John R. Jester was born 3 October 1896 in Marcus Hook Pennsylvania. He was a son of Joseph and Hannah Jester, both born in the state of Delaware.

In the 1910 census John is listed at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA, a boarding school for promising students from poor families.

In 1920 he was listed as living in Marcus Hook, PA and working for a shipping company in the Oil Works.

John died March 1979 in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania.