Chattahoochee-Jackson-Muscogee County GaArchives Biographies.....McLester, James 1804 - 1859 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 11:05 am Author: N. K. Rogers JAMES McLESTER, M. D. Dr. James McLester (1804-1859) had a large practice in Muscogee County when Chattahoochee was formed. The plantation upon which he lived was located in that part of Muscogee which was included in the new county of Chattahoochee. He had moved to Georgia from Alabama, but he was a resident of Jackson County Ga. in 1827. His grandfather was a native Scotsman, who served as a soldier under Col. Hines in a North Carolina regiment during the Revolutionary War. His father, John McLester born 1767, who married Araminta Gray in 1796, was a Scotch Presbyterian. These Scotch Presbyterians have usually been strong advocates of education and proof that John McLester was true to this doctrine lies in the fact that three of his sons were physicians and two were lawyers. (Mrs. Minnie Shipp Littlejohn says there was eight sons, four physicians and four lawyers.) Dr. James McLester, b. in Anson Co. N. C. graduated from the University of Georgia Medical department at Augusta in the class of 1834. He assisted with the education of his younger brothers, one of whom, John Jr., graduated from the same college in 1839 and afterward studied in Europe and was a lecturer at Bellevue Hospital, N. Y. John Jr. never married. Another brother, Leonidas McLester graduated from the medical department of the University of Ga. in 1843. He practiced for a while in Muscogee Co. and was probably associated with his brother's large practice when Chattahoochee was formed; for his name appears among jurors and other public records during first years of this county's existence. He afterwards located in Cuthbert, Ga., married Mary Ann Kiddoo of that place and died there. Nelson McLester, one of the lawyer brothers had such a striking personality that it is said people involuntarily turned to watch him as he walked upon the streets of Columbus. He married first Phoebe B. Kirkland in 1841 and second Mary C. Redd in 1846. He died in Savannah (but was a resident of Columbus) Sept. 10, 1850. (dates concerning Nelson McLester from Martin's History of Columbus). Martha, a sister of Dr. McLester, married Robert C. Redding in 1853. Another sister was Mrs. Lou Brown. Dr. James McLester not only assisted his own family in educational matters, but extended his support to the schools of the county. A deed recorded in 1847, in which he gave the land for the academy at Jamestown shows his interest, and he was one of the four men who built and equipped the old school house at Cusseta, under whose portals so many splendid men and women have passed as teacher and pupil. The administrator of his estate was authorized to pay a sum of money towards the maintenance of this school during the year following his death. James McLester married Lucinda Caroline Wooldridge in 1836. She was born in Putman County in 1820, the daughter of Absolom D. and Lucy (Henderson) Wooldridge. Since it is known that Mrs. Lucy Wooldridge (later Bussey) was one of the four charter members of Harmony Baptist Church and her eldest daughter the first person to be interred at that cemetery in 1848, the family tradition that Dr. McLester donated the land for this burial plot must be based on facts, although a deed to trustees of Harmony Church was made by William Crew for $50.00, which it is probable Dr. McLester paid, making it a gift to members of this church. The graves of Dr. McLester, with those of many of their kindred and friends are at Harmony Cemetery, Cusseta, to which their great-grandson, Nelson M. Shipp refers in an article published in the Columbus Ledger, entitled, The Glories of Old Cusseta. "There the blessed lie ... on a green bluff overlooking the fork of the Louvale, Jamestown and Columbus roads and the town of Cusseta, in Chattahoochee County on the other. The prominence looks too, across a valley that might well be a garden of the gods—to a handsome schoolhouse in the distance that symbolizes all that is valuable and intrinsic in the present day. Old trees, bent with age lean towards each other over the graves of patriarchs as though whispering of memories too sad for the ears of a hurried generation. History is written on the knoll and hillside. And there are those tragic, unknown graves, mute gestures from another century—missing pages in the annals of proud families. At the foot of the hill, and around and about, the manors of a past day with their slave quarters and plantations once held forth a life that was gay and brilliant, sober and studious. Between the cemetery, where lie men and women due to be called great still stands the old school house that far and wide is famous and beloved,—The country churchyard whispers of a victorious face." Children of Dr. James and Caroline Wooldridge McLester: Laura b. 1837, d. 1853 from effects of measles while attending Slade School in Columbus, Ga. Mary Frances b. 1839; ed. Slade School Columbus, Ga., m. W.W.Shipp. Hortense b. 1842; ed. Slade School; m. C. A. Hawkins, Capt.C. S. A. Emma b. 1844; ed. Andrew College; m. B. F. Davis, Capt. C. S. A. James H. (Mack) b. 1846; d. Penfield (Mercer) m. Laura A. Battle. Ch. Battle and Annie Laurie McLester. Caroline b. 1851; ed. Andrew College; m. Emory Jefferson Leonidas, b. 1853; ed. Emory and Henry College, Va., m. Lula Persons. Willie, accidentally smothered while playing in a pile of cotton seed while a small boy. Ida b. 1856; m. Council B. Wooten. Daniel b. 1857; m. Mattie Trotman. Children of Leonidas and Lula Person McLester, Hortense, James (died), Kathleen (died), and Lee. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA By N. K. Rogers Dedicated to KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C. and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers. Copyright 1933 by N. K. ROGERS PRINTED BY COLUMBUS OFFICE SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chattahoochee/bios/gbs538mclester.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb