My Genealogy Hound

Marion D. Lester, of the firm of Lester & Olive, general merchants of New Lewisville, Ark. Although a young man in years, Mr. Lester is the oldest business man in this place, coming to this town in 1885, and erecting the first business house in the village. His residence is the oldest in New Lewisville, and is said to be the oldest in the county. He continued in business alone for one year, then formed a partnership with Mr. J. T. Martin, his father-in-law, who retired in 1887, and the same year the firm of Lester & Olive was formed, which has since continued. The firm is composed of energetic young business men, and although they have been in business for so short a time, their reputation for selling good goods at the lowest figure extends for many miles, and their trade, already quite large, is growing steadily. Their motto is small profits and quick sales. They buy for cash and always discount their bills, and are doing a nice business of about $25,000 annually. Mr. Lester, the senior member of the firm, was born in Georgia in 1857, the ninth of twelve children born to James and Eleanor (Daniels) Lester, natives of Georgia. His father, James Lester, was a farmer and merchant, and came to this State in 1866, settling in this county. He had come to this county previously in 1859, buying a farm of 640 acres, sixty acres of which were improved. He brought some of his slaves with him at that time and left them in charge of Robert Jennings, while he returned to his home in Georgia, remaining there until 1866, when he again returned to this place. He served in the war of 1836, being employed to bring the Indians west from Cherokee County, Ga. He also served as an officer for a short time in the Confederate service. Of the twelve children born to himself and wife, four boys and one girl still survive, viz.: Nathaniel (a farmer of Mars Hill Township), Louis (also a farmer of Mars Hill Township), James T. (a merchant of Mars Hill, also farms), M. D. (the subject of this sketch), and Lena (wife of J. G. Olive, of the firm of Lester & Olive.) Mr. and Mrs. Lester are still living, and reside in Mars Hill Township. Mr. Lester is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. The subject of this brief sketch came with his parents to this State in 1866, and was reared to farm life, and educated in this county. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced life for himself by engaging in farming on his father’s land, continuing for two years, when he commenced a merchandise business in the town of Mars Hill in partnership with his father-in-law, in the year 1880. After continuing there for four years Mr. Martin quit business, and the subject of this sketch came to New Lewisville and opened his present establishment, carrying on trade for himself for one year. Mr. Martin then bought an interest in the business and remained for two years, when he sold out to Mr. J. G. Olive. Mr. Lester was married in 1880 to Mary, daughter of J. T. Martin, of this county, and this union has resulted in the birth of four children, viz.: Thomas R., Lelia, Herman, and one unnamed. Mr. Lester is a member of Lewisville Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M.; his wife is a member of the ladies' department of the same order and lodge.