Katherine E. M. ¹

   Other names for Katherine were Catherine ³ and Kate.

   FamilySearch ID: L6VB-TH5.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. She has conflicting birth information of 1870 and , , NY. ^{1 3}

2. Census in 1880 in Bradford, McKean, PA. ⁴ The 1880 census recorded at 193 Corydon Street: William R. Lester, editor, 31, living with wife Kate, 23. Also in the home: George Leader, reporter, 25, and Walter Crosby, reporter, 20. Everyone was born in New York. William's parents were born in England and Kate's in New York.

3. Census in 1880 in Bradford, McKean, PA. ⁴ The 1880 census recorded at 193 Corydon Street: William R. Lester, editor, 31, living with wife Kate, 23. Also in the home: George Leader, reporter, 25, and Walter Crosby, reporter, 20. Everyone was born in New York. William's parents were born in England and Kate's in New York.

4. Residence: 1041 Mt. Vernon, Philadelphia, PA in 1885 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

5. Census in 1900 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ² The 1900 census in Philadelphia recorded at 1342 Spring Garden Road: William R. Lester, editor, 50, born Mar 1850, married for 20 years to wife Kate Lester, 37, Mar 1863, who had birthed 3 children but none were alive in 1900 according to the census columns. Also in their home: boarders W. C. Beecher, dry goods merchant, 60, Oct 1839, and his son J. H. Beecher, real estate, single, 29, Sep 1870. There are 6 other boards in this household, suggesting this was an apartment or mansion or a smal hotel. William, Kate and her parents were born in New York, his parents in England. W. C. Beecher, his parents, and H. H. Beecher's father in Missouri, and J. H. Beecher and his mother in Pennsylvania.

6. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: (New Jersey beach article) Mr. And Mrs. William R. Lester, of Philadelphia, who spent the entire season here last year, are guests at the Sheldon. (Wildwood, NJ), 6 Jul 1902, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁵

7. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: Wildwood: Mrs. William Lester's Greylock is one of the latest among the exclusive boarding cottages., 24 Jun 1906, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁶

8. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: photo ad of Greylock Hotel, 30 Jun 1907, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁷ Photo Ad: The Greylock
Ideal Seaside Hotel
North Wildwood, New Jersey
Steel and concrete construction; new; spacious; complete; unobstructed ocean view; broad, shady porches; beautiful surroundings; all modern hotel conveniences; suites with private baths; steam heat; excellent cuisine -- no cold storage or canned products -- prompt service.
Illustrated booklet sent on request.
Mrs. W. R. Lester, Prop. and Mgr.

9. Census in 1910 in North Wildwood, Cape May, NJ. ⁸ The 1910 census recorded John Beecker, widowed, 40, real estate office, living as a boarder in the household of Kate Lester, married, 48, occupation hotel property. She had birthed no children according to the 1910 census. Also with them was Joseph Dallas, hotel cook, 36, and wife Maurice, 34, hotel houseworker. Kate and her parents were born in New York. John and his parents were born in Pennsylvania.

10. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: Wildwood, N.J., 10 Apr 1910, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁹ Wildwood, N.J. - The Hotel Greylock, the handsome cement hotel on the beach front, is continuing to prove one of the most popular houses in the resort, and under the management of Mrs. William R. Lester, is experiencing one of the best spring seasons in its existence.

11. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: North Wildwood: The beautiful Hotel Greylock, under the able management of Mrs. William R. Lester, continues to be the centre of patronage of a great number of Philadelphians., 24 Jul 1910, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ¹⁰

12. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: North Wildwood: The Manor, the largest hotel on the island, has been leased for the season by Mrs. W. R. Lester, who successfully conducted the Hotel Greylock for a number of years., 19 May 1912, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ¹¹

13. Newspaper: Five Mile Beach Weekly Journal: On Wednesday, John Larcombe took a party out crabbing on the John L. In the party were Mrs. Beecher, Mrs. C. Epler, Mrs. Lester, Mrs. Harbot, Mrs. Bown and John Beecher. They caught over 400 crabs., 23 Oct 1914, Wildwood, Cape May, NJ. ¹²

14. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: North Wildwood: The Wildwood Manor, which has been enjoying such prosperous patronage for the past five years, under the management of Mrs. W. R. Lester, is receiving many reservations for this season., 15 Jul 1917, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ¹³

15. Residence: Wildwood City Directory: Beecher, John H. (Katherine E.), Pres Beecher-Kay Realty Co, h 301 E 23d av N Wildwood in 1924 in North Wildwood, Cape May, NJ. ¹⁴ R.L. Polk's 1924 Widlwood Directory listed:
Beecher, Caroline H. (wid Wm. C) r 210 E 23d av N Wildwood
Beecher, C May r 210 E 23d av N Wildwood
Beecher John H (Katherine E), Pres Beecher Kay Realty Co, h 301 E 23d av N Wildwood
Beecher-Kay Realty Co, John H. Beecher Pres, John J Kay V-Pres, Robert J Kay Sec and Treas, Harry L Nickerson Mgr, Wildwood av opp Penna Station and Cardinal rd opp Penna Station Wildwood Crest
Beecher Margaret J r 210 E 23d av N Wildwood
.

16. Census in 1930 in North Wildwood, Cape May, NJ. ³ The 1930 census recorded John H. Beecher, 59, born in Pennsylvania, with wife Catherine, 60, born in New York. John's father was born in Missouri and his mother in Pennsylvania. Catherine's parents were born in New York.

17. Obituary: Courier-Post: obituary of Katherine Beecher on 23 Dec 1930 in Camden, Camden, NJ. ¹⁵ MRS. KATHERINE BEECHER EXPIRES AT WILDWOOD
Wlldwood, Dec. 23. Mrs. Katherine E. M. Beecher, widely known in civic and social circles here, was found dead in bed at a hotel yesterday. Death was due to a heart attack. Mrs. Beecher, wife of John H. Beecher, president of the Cape May county chamber of commerce and a North Wlldwood councilman, had returned to this city five weeks ago following a lengthy illness In a Philadelphia hospital. She first came here from Rochester, N.Y., more than 20 years ago and for many years operated the Wlldwood Manor, the largest hotel on Five Mile Beach. She was a member of the ladles' auxiliary of the Wildwood Golf Club and active in civic organizations with her husband. Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. on Wednesday at 3909 Pacific avenue.

Katherine married William R. Lester. (William R. Lester was born on 10 Mar 1852 in , , NY,^{16 17} died on 22 Jan 1920 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA ^{16 17} and was buried on 26 Jan 1920 in Philadelphia: Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA ^{16 17}.)

Katherine next married John Hiester Beecher, son of William C. Beecher and Caroline Hiester, in 1921 in , , NJ. (John Hiester Beecher was born in Sep 1870 in Pottstown, Montgomery, PA,^{18 19 20} died on 4 Jun 1931 in Cape May Court House, Cape May, NJ ^{20 21} and was buried in Cape May Court House: First Baptist Cemetery, Cape May, NJ ²⁰.)