The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-11-05

and of Martha, his wife, was born in
Newberry county, in the neighborhood
OF st. Luke's Lutheran church, about
four miles from Prosperity, October
9, 1919. All his life, with the excep-
ton Of those years spent in the Con-
federate service, was passed in this
community He came of that sturdy
Scotch, or Scotch-Irish stock that has
always proved itself the sinews and
backbone of any country in which it
settled, and in the line. Of religious
inheritance, he came inevitably by
those hardy virtues of courage and en-
durance, bred in the bracing atmos-
phere of Scotch Presbyterianism, and
developed under the lash tutliage OF
Grierson and Claverhouse.
His early life was uneventful. AS
child he received his education IN the
country school of the community in
which he was born and reared, and
when he had grown to mans estate
he turned his hand to carpentry and
farming, in both of which occupations
he is said to have excelled.
From the description we have of
him he must have presented fine and
rather imposing personal appearance,
with his dark eyes and swathy skin,
his black hair and his six feet two
inches of height carried to the. day
Of his death erect and square-should-
cred. This opinion is confirmed by
the testimony of one of his men, Mr..
A. P. Dominick, Of Prosperity, who
says OF Captain Lester: "He was
grand soldier, and be looked it, too"
The personal characteristics Of this
man were such as were to be expected
of one who made so honorable record
as a soldier, for Bayard Taylor says:
"The bravest are the tenderest,
The loving are the daring"
He was generous, kiad-hearted and
liberal, loyal to his friends and deVot-
ed to his wife and children.
He was married early in life to
Sarah Hunter, to whom three children
were born. After several years OF
happy married life Mrs. Lester died,
and five years later Capt. Lester mar
ried Hannah Your who, as a young
girl, had been prese as a wedding
guest at his first marriage. Six chill
dren were born to them, several OK
whom, with their mother, survive
When WIN. Lester reached tho age
of forty-two years, he doubtless
thought that for him the high-tide OF
life had been reached. He had had
allotted to him mis- portion Of joy and
oP sorrov. Henceforth it was not
likely that there would be any serious
break in the even tenor of his life. But
the break came as a bolt from the
sky for him as we'll as for many
another, when after a bloodless bonn
bardment of thirty-four hours Fort
Sumter surrendered. Now like trail
ne gunpowder to which a spark has
been set, a fever of stir and unrest
flashed through the North and the
South. Every heart thrilled with the
romance of war, as yet it seemed I'M
nossible that silken banners worked
and presented by girls fair hands, the
thrilling treble Of the bugle's call, the
pomp and parade, the glitter and ex-
element could have anything to do
with heart-shaking tragedy. But Wnen
the first blood had been shed at Baltl-
more. mems minds we're turned from
the contemplation of the glory of war;
to q full realization of the fact that
civil war with all it's attendant hor-
rors was upon them. Volunteers were
called for. In Newberry county, COM
nany after company formed and
marched away, and still the call Tor
volnnteers came. Lester said, Boys,
we will form a. company, and will
90 with you." In J. T. P. Crosson's 8
historical sketch of Co. G, 18th Reg.
s c. ", he says, "Soon Co. G was
formed, for old men told their sons
that Lester would lead them only