C. T. LESTER,
Farmer and stockman of Washington county, Virginia, was born in
Smyth county, Virginia, April 25, 1845. On May 1, 1861, he entered
service, Confederate Army, in Company B, 4th Tennessee Infantry, He
was three times wounded, twice with sabre, once by gunshot, first
wound at Shiloh, second at Stone River, third at Woodbury, Tennessee.
He was captured in April, 1863, and held at Camp Chase, Ohio, till
the following August. Exchanged at City Point, he rejoined his regiment,
with which he served until surrendered with Johnston's army.
His relatives were all Unionists, many of them in the Federal army.
His father, John Lester, of Smyth county, was a Union soldier from
East Tennessee. The grandfather of C. T. Lester, was also named John
Lester, and was of Smyth county. His mother was Sally Dickerson,
born in North Carolina. He has been twice married, his first wife
Emma, daughter of Samuel D. and Sallie (Dingmore) King, of
Sullivan county, Tennessee. Samuel D. King, a son of Harvey King,
served in the Confederate States army. Emma King was born August
15, 1846, they were married September 10, 1867, in Sullivan county,
and she died January 26, 1873. He married secondly, in Sullivan
county, Tennessee, Clarie E. King, sister of Emma, born in that county,
August 15, 1856. Their children are eight: Susan E., Eliza Virginia,
James S., Stephen H., William G., Thomas G., Charles Frank, Lizzie
Ray.
