IN A PUBLIC
SQUARE
A WESTERN MOB HANGS A NEGRO PORTER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
La Junta, Colo., March 26- A mob of 4,000 people hanged
to an electric light pole in the public square W.H. Wallace, a negro
sleeping car porter, charged with criminal assault. After the
hanging the body of the negro was riddled with bullets. The victim
died protesting his innocence.
Mrs. Henrietta H. Miller, 67, going from Los Angeles,
Ca., to Denver, to visit relatives, was assaulted in the Santa Fe
railroad yards here by a negro porter on a Pullman car running
between Denver and La Junta. Wallace was suspected of the crime and
he was arrested.
A peace element endeavored to stop the proposed
lynching, and a committee consisting of Robert Patterson, banker;
Dr. Fleming, Charles Dearborne, county treasurer, and other
prominent citizens, asked the privilege of trying to get from
Wallace a confession. This was granted and the negro was taken into
the courthouse. After half an hour or so the word went out that the
courthouse doors were locked and that the committee would try to
prevent a lynching. Immediately pandemonium reigned. Stones were
hurled at the building until every window was broke. Then, with a
telegraph pole for a battering ram, the crowd broke in the doors,
and Wallace was taken out and hanged.
Coshocton Daily Age, Coshocton Ohio March 26, 1902
©S. Williams |
Mary Cyrene (McClure) Kesterson
27 March 1871 - November 1957
Daughter of John William & Icyvinda Matilda (Casper) McClure
Wife of Thomas Sherman Kesterson
Thomas Sherman and Mary Cyrene were married 06 December 1973 in
Lafayette County MO. They were the parents of Ernest, Roy O, Floyd &
William Ellis Kesterson.
**Mary Cyrene Kesterson a resident of the Fowler Community for 56
years, died Sunday at 4:00 at the Bauer Rest Home in Manzonola at
the advanced age of 86. Mrs Kesterson has been a semi-invalid for
the past two years. She made her home with one of her sons, Ernest,
until about the 1st of Jul when she was taken to the nursinghome.
Prior to that time she was able to get around in a wheel chair, and
was cared for by her sons and their wives. During recent months she
suffered several light strokes, and 10 days before she died she
suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed from the arms down.
She lapsed into a coma Thursday of last week. Ten years ago Mrs
Kesterson was a passenger in a car which was involved in an accident
at Manzanola. In the accident both of her knees were shattered and
she was a patient in a hospital for 5 -6 months. Despite her severe
injuries she recovered and was able to do her daily household and
yard work. Mrs Kesterson was the oldest person at the Bauer Rest
Home and was one of the best liked. Funeral services were held
Tuesday at 2PM at the First Baptist Church with pastor Rev. Clyde
Shaffstall officiating. Palbearers were Leonard Wallace, Lloyd
Marvin, Chester Dunsmoor, W H Baker, Rube Charles and Hubert Jones.
Burial was in Fowler Cem. Mary Cyrene was born to Mr and Mrs John W
McClure 27 Mar 1871 at Odessa MO. She was married to Thomas
Kesterson Dec 6 1893 at Odessa, and to this union were born 4 sons -
Ernest, Roy, Floyd and Ellis. The family moved to Fowler in 1901.
She united with the 1st Baptist Church and served many years,
teaching a Sunday School Class. On Feb 14 1909, her husband as taken
in death and the care of the children became her responsibility.
This added burden she carried out with courage and forthrightness.
She later united with the Pitkin Avenue Baptist Church and remained
a member of that church until her death. At the time of her death
she had reached the age of 86 and 8 months. Preceding her in death
besides her husband are two sons, Floyd who passed away Jun 18 1956
and Ernest who passed away Jul 23 1957.
Submitted by Christine Walters |
Thomas Sherman Kesterson
10 October 1869 - 15 February 1909
Son of John Henry & Malinda (Jacques) Kesterson Jr
Husband of Mary Cyrene McClureSubmitted by
Christine Walters |
Roy O. Kesterson was born 4 May 1898 in Lafayette County Missouri.
He died in January 1968 Fowler, Otero County Colorado. Roy was the
second son of Thomas Sherman & Mary Cyrene (McClure) Kesterson. Roy
was the husband of Dorothy L. (McLallan) who later married Rasmus
Stjernholm.
