William Lester was born August 19, 1885 in St Helens, Lancashire, England to Henry and Mary (Watkin) Lester. William's mother Mary died when William was only 9 months old. William immigrated to the United States in 1888 with his stepmother Mary Ellen (Chisnell) Lester and his brothers Joseph, Henry, and Richard. The family initially settled in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania where Henry worked in the coal mines. In 1900 the William was residing with his father Henry his stepmother Mary Ellen and his younger brother Richard at 140 Chestnut St. Barnesboro, PA. William was 15 years old at the time and already working in the coal mines with his father. That year William went to school for six months and worked in the mine for the other six. William moved to Phillipsburg after the death of his father and lived with his brother Henry and his family. This is where he met Clara Radcliffe the daughter of English immigrants. William and Clara married on April 20, 1904 in Phillipsburg.
� The couple experienced heartache early with the deaths of their first 5 children in early infancy. In 1920 William now thirty four and Clara thirty six where living at 41 Walnut St. Phillipsburg, PA. Also living with them where Williams step mother Mary Ellen (Chisnell) Lester now seventy years old, and thier two surviving children, Anna Lucille five years old and Edmond Wilbur 10 months. In 1926 William moved his family to Detroit, Mich. where he worked as a watchman for a printing company. William passed away on September 9, 1938 his body was returned to Phillipsburg where he was laid to rest with his beloved children on September 13, 1938. William was survived by his wife Clara his children Edmond and Anna Lucille, brothers James, Joseph, Henry, and Richard, and his sister Lucy.
Marriage license and applicationObituary Phillipsburg Daily Journal, Saturday September 10, 1938
ObituaryPhillipsburg Daily Journal, Monday September 12, 1938
Photos of William Lester's family cemetery plot Phillipsburg Cemetery.
Jane Elizabeth Lester: 8 Aug 1905 to 28 Sep 1905 Obituary Phillipsburg Daily Journal, Friday September 29, 1905
Bessie Lester: 19 Oct 1906 to 5 Nov 1906
William Thomas Lester: 15 Nov 1907 to 26 Mar 1908 Obituary Phillipsburg Daily Journal, Saturday March 28, 1908
