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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wilson County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. 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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WILLIAM J. LESTER was born in 1825 in Wilson County, Tenn., the eldest son of Henry D. and Malinda (Jones) Lester. (See J. A. Lester for parents’ sketch.) William was educated in the Campbell Academy of Lebanon, and after residing with his parents until twenty-one years old he worked at the blacksmith’s trade and the following three years tilled his father’s farm. December 18, 1851, he was married to Othelda Haney, daughter of Elijah and Clarkey Haney. Mrs. Lester was born in 1833 in Smith County, Tenn., and bore her husband one child, Matilda E., who wedded Anderson Crookshankes and died in 1885. Mr. Lester purchased 237 acres of land near Lebanon, where he now resides. His wife died in 1853 and in 1856 he took for his second wife. Sarah F. (Seay) Belcher, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Seay. Mrs. Lester was born in 1835 and died in 1885, having borne one child, Daniel R. who is a farmer in Smith County. Mr. Lester joined Company F, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Wartrace, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Marietta, Ga., and many minor engagements. He was so severely wounded in the left leg at the last named engagement that amputation was performed June 22, 1864. He kept a grocery in Georgia for some time but returned home in June, 1865. He has been a prosperous farmer of Wilson County for many years and previous to the war speculated in mules. He is a Democrat in polities, formerly a Whig, and belongs to the order of Good Templars and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Wilson County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Wilson County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee
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