My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. LESTER, merchant, miller and farmer, of Lebanon, Tenn., was born on the 21st of April, 1827, in Wilson County, and is a son of Henry D. and Malinda (Jones) Lester. The father is a native of Virginia, born in 1800. He came with his parents to Tennessee when he was about nine years old and located in Wilson County. He became a wealthy farmer and an influential citizen and held several county offices. He died in 1875. The mother was born in Tennessee in 1805, and died in 1874. Our subject was educated in the Campbell Academy of Lebanon, and in 1855 formed a partnership with his father in the grocery business, continuing two years. In 1858 he and Mr. S. A. Carter became partners in the grocery business, continuing until the breaking out of the war. In1863 he began milling and formed partnerships with the following gentlemen: W. Hallum, William Carter and J. D. Lester. Mr. Lester is the oldest and one of the most successful merchants and millers in the State. He owns a farm of 800 acres and resides in a beautiful and substantial dwelling-house. June 12, 1860, he wedded Martha (Dillon) Williams, daughter of Thomas and Harriet (Roane) Dillon. The mother’s uncle, Archibald Roane, was the second governor of Tennessee. Her brother, John Seldon Roane, was governor of Arkansas, and her brother, Samuel C. Roane, was judge of the Supreme Bench of Arkansas. Mrs. Lester was born September 9, 1833, and had two children by her former marriage, Seldon R. and Dixon C. Seldon is president of the Second National Bank of Lebanon, and Dixon is the noted evangelist of Tennessee and is at present in California. Mr. Lester and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.