JOHN WILLIAM AND ROSE MARY LAUER TESTER

John William Tester was born April 10, 1883 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada to George and Susan Loop Tester. He married Rose Mary Lauer on April 12, 1911 at the Merrill Congregational Church, Merrill, Michigan. Rose Mary was born August 9, 1893 to Jacob and Cora Adams Lauer.

John and Rose had the following children:

1. Elsie Tester was born December 19, 1915 and died October 15, 1995 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.

2. Elizabeth Tester was born March 24, 1917. She married William Lowery.

3. Robert “Lowell” Tester was born July 24, 1920. He married Mary Lou Madden. Lowell died April 29, 1996 and is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

4. Martha Jane Tester married Harold Barber.

5. Wilbur John “Pete” Tester was born November 29, 1924. He died August 24, 1995.

John was engaged in farming all of his life. In 1920, John and Rose lived on a 156 acre farm in Section 28 on the corner of Meridian and Nelson Roads. By 1940, John and his family are living in Merrill, Jonesfield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan and his Uncle Frank H. Tester is living with them.   John was an outdoorsman; hunted deer, pheasant and enjoyed fishing.

John served Lakefield Township in the following offices:

1. Constable in 1927, 1928, 1934 and 1935.

2. Overseer of Highways in 1929, 1930, 1933

3. Justice of the Peace in 1938.

John died on June 28, 1975 and Rose on February 11, 1969. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

SOURCES: Lakefield Township records; U.S. Census; Rose Lauer Tester's obituary; John W. Tester's obituary; Robert Lowell Tester's obituary; Wilbur John Tester's obituary, Elsie Tester SS death record and Christine Tester Jensen..