Hiester

[H. S. Dotterer, "Gen. Daniel Hiester/' in the Per-
kiomen Region, Past and Present, Jan.-July 1895 J H.
M. M. Richards, "The Hiester Family," The Pa.-Ger-
man See., Proc. and Addresses, vol. XVI (1907) J Min-
utes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pa., vols. XI-
XV (1852-53) J Pa- Archives, i ser., vols. VIII (1853)
and XI (1855) ; Nat. Intelligencer (Washington, D. C),
Mar* 9, 1804; Gen. Aurora Advertiser (Philadelphia),
Mar. 14, 1804.] J.H.P.

HIESTER, JOSEPH (Nov. 18, 1752-June 10,
1832), merchant, Revolutionary soldier, con-
gressman, governor of Pennsylvania, son of John
and Mary Barbara (Epler) Hiester, was born
in Bern Township, Berks County, Pa., of Ger-
man parents. His father emigrated from West-
phalia to Gosenhoppen, Philadelphia County, in
1732, and later moved to Berks County, where he
and two brothers had purchased a large tract of
land. Joseph grew to manhood experiencing the
hardships of a farmer's son, but his farm labors
did not prevent his acquiring a good education
under the minister at Bern Church. Before
reaching his majority he was a clerk in the gen-
eral store of Adam Witman at Reading. In 1771
he married his employer's daughter, Elizabeth,
and thereupon became a partner in the business.
In the Revolution Hiester was an ardent Whig.
Though still under twenty-five he was a dele-
gate to the provincial conference at Philadelphia
in June 1776, and immediately upon its adjourn-
ment he hurried home to assist his county in
raising its quota for the flying camp. At a meet-
ing on July 10 he exhorted his townsmen to en-
list, offered forty dollars and a sergeancy to the
first volunteer, and pledged himself to furnish
equipment and necessary funds for the march to
join Washington's army. The response was lib-
eral, and in the organization of Berks County
troops he was chosen captain. His men, refus-
ing at first to leave Pennsylvania, marched to
Long Island only after Hiester's fervent appeals
to their patriotism. On the night of Aug. 26,
1776, Hiester was captured by the British. After
three months' confinement, spent in part on the
notorious prisonship Jersey, he was paroled and
later exchanged. He returned to his home weak
and emaciated but soon regained his health. Pro-
moted lieutenant-colonel in 1777, he next saw
service at Germantown where he was slightly
wounded. In 1779 he was a commissioner of ex-
change and a member of a committee delegated
to seize the personal effects of traitors. Through-
out 1780 he awaited the call to military duty, but
not being summoned, he returned to his business
at Reading, shortly thereafter acquiring sole
possession of it.

After 1780 Hiester became more closely iden-
tified with state politics. He was in the Assem-
bly for five terms between 1780 and 1790; a

Higgins

member of the state convention convened to rat-
ify the Federal Constitution, being one of the
minority opposed; a member of the state consti-
tutional convention (1789-90) ; in the state Sen-
ate (1790-94); and a presidential elector in
1792 and again in 1796. In 1797 he succeeded
his cousin, Daniel Hiester [<?.£>.], in Congress
and served until 1805. Jefferson regarded him
as a "disinterested, moderate and conscientious"
congressman (Pennsylvania Magazine of His-
tory and Biography, April 1910, p. 236). When
the Pennsylvania Republicans divided in 1805
Hiester followed the moderate wing. From 1815
to 1820 he was again in Congress, and a member
of the committee on public expenditures. In 1817
he returned to state politics as unsuccessful gu-
bernatorial candidate on the Independent Repub-
lican ticket. Renominated in 1820 on a plat-
form attacking nominations by legislative cau-
cus and advocating other reforms, after a bitter
campaign, he was elected over William Findlay
by the narrow margin of 1,605 votes. Honest,
practical, and a believer in republican simplic-
ity, he advocated appointments according to
merit, restriction of executive patronage, short-
ening of legislative sessions, lower salaries for
public officials, encouragement of public im-
provements and domestic manufactures, and a
liberal system of education. Adhering to his be-
lief in the one-term principle, he refused to stand
for reelection and in 1823 retired to his home in
Reading. His success as a business man is
attested by the fact that he left an estate of
$460,000.

JH. M. M. Richards, "Gov. Jos. Hiester" and "The
Hiester Family" in The Pa.-German Soc., Proc. and
Addresses, vol. XVI (1907); Pa. Archives, 4 sen,
vol. V (1900); J. B. McMaster and F. D. Stone, Pa.
and the Fed. Constitution, 1787-88 (1888); Pa. Mag.
of Hist, and Biog., July 1887; Poulson's Am. Daily
Advertiser and the Am. Sentinel (Philadelphia), June
13,1832.] J.H.P.

HIGGINS, FRANK WAYLAND (Aug. 18,
i8s6-Feb. 12, 1907), politician, was born in the
village of Rushford, Allegany County, N. Y.
He was christened Francis Wayland. His par-
ents, Orrin Thrall Higgins and Lucia Cornelia
Hapgood, were of English forebears who came
to New England in the seventeenth century. His
father, a business man of ability, was the owner
of extensive tracts in Michigan, Wisconsin, Min-
nesota, Oregon, and Washington, and of iron-
ore lands in Minnesota. He also built up and
operated a chain of grocery stores in Clean,
N. Y., and in the neighboring oil regions of
Pennsylvania. His mother, a woman of charm
and culture, died while he was still a child but
before her death stimulated and developed his
taste for music and art. He attended Rushford

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