Alford Burton Kester, D.D.S.
Dr. Alford Burton Kester, of the firm of Pavey & Kester, dentists, with offices in the Xenia National Bank building at the corner of Main and Detroit streets, Xenia, was born at New Carlisle, in the neighboring county of Clark, and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on August 17, 1890, son of G. E. and Elenora (.Sullivan) Kester, the latter of whom was born at Peru, Indiana, in 1864, and both of whom are still living at New Carlisle.
G. E. Kester was born in the neighborhood of New Carlisle in 1863. He is a musician, performing on both the cornet and the violin, and for years was the leader of the band and the orchestra at New Carlisle. He is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Three children have been born to them, but of these Doctor Kester is the only survivor, the others having died in infancy.
Reared at New Carlisle, Doctor Kester completed his local schooling in the high school there and won a scholarship to Ohio Wesleyan University by the excellence of his work during his senior year, but did not avail himself of the same. In the meantime he had been devoting his attention to the study of dental surgery and upon leaving high school he entered Starling Medical College at Columbus and was graduated from that institution in 1911, his roommate and classmate having been his present partner and brother-in-law, Dr. Nobel T. Pavey. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Kester returned to his home at New Carlisle and was there engaged in the practice of his profession for something more than three years, at the end of which time he came down into Greene county and opened an office at Jamestown. A year later, by competitive examination, he was appointed a dental surgeon in the service of the United States army and continued thus engaged until May 1, 1916, when he became associated with his brother-in-law and old collegemate, Dr. Nobel T. Pavey, in practice at Xenia.
On April 2, 1915, Dr. Alford B. Kester was united in marriage to Geneva Pavey, who was born at Leesburg, Ohio, April 8, 1894, daughter of Gilbert A. and Ida (Smith) Pavey, who are still living at Leesburg, and only sister of Dr. Nobel T. Pavey, Doctor Kester's partner. Doctor and Mrs. Kester are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Xenia. The Doctor is a Mason and during his college days was a member of the Psi Omega fraternity.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918