One of the young and enterprising fruit-growers of Mesa county, where he has been a resident for about twelve years, Lester E. Jaynes is an active and helpful factor in promoting the growth and development of his section of the county, and is regarded as one of its best and most useful citizens. He was born in Will County, Illinois, on December 1, 1871, and is the son of Ezra E. and Mary (Klingler) Jaynes, of Grand Junction, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Jaynes grew to the age of twenty-one and received a district-school education in his native county, and in 1892 accompanied his parents to this state, locating in Mesa county, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival here he bought ten acres of land on mile and a half northeast of Grand Junction. This he partially improved, planting some seven and one-half acres in fruit trees, and in the spring of 1896 sold it and bought the farm of twenty-two acres on which he now lives, two and one-half miles north of Grand Junction. The land was in a condition of untamed nature when he bought it, and to the work of improving and developing it he has since devoted himself, transforming it into a pleasant and productive home, and making it an element of value in the general wealth and commercial life of the county. He has eight acres in fruit trees, a portion of which are in fine bearing order and yield abundantly, and the number of these is increasing year by year, so that his profits and the volume of his business are cumulative and steadily expanding. He was married on September 29, 1895, to Miss Nanna R. Rose, who was born at Del Norte, Colorado, and is the daughter of Thomas O. and Lucy (Herndon) Rose, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Kentucky. The mother died in 1893 and the father is still living at Grand Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Jaynes have had two children, Harley Sterling, who died at the age of four, and another son who died in infancy. Mr. Jaynes is a Republican in politics and is always faithful to his allegiance and active in the service of his party. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Young, enterprising and knowing, the future holds out a gratifying promise to him in business. In the local public affairs of the county he takes a zealous and serviceable interest. He is universally esteemed and deserves the place he holds in the regard and good will of his fellow men, being the possessor of many estimable and valuable personal qualities.
Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.