- The Pound and Kester Families by John E. Hunt, 1904 Chicago, Regan Printing, p. 369.
3 - John Johnson Kester, son of Jesse and Sarah (Johnson) Kester, was born in Vigo County, Indiana, April 15, 1823, died March 27, 1887 and is buried in Umatilla County, Oregon. (Pilot Rock). Moved to Marion county, Oreogn in 1847, to San Luis Obispo County, California, in 1874, and to Umatilla county, Oregon, in 1883, where he resided until his death.
Was a soldier in Indian Wars in Oregon and Washington. Married, December 12, 1849, Keziah Jane Hubbard, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Cannon) Hubbard, born in Illinois, June 6, 1832, died October 30, 1875. (in margin is written buried at sea.)
- History of Willamette Valley, Oregon by Robert Carlton Clark. Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1927. v. 2-3., p. 95
For more than thirty years M.B. Kester was engaged in general farming in Marion county and now devotes his attention to the raising of chickens. He is one of Hubbard's self-made men and he has filled public offices of trust and responsibility. In 1858 he was born on a ranch situated half a mile north of Hubbard and in both the paternal and maternal lines represents honored pioneer familes of this locality. His parents were J.J. and Keziah J. (Hubbard) Kester, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. In 1847 the father started for Oregon and drove oxen across the plains. he was accompanied by his brother, Charles M. Kester, and was married in this state. he entered a donation claim in Marion county, securing the title to the place on which his son, M.B. Kester, was born, and in the early days he obtained his supplies in Oregon City and Butteville. Later he sold the property and from 1862 until 1864 was engaged in the cordwood business in Salem. He then moved to the Chemawa district and purchased a timber ranch, on which he cut cordwood and logs, also making charcoal. Some of the pieces of timber which he hewed were eighty feet long and were used in the construction of Reed's Opera House in Salem. He prospered in his undertaking and remained on the ranch until about 1873. He fought in the war against the Indians and he was called to public office, serving as school director. Mr. Kester and his family went to California but subsequently returned to Oregon and he spent the remainder of his life in Umatilla county.
His wife came to Oregon in 1847 with her parents, Charles and Margaret Hubbard, and her father obtained a donation claim on which a man named Hunt had filed. After her husband's death the widow sold the property to Mr. Hubbard in 1870 the railroad extended its line through his farm. The depot was built on his land and the station was named Hubbard in his honor. His daughter, Mrs. Keziah J. Kester, passed away in California in 1875 and her husband's demise occurred about eleven years later. In their family were ten children: Charles Llewellyn and Jessie W., who attended the old Oregon Institute from 1872 until 1864 and are now deceased; M.B.; Mythra J. and Eva C., who have passed away; Edwin Grant, of Portland, Oregon; Margaret and Emeline, twins, the former of whom became the wife of Nathaniel Kosier, while the latter was married to H. E. Chapman; Mary M., the deceased wife of G.D. Dimick; and Alma, who died in infancy. The only surviving members of this pioneer family are Edwin G. and M.B. Kester.
The latter attended the old Claggett school near Chemawa and a school on the North Howell prairie. He assisted his father in the operation of the farm and after the family returned to Oregon from California, M.B. Kester continued his studies in Hubbard, working for his board and tuition. Later he opened a livery stable in the town and conducted the business for five years. About 1888 he rented the Hubbard homestead, on which he engaged in farming for many years, and specialized in the breeding of hogs. In 1923 he purchased a chicken ranch and now has about six hundred hens, featuring the White Leghorn and Hollywood strains. He follows scientific methods and is one of the most successful poultrymen in the valley. His work is thoroughly systematized and close study and practical experience have made him familiar with every phase of the chicken business.
In 1885 Mr. Kester married Miss Mary A. Dimick, who was also born in the vicinity of Hubbard. Her parents, George W. and Minerva (Gleason) Dimick, came to Oregon in 1847 and her grandparents were Augustus and Laura Dimick, the former of whom entered a donation land claim near Hubbard. Mrs. Kester passed away in 1887, leaving a daughter, Lena, who acts as housekeeper for her father. Mr. Kester has filled all of the chairs in the Knights of Pythias lodge and wears the jeweled emblem awarded those members whose identification with the order covers a period of twenty-five years. He has a high conception of the duties and obligations of citizenship and was town marshal for a year, road supervisor for four years, constable for a similar period, and has also been a school director. His life has been long, upright and useful and no resident of Marion county is better known or more highly esteemed.
- Bancroft's History of Willamette Valley Ore.
M.B. Kester
In 1858 he was born on a ranch situated half a mile north of Hubbard and in both paternal and maternal represents honored pioneer families of this locality. His parents were J.J. and Keziah (Hubbard) Kester, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. In 1847 the father started for Oregon and drove oxen across the plains. he was married in this state. he enetered a donation claim in Marion county securing the ttitle of the place on which his son M.B. Kester was born and in the early days he obtained his supplies in Oregon City and Butteville. Later he sold his property and from 1862 to 1864 was engaged in cordwood business in Salem. He then moved to the Chemawa district and purchased a timber ranch, --Some of the pieces of timber which he hewed were eighty feet long and were used in the construction of Reed's Opera House in Salem. He prospered in his undertaking and remained on the ranch uintil about 1873. Mr. Kester and his family went to California but subsequently returned to Oregon and he spent the remainder of his life in Umatilla county.
His wife came to Oregon in 1847 with her parents, Charles and Margaret Hubbard. His daughter, Mrs. Keziah J. Kester passed away in California in 1875 and her husband's demise occurred about eleven years later. In 1885 Mr. Kester (M.B.) married Miss Mary A. Dimick, who was also born in the vicinity of Hubbard. Her parents, George W. and Minerva (Gleason) Dimick, came to Oregon in 1847. Mrs. Kester passed away in 1887 leaving a duaghter, Lena, who acts as housekeeper for her father.
- Milton Kester Obituary, 1933
Funeral Today for Milton Kester, 75
Hubbard, Sept. 23 - the funeral of Milton Kester will be held at the Congregational church Sunday at 2 p.m. with Rev. W.I. Orr officiating. The S.A. Miller mortuary has charge of funeral arrangements.
Milton Kester, pioneer, shot himself fatally with suicidal intent Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. when his daughter, Lean, left for a few minutes to go to the meat market. He dressed and took his raincoat and revolver and went out and sat down under a large cedar tree in the front yard in full view of several road men who were working on the Pacific highway in front of the Kester home.
Mr. Kester was born on the Albert Smith farm on October 17, 1858. he has lived continuously at Hubbard since 1893; for the past 12 years he has been engaged in the chicken business and looking after his property.
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Last updated 12/12/99