Hiester, Harry K.

Harry K. Hiester, farmer of Penn Township, was born on the old Hiester homestead in Bern Township, this county, July 27, 1874, son of Harrison K. Hiester, and grandson of John Christian Hiester.

 

John Christian Hiester was a man of ample means, owning two farms near the well-known Bern Church, and he was noted for his fine personal appearance as well as for his good judgment and foresight. He and his wife are buried at Bern Church. He married Catherine Kramer, a native of Bern Township, and they had five children: Benneville, Jared, Harrison K., Washington and Maria (who married John Eyrich).

 

The oldest surviving member of this family, Washington Hiester (a twin of Harrison), is now residing on North Queen street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

 

Harrison K. Hiester, son of John Christian, was born in Bern Township, Aug. 6, 1832, and died April 27, 1904; he was laid to rest in Bern churchyard. He was the owner of the old homestead, consisting of 134 acres, and later he bought an adjoining farm of 107 acres, from his brother Benneville, the transaction taking place in 1876. He was an enterprising farmer and a man of progress in his community. In politics he was a Democrat. In religious matters he was a liberal supporter of the Reformed faith and of Bern Church.

 

He married Rosabella Kerschner, born Sept. 16, 1834, who died Feb. 24, 1878, aged forty-three years, five months, eight days. They had children as follows: Kate, widow of Aaron Bohn, lives at Mt. Pleasant; Ellen is the wife of J. F. Yeager; Thomas K. is a farmer of Bern Township; Mary is the wife of Jonathan Ohlinger, of Penn Township; Rosa is the wife of Adam Gruber; Sallie (deceased) was the wife of Cyrus Bohn; Annie is the wife of Henry Stamm, of Penn Township; Jennie unmarried, resides at Reading; Edward K. lives in Bern Township; Harry K. is a farmer of Penn Township; Lizzie, residing in Bern Township, is the wife of Grant Hartman.

 

Harry K. Hiester received his early education in the schools of Bern Township and later pursued his studies at the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Berks county. Remaining at home with his father until he was nineteen years old, he made his home with his sister, Mrs. Kate Bohn, for the next four years, at the end of that time commencing farming on his own account. He first lived on Joseph Reber's farm in Bern Township, for one year, and then moved to the William Dundore farm, in the same township, for three years, after which he was on James T. Reber's farm, in Lower Heidelberg Township, for two years. In October, 1904, he bought a place in Penn Township from his father's estate, and there he has ever resided, carrying on general agricultural pursuits. He has 118 acres of fine land, upon which he is continually making improvements, and he attends the Reading Market once a week, having a steady demand for his products.

 

In 1895 Mr. Hiester married Miss Kate Mengel, daughter of William and Annie (Keim) Mengle, of Bern Township, and granddaughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Snyder) Keim. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiester, Lester, Charles and Carrie. Mr. Hiester is a member of Bern Reformed Church and, in fraternal connection, of the K. G. E. at Leesport. He is a Democrat in political opinion.[bib]624[/bib]