Thomas J. Kesterson
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939) transcribed by Vicki Bryan
Thomas J. (Steve) Kesterson was born in east Tennessee, April 4, 1869. He came to Burnett County, Texas with his family when a small child, a few years later they moved to Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas. Steve grew to young manhood in this place, attending school all he had a chance to between farm labor and other responsibilities. He had lost his father and was forced, with the help of his only brother, to be the main support for a frail mother and two small sisters. When I think of him now, it seems he was never a child, it seems his lot in life was always to do for others. He accepted that duty with courage that knew no bounds, he had such determination to do what was right and to accomplish something worthwhile in the world, a joyful disposition that always won him friends. Steve was not contented to settle down on the cotton farms of south Texas. He longed to know something of the west, he wanted to be a cowboy and he had what it took to be a pioneer. When he became of age he started out in company with a neighbor boy to go west, they each had a little pony. After about three days' journey, the other boy got cold feet and made his way back home, but Steve knew what he wanted and went on alone. On his ride he came in contact with a party taking a herd of cattle to this part of the state so he came on with this heard. He landed in the Canadian breaks in the spring of 1890. He worked near Canadian for quite a while, and part of the time in Miami. It was here where he got his first good work with Mr. O. H. Nelson a fine ranch owner. He worked for Mr. Nelson for some time and in some way he met up with Mr. Bugsbee and while at this place he made the acquaintance of the Goodnights and the Dyers. He made a deal with Mr. Lee Dyer to come to his ranch, which was west of Goodnight, where he stayed for seven years working and batching with Charley Taul. Ben Ranson and Walter Ransom, and Jim Owens also worked on the Dyer ranch, old Mr. Bill Vaughn was a fence rider for the ranch then. By this time Steve had gotten hold of a nice plot of ground and had accumulated a nice bunch of white face cattle. He improved a little home on his land 5 miles northeast of the station of Goodnight over near the "Juan place" and settled down in this home that he had worked so hard to secure and one that anyone might be proud to own. But is not complete until he made a trip to his old home in south Texas and brought back the girl who had been waiting for him. He married Miss Pearl Askew at Marble Falls, Texas and they came west to the little nest he had planned and built. Where he might bring his bride and where he would not have to keep eating sourdough bread. They were very successful stock farmers and lived very happily for quite a while. Two children were born to them Robert and May. But like many other happy homes, sorrow came when Steve lost his health, still a young man, he sought the best medical aid but to no advantage. And after about a two-year period, on March 12, 1914, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, his brave spirit took its flight. And his little family was left to mourn a great loss. His daughter has since passed away, his son lives in Amarillo and his widow lives in East Amarillo. The five other cowboys I referred to working on the Dyer Ranch have passed on also.
Written by his sister - Mrs. D. C. Dodge
April 1939.
Texas Genealogy Trails
Contributor: Sherry
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939) transcribed by Vicki Bryan
Thomas J. (Steve) Kesterson was born in east Tennessee, April 4, 1869. He came to Burnett County, Texas with his family when a small child, a few years later they moved to Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas. Steve grew to young manhood in this place, attending school all he had a chance to between farm labor and other responsibilities. He had lost his father and was forced, with the help of his only brother, to be the main support for a frail mother and two small sisters. When I think of him now, it seems he was never a child, it seems his lot in life was always to do for others. He accepted that duty with courage that knew no bounds, he had such determination to do what was right and to accomplish something worthwhile in the world, a joyful disposition that always won him friends. Steve was not contented to settle down on the cotton farms of south Texas. He longed to know something of the west, he wanted to be a cowboy and he had what it took to be a pioneer. When he became of age he started out in company with a neighbor boy to go west, they each had a little pony. After about three days' journey, the other boy got cold feet and made his way back home, but Steve knew what he wanted and went on alone. On his ride he came in contact with a party taking a herd of cattle to this part of the state so he came on with this heard. He landed in the Canadian breaks in the spring of 1890. He worked near Canadian for quite a while, and part of the time in Miami. It was here where he got his first good work with Mr. O. H. Nelson a fine ranch owner. He worked for Mr. Nelson for some time and in some way he met up with Mr. Bugsbee and while at this place he made the acquaintance of the Goodnights and the Dyers. He made a deal with Mr. Lee Dyer to come to his ranch, which was west of Goodnight, where he stayed for seven years working and batching with Charley Taul. Ben Ranson and Walter Ransom, and Jim Owens also worked on the Dyer ranch, old Mr. Bill Vaughn was a fence rider for the ranch then. By this time Steve had gotten hold of a nice plot of ground and had accumulated a nice bunch of white face cattle. He improved a little home on his land 5 miles northeast of the station of Goodnight over near the "Juan place" and settled down in this home that he had worked so hard to secure and one that anyone might be proud to own. But is not complete until he made a trip to his old home in south Texas and brought back the girl who had been waiting for him. He married Miss Pearl Askew at Marble Falls, Texas and they came west to the little nest he had planned and built. Where he might bring his bride and where he would not have to keep eating sourdough bread. They were very successful stock farmers and lived very happily for quite a while. Two children were born to them Robert and May. But like many other happy homes, sorrow came when Steve lost his health, still a young man, he sought the best medical aid but to no advantage. And after about a two-year period, on March 12, 1914, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, his brave spirit took its flight. And his little family was left to mourn a great loss. His daughter has since passed away, his son lives in Amarillo and his widow lives in East Amarillo. The five other cowboys I referred to working on the Dyer Ranch have passed on also.
Written by his sister - Mrs. D. C. Dodge
April 1939.
