F. A. KESTER

F. A. Kester, who resides on an attractive farm adjoining the village of Rochester, is known not only as a substantial farmer but also as a breeder of thoroughbred Poland China hogs, his stock being some of the finest to be found in Cedar county. He was born on the farm which is still his home, his natal day being October 22, 1877. He is the youngest in a family of four children, whose parents were John F. and Martha Ellen (Walters) Kester. The Kester family located in Cedar county at an early day, coming from Pennsylvania, and it was here that John F. Kester was born, and his wife was also a native of this section of Iowa. The parents died in 1887, their death occurring on the same day, from diphtheria. The record of their children is as follows: Elizabeth, the widow of A. E. Edwards, of Cedar Rapids; Ira Alvin, a farmer, residing near West Liberty, Iowa; Ida Ellen, the wife of Elmer Cole, a resident of Cedar Rapids; and F. A. of this review.

F. A. Kester was a little lad of ten years when he lost his parents and he was then taken into the home of his maternal grandfather, Noah Walters, who came to Cedar county from Ohio in 1845, establishing his home in Rochester, where he lived until his death, which occurred in October, 1903, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Mr. Kester is now the owner of the old homestead, comprising one hundred and forty acres, situated on section 2, Rochester township. Many of the improvements on the place have been made by him and he follows the most modern methods in his work. The land is very productive and this, together with its close proximity to the village of Rochester, makes it a valuable property. Mr. Kester carries on general farming and has gained a reputation in the county as a breeder of Poland China hogs. At the present time he has sixty-three head, of which fifty are registered.

Mr. Kester established a home of his own on the 18th of February, 1904, by his marriage to Miss Myrtle May Wilkerson, who was born near Wilton, Iowa, in 1882, a daughter of Charles Wilkerson. Mr. Wilkerson is a republican in his political views and is ever active and interested in local affairs of a public nature. He is now serving as secretary of the school board of Rochester township and is also secretary and treasurer of the Rochester & Tipton Telephone Company. He stands as a high type of American manhood, who has won success in a useful field of business and gained the respect and honor of his fellowmen by this public service and private life.