paradine LESTER was born on Mar 31, 1820 in Montgomery Co., Va.,60 died on Feb 24, 1902 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 81,60 and was buried in White Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Cemetary.60
+ 82 M ii. Joshua P. LESTER was born on Oct 4, 1821 in Montgomery Co., Va.,61 died on Feb 10, 1901 in Montgomery Co., Va., at age 79,61 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va..61
+ 83 M iii. Ira H. LESTER was born on Oct 14, 1823 in Montgomery Co., Va.,63 died on Mar 18, 1878 in Montgomery Co., Va., at age 54,63 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va..63
+ 84 F iv. Aveline LESTER 64 was born on Jan 3, 1825 in Montgomery Co., Va.,65 died on Dec 21, 1902 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 77,65 and was buried in White Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Cemetary.65
+ 85 M v. John Floyd LESTER 66 was born on Aug 25, 1828 in Montgomery Co., Va.,66 died on Dec 21, 1899 in Floyd Co., Va., at age 71,66 and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va..66
86 M vi. Harvey (Harve) LESTER 68 was born on Feb 2, 1831 in Montgomery Co., Va. 68 and died in Idaho.68
General Notes: Harvey had a falling out with his father, left home and went to Idaho. He was thought to be a wealthy man. His nephew, Giles Peterman, and one of the Lester cousins went by train to Idaho to see him, the exact date unknown, perhaps about 1912. They found that he was a recluse living up in the mountains near Pocatello.
This is Giles Peterman's account: We walked mile after mile up a mountain. We came to a habitation and asked directions of the man living there, who said, "I'll be damned if you will ever find the house. I would go with you and show you but I'm baking my bread." We walked a long way up the mountain before we came to Harvey's dwelling. He came to the door and we asked if he knew who we were. He looked at us and said, "Well, you must be my nephews from Virginia." He was living in a cabin in poverty, the account of his wealth a myth.
When he died, he didn't have enough money to be buried and the undertaker sent to Giles Peterman asking for funds.
+ 87 M vii. Charles David LESTER was born on Dec 29, 1838, died on Nov 14, 1911, at age 72, and was buried in Lester Cemetery #1, Rt. 602, Montgomery Co., Va.
88 F viii. Ellen LESTER was born on Oct 13, 1841 and died on Aug 26, 1893, at age 51.67
89 F ix. Catherine LESTER .
90 M x. James W. LESTER .
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