David B. Hester (abt. 1840 - 1915)

Born about 1840 in Kentucky, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza Jane (Wright) Hester — married 20 Jun 1867 in Barry, Pike, Illinois

Descendants

Died 12 Jan 1915 at about age 75 in Hollis, Harmon, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

David B. Hester b. abt. 1840/42 in Kentucky according to 1870 census,. His parents are unconfirmed (see below). He died on 12 Jan 1915 Hollis, Harmon, Oklahoma, United States while living with his son-in-law Frank Huff.

In the 1880 census he lists his Birth Year as 1842, birthplace as Indiana, Father's Birthplace Indiana, and Mother's Birthplace Indiana. No other record confirms this data.

Parents: William Dilman Hester (1802 Fleming County, Kentucky - 1 FEB 1872 Fairview, Jones, Iowa) and his first wife Constance Bennington (1806-1842). William and his second wife plus a son named David Hester were living in Fairview, Jones, Iowa in 1850 census. David's middle name is probably named after his mother's maiden name - Bennington.

Also two other David Hesters listed in 1850 census. See Notes below.

Military Record^[1]:

• Name David Hester
• Age at enlistment 21
• Enlistment Date 17 Sep 1861
• Mustered: 15 Oct 1861
• Nativity: Illinois
• Rank at enlistment Corporal
• State Served Iowa
• Survived the War? Yes
• Service Record Enlisted in Company F, Iowa 13th Infantry Regiment on 15 Oct 1861.Mustered out on 24 Jul 1862 at Keokuk, IA. (a conflicting record shows David Hester deserted from hospital in Keokuk, Iowa on 17 Sep 1861)
• Birth Date abt 1840

The 13th Infantry Regiment was engaged in the battle of Shiloh in April 1862 and then participated in the siege of Corinth during May 1862.

Records have not been found after this period until his marriage in 1867 in Pike, Illinois.

On 20 Jun 1867 in Pike, Illinois David Hester married Eliza J. Wright^[2]

Children:

1. Amy "Amie" Louella Hester (4 NOV 1864 Illinois - 23 OCT 1952 Residence Opolis, Kansas, died in Jane Chinn Hospital,Webb City, Jasper, Missouri) may have been adopted by David and Eliza Jane (Wright) Hester. She is not with the family in the 1870 census. She first appears in the 1880 census in Barry, Pike, IL. Seems likely she was a child of a siblings of Eliza Jane, On 11 Sep 1892 in Georgia City, Jasper, Missouri she married John S. Riley^[3] . Marriage license indicates both lived in Georgia City, Jasper, Missouri. Minister: R. C. Thomas.
2. Nettie Jane Hester (5 May 1871 Barry, Pike County, Illinois - 9 Oct 1938 Duke, Jackson County, Oklahoma) on Oct 17 1897 in Georgia City, Jasper, Missouri married Frank Huff at the home her father in Georgia City, Missouri

Eliza Jane's brother, James Wright, moved to Pittsburg, Kansas sometime between 1880 and 1900.  This would be the  same period that  his sister Eliza Jane and her  husband David Hester also moved  from Illinois to nearby Jasper County, Missouri.  It is possible that they moved  at the same time or at least  kept in contact  with each other. James Wright was married and had two sons and a daughter. 

Death: 12 Jan 1915 death - buried at Independence Cemetery, 18 miles north of and 3 miles west of Hollis, Oklahoma - headstone marked, "D. B. Hester - Jan 12, 1915"

BURIAL^[4]: Independence Cemetery; Madge, Harmon County, Oklahoma. MEMORIAL ID 113450066

Hester Origin:

• Researchers have identified John Hester and John Hester as arriving in Pennsylvania from Germany plus John Jacob Hester from Holland in the 1700's.

Notes:

• Some researchers have confused David B. Hester with David Mathias Hester who was born 16 Aug 1841 in Centralia, Marion, Illinois. This is not the same David Hester.

• 1850^[5]: Fairview, Jones, Iowa. David Hester age 11 with father William Hester and step-mother Elizabeth Hester 33, plus brothers and sisters Squire Hester age 19, Francis Hester age 17, James Hester age 15, Joseph Hester age 13, Margaret E Hester age 9, Gilbert L Hester age 2, Eliza Hester age 1

• 1850^[6] Washington, Clay, Indiana,. David Hesler born abt 1839 living in household of Joseph Hesler age 34 and family. May be different person.

• 1850^[7]: Township 6 S 2 W, Pike, Illinois. David L Hester age 8, birthplace Ohio, living in household of Martin W Hester age 49. Could be same person except age and place of birth appear to be incorrect.

• 1860^[8]: Greenfield, Jones, Iowa. Born abt 1840 in Illinois, L/W Uncle Christopher Hester's wife's relative John Secrest family. Sister Margaret E Hester also

• 17 Sep 1861 Age: 21 Enlisted in Company F, Iowa 13th Infantry Regiment. Regiment was involved in heavy fighting at the Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing on April 8, 1862.

• Mustered out on 24 Jul 1862 at Keokuk, IA. Uncle Christopher Hester's father-in-law John Secrest was 1st Lt in Co F, same regiment

• 4 NOV 1864 daughter Amie born in Illinois

• 1870^[9]: Ozark, Anderson, Kansas. Born in KY, wife Eliza A born in Ohio, dau Nellie age 3 born in IL. His uncle Christopher Hester also lived in Anderson, Kansas.

• 1880^[10]: Barry, Pike, Illinois. farm located near Bella Wright farm, David Hester Birth Year (Estimated): 1842, Birthplace Indiana, Father's Birthplace Indiana, Mother's Birthplace Indiana, with wife Eliza Hester Age: 48, Birth Year (Estimated): 1832, Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Mother's Birthplace: Ohio, and daughters Ammie Hester age 17 Birthplace: Illinois,) and Nettie Hester age 12 (Illinois)

• 1901 D. Hester was listed in Anderson county, Kansas - could be different person

• 1902 Asbury, Jasper, Missouri. Listed in City Directory for Joplin; Carthage; Carterville, Missouri^[11]

• 20 Mar 1908 - Checotah, McIntosh, Oklahoma. Left in covered wagon with daughter and son-in-law to homestead in New Mexico

• 1910 census - not found but probably living in New Mexico with his daughter and son-in-law.

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa, Adjutant General Office. Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861-1866. Des Moines: E. H. English, State Printer, E. D. Chassell, State Binder, 1908-11
2. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFLQ-V13 : 4 November 2017), David Hester and Eliza J. Wright, 20 Jun 1867; citing Pike, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,315,807.
3. ↑ Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113450066
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ46-YFX : 12 April 2016), David Hester in household of William Hester, Fairview, Jones, Iowa, United States; citing family 829, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ Year: 1850; Census Place: Washington, Clay, Indiana; Roll: M432_138; Page: 234B; Image: 476
7. ↑ United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85X-XZB : 12 April 2016), David L Hester in household of Martin W Hester, Pike county, part of, Pike, Illinois, United States; citing family 1152, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8LQ-NYT : 13 December 2017), David Hester in entry for John Secrest, 1860.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJX-YFP : 28 May 2021), David Hester, 1870.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXK7-JFL : 15 September 2017), Eliza Hester in household of David Hester, Barry, Pike, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 180, sheet 383C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0242; FHL microfilm 1,254,242.
11. ↑ Joplin, Missouri, City Directory, 1902

See Also:

• Billy and Max Huff, "Life in the Southwest During the Early Twentieth Century: As Told By Clarence W. Huff" CreateSpace 2016