Pleasants County, West Virginia, Biography of William Kester

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WILLIAM KESTER

William Kester, one of the commissioners of Pleasants county, was 
born May 19, 1824, in Harrison county, his parents being Adam and 
Sarah (Devall) Kester.  The parents were natives of Maryland, but 
came to West Virginia about 1819.  The father remained in Harrison 
county until about 1830, and then removed to Pleasants, where he 
rented land for ten years, and then bought 100 acres, on which he 
made his home until his death.  He served as a soldier during the war 
of 1812.  The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received 
the ordinary common school education.  January 25, 1849, he was 
united in marriage to Ann E., daughter of G. A. and Druzilla W. 
(Jamison) Sharp.  This union resulted in the birth of ten children, 
of whom the following are still living:  Thomas S., Minerva J., 
Rufus, James B., John B. and Cass C. (triplets), the latter of whom 
is dead:  Charles H., Sophia D. and Mary E.  The mother was born in 
this country in 1828, and she and husband are members of the 
Methodist Protestant church, of which he acts as a trustee.  He has 
served many years on the school board of his district, and was 
assessor of Pleasants county for four years.  In 1883 he was 
appointed commissioner of Pleasants to fill a vacancy occasioned by 
the resignation of J. R. Seckman, and in the fall of 1884 he was 
elected to the same position, which he has held since that time.  He 
has made a good and efficient officer, and has conducted the public 
business as to obtain the approbation of his constituents.  Although 
he began life without property, he has succeeded quite well by the 
exercise of industry and economy.  He now owns over 237 acres of good 
land, which is in good condition.  He is a prominent democratic 
leader of the county, and has always been a fearless advocate of the 
principles of his party.  He also ranks as a representative farmer of 
the county, and is one of its useful citizens.

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I; Brant & Fuller, 1891.


(Linda Cunningham Fluharty)