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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Robert Lester, farmer, Lester, Ark. Mr. Lester is a native of Georgia, his birth occurring in 1827, but his ancestors were early settlers of Virginia. His parents, William and Sarah (Brown) Lester, were natives of the Old Dominion, the father born in 1796 and the mother in 1798. William Lester was a very extensive planter, and was the owner of about forty negroes. He emigrated to Georgia about 1800, and there passed his last days, his death occurring in 1874. The mother died in 1863. Both were members of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living: Robert, Sarah (wife of George Holliday, of Georgia), and Joshua. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Louis and Rhoda (Russell) Lester, were also natives of Virginia. Robert Lester was educated in the common schools of Georgia, and at the age of twenty-three years commenced life for himself as a farmer on his own land in Georgia. This he carried on in connection with overseeing until the breaking out of the war. He entered the Confederate service in 1862, was a member of Echolls’ artillery, and served principally under Gen. Cobb. He was in no hard engagements, but participated in several severe skirmishes. He surrendered in Washington, Ga., but his company surrendered at Smithville, N. C. Returning home he found himself broken in health and fortune. His slaves, which he had inherited from his father’s estate, remained on his farm until two years before Mr. Lester came to Arkansas, which was in 1871. He first settled within one mile of where he now lives, on 120 acres of land, and to this he has since added 80 acres, on which he now resides. He has in all about 100 acres under cultivation, and on this raises from one-half to three-fourths of a bale of cotton to the acre. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Martha A. Daniel, of Georgia, and the daughter of Woodson and Mary (Meeler) Daniel, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel were the parents of two children: Mrs. Lester, and a son, J. C. (who resides in Georgia). Mr. Daniel was born in 1809 and died in 1861, and his wife was born in 1808 and died in 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Lester have been born ten children, only two of whom are now alive: Sarah A. (wife of Braxton Bragg, a relative of Gen. Braxton Bragg), and Nettie L. (wife of W. L. Worthington, M. D., of this county). Mr. Lester has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1851, and is a member of Camden Lodge No. 11. He favors all public improvements for the benefit of his county, and is a liberal patron to schools, churches, etc. Politically, like the majority of the citizens of this county, he is a true Democrat. Mrs. Lester is a member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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