Texas Genealogy Trails
Contributor: Sherry
Thomas J. Kesterson
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939) transcribed by Vicki Bryan
Thomas J. (Steve) Kesterson was born in east Tennessee, April 4, 1869. He came to Burnett County, Texas with his family when a small child, a few years later they moved to Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas. Steve grew to young manhood in this place, attending school all he had a chance to between farm labor and other responsibilities. He had lost his father and was forced, with the help of his only brother, to be the main support for a frail mother and two small sisters. When I think of him now, it seems he was never a child, it seems his lot in life was always to do for others. He accepted that duty with courage that knew no bounds, he had such determination to do what was right and to accomplish something worthwhile in the world, a joyful disposition that always won him friends. Steve was not contented to settle down on the cotton farms of south Texas. He longed to know something of the west, he wanted to be a cowboy and he had what it took to be a pioneer. When he became of age he started out in company with a neighbor boy to go west, they each had a little pony. After about three days' journey, the other boy got cold feet and made his way back home, but Steve knew what he wanted and went on alone. On his ride he came in contact with a party taking a herd of cattle to this part of the state so he came on with this heard. He landed in the Canadian breaks in the spring of 1890. He worked near Canadian for quite a while, and part of the time in Miami. It was here where he got his first good work with Mr. O. H. Nelson a fine ranch owner. He worked for Mr. Nelson for some time and in some way he met up with Mr. Bugsbee and while at this place he made the acquaintance of the Goodnights and the Dyers. He made a deal with Mr. Lee Dyer to come to his ranch, which was west of Goodnight, where he stayed for seven years working and batching with Charley Taul. Ben Ranson and Walter Ransom, and Jim Owens also worked on the Dyer ranch, old Mr. Bill Vaughn was a fence rider for the ranch then. By this time Steve had gotten hold of a nice plot of ground and had accumulated a nice bunch of white face cattle. He improved a little home on his land 5 miles northeast of the station of Goodnight over near the "Juan place" and settled down in this home that he had worked so hard to secure and one that anyone might be proud to own. But is not complete until he made a trip to his old home in south Texas and brought back the girl who had been waiting for him. He married Miss Pearl Askew at Marble Falls, Texas and they came west to the little nest he had planned and built. Where he might bring his bride and where he would not have to keep eating sourdough bread. They were very successful stock farmers and lived very happily for quite a while. Two children were born to them Robert and May. But like many other happy homes, sorrow came when Steve lost his health, still a young man, he sought the best medical aid but to no advantage. And after about a two-year period, on March 12, 1914, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, his brave spirit took its flight. And his little family was left to mourn a great loss. His daughter has since passed away, his son lives in Amarillo and his widow lives in East Amarillo. The five other cowboys I referred to working on the Dyer Ranch have passed on also.
Written by his sister - Mrs. D. C. Dodge
April 1939.
Texas Genealogy Trails
Contributor: Sherry
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939) transcribed by Vicki Bryan
Thomas J. (Steve) Kesterson was born in east Tennessee, April 4, 1869. He came to Burnett County, Texas with his family when a small child, a few years later they moved to Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas. Steve grew to young manhood in this place, attending school all he had a chance to between farm labor and other responsibilities. He had lost his father and was forced, with the help of his only brother, to be the main support for a frail mother and two small sisters. When I think of him now, it seems he was never a child, it seems his lot in life was always to do for others. He accepted that duty with courage that knew no bounds, he had such determination to do what was right and to accomplish something worthwhile in the world, a joyful disposition that always won him friends. Steve was not contented to settle down on the cotton farms of south Texas. He longed to know something of the west, he wanted to be a cowboy and he had what it took to be a pioneer. When he became of age he started out in company with a neighbor boy to go west, they each had a little pony. After about three days' journey, the other boy got cold feet and made his way back home, but Steve knew what he wanted and went on alone. On his ride he came in contact with a party taking a herd of cattle to this part of the state so he came on with this heard. He landed in the Canadian breaks in the spring of 1890. He worked near Canadian for quite a while, and part of the time in Miami. It was here where he got his first good work with Mr. O. H. Nelson a fine ranch owner. He worked for Mr. Nelson for some time and in some way he met up with Mr. Bugsbee and while at this place he made the acquaintance of the Goodnights and the Dyers. He made a deal with Mr. Lee Dyer to come to his ranch, which was west of Goodnight, where he stayed for seven years working and batching with Charley Taul. Ben Ranson and Walter Ransom, and Jim Owens also worked on the Dyer ranch, old Mr. Bill Vaughn was a fence rider for the ranch then. By this time Steve had gotten hold of a nice plot of ground and had accumulated a nice bunch of white face cattle. He improved a little home on his land 5 miles northeast of the station of Goodnight over near the "Juan place" and settled down in this home that he had worked so hard to secure and one that anyone might be proud to own. But is not complete until he made a trip to his old home in south Texas and brought back the girl who had been waiting for him. He married Miss Pearl Askew at Marble Falls, Texas and they came west to the little nest he had planned and built. Where he might bring his bride and where he would not have to keep eating sourdough bread. They were very successful stock farmers and lived very happily for quite a while. Two children were born to them Robert and May. But like many other happy homes, sorrow came when Steve lost his health, still a young man, he sought the best medical aid but to no advantage. And after about a two-year period, on March 12, 1914, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, his brave spirit took its flight. And his little family was left to mourn a great loss. His daughter has since passed away, his son lives in Amarillo and his widow lives in East Amarillo. The five other cowboys I referred to working on the Dyer Ranch have passed on also.
Written by his sister - Mrs. D. C. Dodge
April 1939.
Texas Genealogy Trails
Contributor: Sherry
Gravesite Details
h/o Pearle Askew; s/o Patrick Henry Kesterson and Mary Susan Hale
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
