Chattahoochee-Jackson-Muscogee County GaArchives Biographies.....McLester, James 1804 - 1859
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 11:05 am

Author: N. K. Rogers
JAMES McLESTER, M. D.

    Dr. James McLester (1804-1859) had a large practice in Muscogee County when
Chattahoochee was formed. The plantation upon which he lived was located in that
part of Muscogee which was included in the new county of Chattahoochee. He had
moved to Georgia from Alabama, but he was a resident of Jackson County Ga. in
1827. His grandfather was a native Scotsman, who served as a soldier under Col.
Hines in a North Carolina regiment during the Revolutionary War. His father,
John McLester born 1767, who married Araminta Gray in 1796, was a Scotch
Presbyterian. These Scotch Presbyterians have usually been strong advocates of
education and proof that John McLester was true to this doctrine lies in the
fact that three of his sons were physicians and two were lawyers. (Mrs. Minnie
Shipp Littlejohn says there was eight sons, four physicians and four lawyers.)

    Dr. James McLester, b. in Anson Co. N. C. graduated from the University of
Georgia Medical department at Augusta in the class of 1834. He assisted with the
education of his younger brothers, one of whom, John Jr., graduated from the
same college in 1839 and afterward studied in Europe and was a lecturer at
Bellevue Hospital, N. Y. John Jr. never married. Another brother, Leonidas
McLester graduated from the medical department of the University of Ga. in 1843.
He practiced for a while in Muscogee Co. and was probably associated with his
brother's large practice when Chattahoochee was formed; for his name appears
among jurors and other public records during first years of this county's
existence. He afterwards located in Cuthbert, Ga., married Mary Ann Kiddoo of
that place and died there.

    Nelson McLester, one of the lawyer brothers had such a striking personality
that it is said people involuntarily turned to watch him as he walked upon the
streets of Columbus. He married first Phoebe B. Kirkland in 1841 and second Mary
C. Redd in 1846. He died in Savannah (but was a resident of Columbus) Sept. 10,
1850. (dates concerning Nelson McLester from Martin's History of Columbus).

    Martha, a sister of Dr. McLester, married Robert C. Redding in 1853. Another
sister was Mrs. Lou Brown.

    Dr. James McLester not only assisted his own family in educational matters,
but extended his support to the schools of the county. A deed recorded in 1847,
in which he gave the land for the academy at Jamestown shows his interest, and
he was one of the four men who built and equipped the old school house at
Cusseta, under whose portals so many splendid men and women have passed as
teacher and pupil.

    The administrator of his estate was authorized to pay a sum of money towards
the maintenance of this school during the year following his death.

    James McLester married Lucinda Caroline Wooldridge in 1836. She was born in
Putman County in 1820, the daughter of Absolom D. and Lucy (Henderson)
Wooldridge. Since it is known that Mrs. Lucy Wooldridge (later Bussey) was one
of the four charter members of Harmony Baptist Church and her eldest daughter
the first person to be interred at that cemetery in 1848, the family tradition
that Dr. McLester donated the land for this burial plot must be based on facts,
although a deed to trustees of Harmony Church was made by William Crew for
$50.00, which it is probable Dr. McLester paid, making it a gift to members of
this church. The graves of Dr. McLester, with those of many of their kindred and
friends are at Harmony Cemetery, Cusseta, to which their great-grandson, Nelson
M. Shipp refers in an article published in the Columbus Ledger, entitled, The
Glories of Old Cusseta.

    "There the blessed lie ... on a green bluff overlooking the fork of the
Louvale, Jamestown and Columbus roads and the town of Cusseta, in Chattahoochee
County on the other. The prominence looks too, across a valley that might well
be a garden of the gods—to a handsome schoolhouse in the distance that
symbolizes all that is valuable and intrinsic in the present day.

    Old trees, bent with age lean towards each other over the graves of
patriarchs as though whispering of memories too sad for the ears of a hurried
generation.

    History is written on the knoll and hillside. And there are those tragic,
unknown graves, mute gestures from another century—missing pages in the annals
of proud families.

    At the foot of the hill, and around and about, the manors of a past day with
their slave quarters and plantations once held forth a life that was gay and
brilliant, sober and studious.

    Between the cemetery, where lie men and women due to be called great still
stands the old school house that far and wide is famous and beloved,—The country
churchyard whispers of a victorious face."

    Children of Dr. James and Caroline Wooldridge McLester:

    Laura b. 1837, d. 1853 from effects of measles while attending Slade School
in Columbus, Ga.

    Mary Frances b. 1839; ed. Slade School Columbus, Ga., m. W.W.Shipp.

    Hortense b. 1842; ed. Slade School; m. C. A. Hawkins, Capt.C. S. A.

    Emma b. 1844; ed. Andrew College; m. B. F. Davis, Capt. C. S. A.

    James H. (Mack) b. 1846; d. Penfield (Mercer) m. Laura A. Battle. Ch. Battle
and Annie Laurie McLester.

    Caroline b. 1851; ed. Andrew College; m. Emory Jefferson

    Leonidas, b. 1853; ed. Emory and Henry College, Va., m. Lula Persons.

    Willie, accidentally smothered while playing in a pile of cotton seed while
a small boy.

    Ida b. 1856; m. Council B. Wooten.

    Daniel b. 1857; m. Mattie Trotman.

    Children of Leonidas and Lula Person McLester, Hortense, James (died),
Kathleen (died), and Lee.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA
By N. K. Rogers

Dedicated to

KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C.

and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers.

Copyright 1933

by N. K. ROGERS

PRINTED   BY
COLUMBUS  OFFICE  SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA.




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