This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lester, Bradford, Brewer, Foster Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5YB.2ACE/2624 Message Board Post: James M.. Lester was born in Ft. Scott Kansas , December 10, 1878, 54 years ago. On December 19, 1897 he was married to Nannie Foster and to this union 7 children were born who are Mrs. J.P. Bradford of Shamrock, Texas, Muriel of Cheyenne, Mrs. august Brewer and Max of Oklahoma City and Wendell Clifford and Robert of Cheyenne. He also leaves 4 grand children. Mr. Lester came to Roger Mills in 1908 locating near Cheyenne, and later resided in Hammon for a period of 2 years. Mr. Lester became ill on June 27, 1932 and caame to the home of his daughter in Oklahoma City where he died on Thursday evening June 14, 1932. Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon in the Baptist church of Cheyenne, of which he was a member in the presence of one of the largest crowds that ever assembled in Cheyenne for a funeral. Rev. J.H. Bradley preached the sermon and the Masons had charge of the burial rites. The five sons and J.M. Bradshaw acted as pall bearers. A host of relatives from various parts of the State attended the funeral. Burial Cheyenne Cemetery, Cheyenne, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. Among the mourner were a group of Indians from Hammon, Mr. Lester having been recognized as the man who could get the Indians to follow his instrucjtions. Heepe Crow was in the group and she tears as he viewed the remain. The simple eulogy of the Indians was: "He our friend." No man in Roger Mills County had more loyal friends than J.M. Lester. He was a lover of humanity and never failed to be kind and never failed to be kind and never overlooked an opportunity to befriend anyone who needed a friend. Jim Lester served Roger Mills County 10 years as an officer, 4 years as Assessor and 6 years as Sheriff, which show the confidence the people had in him. At the time of his death he was Feed Inspector under Harry B. Cordell, President of the State Board of agriculture and held a commission with the State Bureau of Identification. J.M. Lester was truly a pioneer having made all of the runs into Oklahoma, making the first before he was of age. No greater eulogy can be said of him than that he knew the meaning of the word, friend. In the passing of J.M. Lester, Oklahoma loses a pioneer, Roger Mills County, one of its most public spirited citizens and all mankind, a friend. The entire county grieves with the family over the loss. (Cheyenne Star July 21, 1932)