When Jonathan Kester was born on 19 February 1823, in Harrison, Virginia, United States, his father, Joseph Kester Jr, was 35 and his mother, Sarah Bonnell, was 30. He married Hannah Margaret Singer on 18 April 1852. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 5 daughters. He lived in Westfield, Morrow, Ohio, United States in 1850 and Cardington Township, Morrow, Ohio, United States in 1860. He died on 19 February 1888, in Cardington, Morrow, Ohio, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Cardington, Morrow, Ohio, United States.