William H Lester

"New Barber Shop
The undersigned would respecfully announce to the citizens of Dryden and vicinity, that he has opened a Barber Shop at Barton's Hotel, and will be on hand at all times."

Advertisement, Dryden News, July 8, 1858, 3.

  "The first permanent barber to locate in Dryden was Wm. H. Lester, who, when a young man twenty years of age, opened a shop July 1, 1858, in the southeast room of Barton's Hotel. Prior to that time Dryden men either shaved themselves or let their beards grow in the natural way, as was quite often done."

Geo E. Goodrich, compiler and editor, The Centennial History of the Town of Dryden, 1797-1897, Dryden, N.Y.: J. Giles Ford, Printer, 1898,
103.

"Schedule I.--Consolidated List of all persons of Class I, subject to military duty in the 26th  Congressional District, consisting of the Counties of Schuyler, Tompkins, Broome and Tioga, State of New York, enumerated during the month of June 1863, under the direction of Edwin C. Katell Capt., Provost Marshal"
Line: 9
Residence: Dryden, NY
Name Lester William H
Age (1st July 1863): 26
White or Colored: Colored 
Profession, Occupation, or Trade: Barber
Married or Unmarried: Married
Place of Birth: Maryland
Former Military Service: [Blank]
Remarks: [Blank]

William H Lester in the U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865, Ancestry.com

"Name: William H Lester
Enlistment Age:  26
Birth Date:  abt 1837
Birth Place:  Baltimore, Maryland
Enlistment Date:  25 Jul 1863
Enlistment Rank:  Private
Muster Date:  25 Jul 1863
Muster Company: B
Muster Regiment: U.S. Colored Troops 8th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type: Infantry
Muster Information: Drafted
Rank Change Date: 25 Oct 1864
Rank Change Rank: Sergt
Muster Out Date: 10 Nov 1865
Muster Out Information: Mustered Out
Side of War: Union
Survived War?: Yes
Complexion: Black
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Black
Height: 5 ft, 3 3/4 inches
Occupation: Barber
Title: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865; Research by Edward Schoenberger"

William H Lester in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, Ancestry.com

"Rev. W. F. Johnson, Superintendent of the Colored Orphan's Asylum, Brooklyn, N.Y. is visiting his cousin, W. H. Lester, of this village."

"Personal Mention," Dryden Herald, August 8, 1883, 8.

"Col. Wm. H. Lester availed himself of the opportunity of calling upon Gen. Armstrong, his former commander in the 8th Reg., C.T., while that gentleman was in Ithaca, last Friday. The Journal remarked as follows upon the occasion: General Armstrong of the Hampton, Va., Institute, who is here to-day, with some of his Indian and negro students, commanded the regiment of which W. H. Lester was a member. Col. Lester came down from Dryden, to-day, to call on his old commander, whom he had not seen since Dec. 9th, 1865. The meeting was a cordial one."

"Personal Mention," Dryden Herald, November 20, 1889, 5.

"W. H. Lester, of Dryden, the well-known colored veteran, has been given a profitable government appointment at Washington --Marathon Independent."

"Personal Mention," Dryden Herald, December 4, 1889, 5.

  "Col. William H. Lester died last Wednesday morning following a stroke of paralysis at his home at Ithaca, aged 75 years. The funeral was held Friday afternoon, with prayer at the house followed by services at the A.M.E. Zion church. Rev. Farley Fisher officiated, assisted by Bishop Blackwell, of Philadelphia, who was a close friend of Col. Lester....
  Col. Lester was for many years a resident of Dryden. Later he resided at Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, where he held government appointments. Since retiring from active work six years ago his home was at Ithaca. He was a veteran of the Civil War.
  He leaves five children William H. Lester and John J. Lester, of Washington; Mrs. Charles Moore, of Ithaca [Emma Virginia Lester Moore]; Mrs. Jennie Hornbeck, of Olean; and Miss Anna Lester, of Ithaca,"

"Col. William H. Lester: Died Suddenly Last Wednesday at His Home in Ithaca," Dryden Herald, February 19, 1913, 1.

Col. William H. Lester, unknown-1913

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179142382/william-h-lester