Dr. Elijah Hampton Hesterly
1873-1920

Dr. Elijah Hampton Hesterly was born 4 Jan 1874 to Dr. Elijah Lynch Hesterly and Mary P Hesterly, both of whom were living at Montreal, Sebastian, Arkansas. In 1900 he is listed as a physician in Bonanza, Sebastian Co., Ar. He married first on 14 Aug 1901 in Sebastian County, Ar. Nancy J. "Nannie" McBay who died in 1906. In 1908 he married Lula Mae Hughes of Midland, Sebastian Co., Ar. Dr Hesterly died 19 Jun 1920. Little Rock Newspaper, Wednesday, June 23, 1920 History and Genealogy by Frederick P. Looney Dr. Elijah H. Hesterly of Cerro Gordo, well known Sevier County physician was drowned in Little River probably on Saturday afternoon. The body was recovered yesterday. Dr. Hesterly left home Saturday afternoon on horseback to go to the Scott Sessions sawmill. He did not return and Sunday afternoon Homer Scott of Cerro Gordo went in search of him. At the Koosier ford he found a small boy who said he had seen the doctor's pony on the bank of the river, dripping wet as though it had been in the water. Drags were obtained and the body of the physician was found some distance below the ford. It was evident that he had tried to swim his pony across as he had buckled the belt of his medicine chest around his body. The river at that point forms the boundary between the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma and justices of the peace on both sides held inquests. Each verdict was that death was due to accidental drowning. The body was sent to Midland, Sebastian County, for burial. Dr Hesterly was the son of the late Dr. Elijah Lynch Hesterly of Greenwood. He is survived by his widow and four children.