Jesse James Kesterson

Submitted by: Christine Walters

Jesse James Kesterson

b. 7-Aug-1843  d.16-May-1925

JJ Kesterson was a Minister

Son of George & Malinda (Colley) Kesterson Jr

Rev. J.J. (Jesse James) Kesterson, passes to his reward. Veteran in service of Baptists in this section, succumbs to illness of longstanding. With the closing of the week, and with the record of a long life of service behind him in the work of his Master, the Rev. J.J. Kesterson, of Sedalia, passed away at the home of his son, Bernard Kesterson, a short distance from the village, late Saturday evening. The venerable servant of the Master was 81 years and three months old, the major portion of his life having been in the work he was called to do.

To many of the older residents of the county and of this section, the name of J.J. Kesterson was known as one who was instant in season and out of season, and although an invalid for the past seven years of a more or less serious nature, he had often been found telling the old story in his declining years. The deceased is survived by his widow,Mrs. Mollie Kesterson, and five children, three sons and two daughters, as follows: G.A. Kesterson, of St Louis, Dr. W.J. Kesterson, of the government hospital at Dawson Springs, and Bernard Kesterson, at whose home he passed away, Mrs. Elmer Boyett, of Wingo, and Mrs. Lillian Jones, of Ft. Myers, Fla. All were present at the funeral, save Mrs. Jones, G.A. Kesterson arriving yesterday morning, after the passing of the father.

The death is attributed in the main to the general debilities of age, although the reverend gentleman had been a sufferer from dropsy, other than his invalided condition. The funeral was held at the Sedalia Baptist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, with the Rev. A.H. Murphey, one of his comrades in arms, in charge. Interment followed in the Sedalia Cemetery.