William O. Hester

Narrative:

     William O. Hester was born about 1803 in Mecklenburg Co., Virginia.^5,6,7
     He moved to Montgomery Co., Tennessee, with his parents about 1816.¹¹
     William married Henrietta Rogers, daughter of Armstead Rogers.^8,9,10
     William appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee, with a household consisting of one male under age 5 (son Robert), one age 5 to 10 (James), and one age 30 to 40 (himself), one female under 5 (daughter Mary) one age 5 to 10 (Susan), one age 10 to 15 ( an unknown person ), and one age 20 to 30 (wife Henrietta). There were also fourteen slaves, ten males and four females.¹²
     William was named an heir in the will of his father, dated 23 Sep 1840 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. In it he was named trustee, with his brothers Samuel and Bob, for $800 left to their sister Susan. His father confirmed prior gifts to his children, including a Negro boy named Tom given to William. He gave all his land, Negros, and other property not otherwise disposed of to his wife for her lifetime, after which it was to be divided equally between William, his brothers Samuel, Robert, James, Archibald, and Abner, and their sister Emily.¹³ His father's will was proved 6 Dec 1841. After posting a bond of $20,000, William and his brother Robert Jr. were appointed administrators of his estate.¹⁴
     William and Henrietta moved to Kentucky about 1842, settling in Lafayette where he lived the rest of his life. They were among the first to settle there after the town was incorporated in 1835.¹⁵ They appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 9 Aug 1850, reporting real estate valued at $4,500. Their children James, Susan, Mary, Robert, Abner and Jane were listed as living with them, as were 19 slaves, 13 males and 6 females.^1,16
     He was a merchandizer, and a very extensive farmer and tobacco grower.^{17,18,19,20,21,22}
     William and Henrietta appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 10 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $34,000, and personal estate of $23,790. Their children Robert, Abner and Jane were listed as living with them, as were 25 slaves, 16 males and 9 females.^2,23
     William and Henrietta appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 4 Sep 1870, reporting real estate valued at $12,500 and personal estate of $2,000. Their children James and Robert were listed as living with them, as were James' wife Kate, their children Eugene, Charles, Ida, Nannie, and Mack, and Robert's wife Nellie and their daughter America, and Wallace Williams, a ten-year-old domestic servant.²⁴
     His wife died in May 1874.¹⁷
     William sold half of town lot no. 3 and lot no. 4 in Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, to his daughter, Eliza Hester, on 22 Oct 1874, for $750.²⁵
     William appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, at Harrison St., enumerated 8 Jun 1880. His daughter Eliza was listed as living with him, as well as her husband, Richard Watson Tuck, and their children, Lulie and Walter, and a Meek Hester, age 16, a granddaughter.²²
     William died in 1886.⁴ He was buried in Christian Co., Kentucky.⁴