Leah Mary Jester was born on July 16, 1890 in Kansas. Her parents were John Jacob Jester and Elizabeth Rade, John and Elizabeth had two daughter by the 1900 Census; Leah (1891) and Bertha (1899). John and Elizabeth state that they were born in Russia in the 1900 Federal Census. They lived in Deer Creek, Woods County, Oklahoma. The last name listed on the census is Rade but Leah’s marriage license states the last name is Jester.

Leah married Jacob Bierig on December 18,1907 at the age of seventeen in Garfield, Oklahoma. By the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Leah and Jacob are living in a boarding house in Enid, Garfield, Oklahoma with their one year old daughter, Pearl. Jacob states that he is a Farm Laborer and that he is a Naturalized citizen.

By the 1920 Federal Census, Jacob and Leah now have three children; Pearl,(1910) Walter (1912) and Ethyl (1917). They lived in Deep Creek, Oklahoma. Jacob is a farmer. Ethyl died on June 27, 1921. She is buried in the family cemetery. Pearl married Loran Reynolds on June 10,1927 in Garfield, Oklahoma. In the 1930 Federal Census, Jacob and Leah have four sons living with them; Walter (1891), Glenn(1924), Robert (1926) and Earl Dean(1928).

By the 1940 Federal Census, Jacob and Leah live in Seay, Blaine County, Oklahoma. They have four sons living with them. They are listed as Glenn Leroy, Bobbie Lee, Earl Dean, Ray Loren (1936). Jacob is a farmer.

Leah died thirty four years ago on January 12, 1987. She is buried in Bierig Cemetery in Major County, Oklahoma with her husband and daughter.

Rest in peace, Leah.

Love, Jan

Leah is the Mother in Law of a distant Crites cousin and not really related to me. Thanks to Jay Jones on Ancestry who shared Leah’s Photo and to the dedicated people who add tombstone and cemetery photos to Findsgrave.com