Submitted by Christine Walters |
Obituary for Dorothy Louise (McLallen) Kesterson Stjernholm
Funeral services for Dorothy Louise (Kesterson) Stjernholm, 95,
lifetime Fowler resident, were held Tuesday at the Griffy Family
Funeral Home Chapel in Fowler with the Rev. Jane Mitchell of Trinity
Lutheran Church in Fowler and Rev. Fred Allen of First Baptist
Church of Fowler officiating. Burial followed in the Fowler
Cemetery. Mrs. Stjernholm died Nov. 27, 2003, at Fowler Health Care
Center. She was born May 21, 1908, to Millard Fillmore McLallen and
Nora Etta (Weeks) McLallen. She attended schools in Fowler and Blair
Business College in Colorado Springs. She married Roy O. Kesterson
on Dec. 26, 1926, and they lived on a ranch for many years before
moving into Fowler. Besides being a housewife and raising a family,
she worked at the Fowler Bakery and the Fowler State Bank for many
years. After Roy's death on Jan. 2, 1968, she later married Rasmus
Stjernholm. Mrs. Stjernholm was a lifelong member of the First
Baptist Church and a member of the No. 6 Community Ladies Club. She
was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church while married to Mr.
Stjernholm. She is survived by her son Dale (Teresa) Kesterson of
Las Animas, daughter-in-law Evelyne Kesterson of Alliance, Neb., six
grandchildren, Lori Blasberg of La Junta, Shelly Risenhoover of
Kensington, Md., Phillip (Kristine) and Mike (Donna) Kesterson of
Bridgeport, Neb., Clint (Kristin) Kesterson of Alliance, Neb., and
Darrell (Tara) Kesterson of Pueblo; 10 great-grandchildren,
half-sister Mildred Dillingham of Fowler; numerous other relatives
and special friend Barbara Dunsmoor of Fowler. She was preceded in
death by her parents, brother Sam McLallen, sisters Olive
Christensen and Eva (Trautwein) Wright, half-sister Edna May Rosas,
husbands Roy and Rasmus and son Richard Kesterson. In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be sent to the Fowler Health Care Center
Activity Fund, P.O. Box 398, Fowler, CO 81039. Griffy Family Funeral
Home in Fowler is in charge of arrangements
Submitted by Christine Walters |
Floyd Kesterson was born in 1902 and died on the 18th of June 1956
in Fowler, Otero County Colorado. Floyd was the 3rd son of Thomas
Sherman & Mary Cyrene (McClure) Kesterson. Floyd was the husband of
Mary Bray. Floyd and Mary had only one child, an adopted daughter,
Myrna Kesterson (Dooley).
Submitted by Christine Walters |
William Lee Gann
29 December 1871 - 07 November 1933
Son of Elbert Sevier & Susan Ruth (Dade) Gann
Husband of Fannie Maggie Lu Kesterson
Fowler Cemetery Fowler, Otero CO
Fannie Maggie Lu (Kesterson) Gann
12 February 1871 - 13 July 1920
Daughter of John Henry & Malinda (Jacques) Kesterson Jr
Wife of William Lee Gann
At the Physicians Hospital at Rocky Ford, Tuesday at 1:30 PM ended
the earthly life of the woman of Fowler who has long been a resident
and has endeared herself to a large circle of friends. Mrs Fannie M
Kesterson Gann passed away quietly, after many months of suffering
with a cancer. She became ill last October and since then has
gradually become worse, in spite of all that her loving husband and
children could do for her. Every means was tried but nothing had the
desired relief. The latest attempt was an operation at Rocky Ford
Hospital, from which she rallied but was unable to recover. She was
the daughter of Mr and Mrs John Kesterson and was born at Odessa MO
in Feb 1871 and was married to W L Gann at Odessa in 1892. To them 9
children were born of whom Chrales the oldest lives at Alamoosa CO,
Gertrude Doll at Buhl ID, Harvey at Fowler and Kenneth and Chester
stillat home in Fowler. Three children are dead of whom Elbert, age
10 died in 1907, Maude in September 1916 and Oliver Edwin at the age
of 6 days. One brother Grant Kesterson survives her and two brothers
Tom and Charles and a sister Mrs Amanda Sullivan ar deceased. She
has lived in or near Fowler since coming to Colorado 14 years ago,
and was a member of the Baptist Church and her Pastor Rev. W E
Simmons conducted the services. The sympathy of the Fowler people
goes out to the sorrowing family.
A CARD OF THANKS:
We wish to thank the kind friends who have assisted in every way
possible during the sickness and at the death of our dear wife and
mother. We deeply appreciate the beautiful flower and the words of
sympathy and the tokens of remembrance of our loved one.
Signed W L Gann/Children
Submitted by Christine Walters
|