My Genealogy Hound

Eli Hester, farmer, of Center Township, Sebastian Co., Ark., is a native of Randolph County, Ala., born in 1847, and is a son of Tapley and Mahala (Stone) Hester, who were born in North Carolina and South Carolina, in 1813 and 1814, respectively. The father is of Irish descent, and after reaching man’s estate went to Randolph County, Ala., where he was married in 1833, and has since resided. He owns about 400 acres of land, and is one of the prominent old residents of the county. He did some service during the latter part of the late war. Eli Hester is the sixth of their eleven children, eight of whom are living, and was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until he attained his eighteenth year, when he was married to Mary E. Ware, a daughter of Thomas C. and Nancy (Lewis) Ware. She was born in Heard County, Ga., in 1844, and is the mother of eight children: John, Henry, Olie Anna (deceased), Thomas Luther, Oliver Jackson, Edward Lovie Norman Ezra, Lennie Elizabeth and Cleveland Thurman. Mr. Hester resided in his native State until 1868, when he immigrated to Georgia, residing there until 1881, when he came to Sebastian County, Ark., and purchased 160 acres of land about three miles west of Greenwood, where he is now residing. In 1885 he erected a good frame residence, at a cost of $1,000, and has increased his lands until he now owns 240 acres. He is one of the solid, substantial and enterprising farmers of the county, and in his political views has always been a strong Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.