Selected Kester Family Photos

You will see periodic references in the following photos to "Aunt Kathryn". Dave Kester was not sure at the time of this contribution exactly who this individual might be. Here is one possibility and, even though there are several holes in this scenario, it may be the best one we'll ever find. In early 2004, Dave's cousin June Howard found an 1880 census report for the Spink family in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. Dave did know that they had briefly lived there, as their two youngest sons, Alfred Jr. and Jessie F. Spink ,were born there in 1876 and 1878, respectively. The report also lists three older children, presumably all from Clara's first mariage to Edward Musselman. Sandwiched in between Otto, born 7 Nov 1869 and dave's grandmother, Clara May, born 19 oct 1871 is a "Katie" (listed as age 9 in 1880) who must have been born about 1870. The problem is that there has never been any mention of her. Even Edward's letter of March 26, 1871 mentions only his son, Otto, since his daughter, Selma, died in 1870 and his third child, Clara May, would not be born until seven months after the letter. A child born 9 months after Otto would have a birthdate of August 1870, too late for the 1870 census. Perhaps there was a "Kathryn Musselman" whose existence at this point we can only infer.

L to r: Alfred and May (Musselman) Kester, Ed Francke, "Aunt Kathryn", Blanche Kester, Nell Musselman
Clara Francke (May's mother) on the porch
Ruth Kester at Age Three Weeks Asleep in the House
September 1897

Three Generations of Kesters
Mary Musselman Kester, Edward Musselman Kester and David VanOrman Kester (Our Contributor)
1944

May Musselman and Six Grandchildren
L to r: Helen Hottenstein, Mary Kester, Jack Kester, Sally Kester, Ruthie Kester
Dave Kester in front

Copyright © 2004 Robert E. Sweeney and individual Contributors. All Rights Reserved. Prior written permission is required from Robert E. Sweeney and individual Contributors before this material can be printed or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed in any form. This is a FREE genealogy site sponsored through PAGenWeb and can be reached directly at ~Sullivan County Genealogy Project (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv)