BIO: William HESS, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM HESS. Among the substantial and enterprising business men of Philipsburg, whose names are scattered through the pages of this volume, none are more worthy of mention than the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical notice. He is one of the leading grocery merchants of that city. A native of Centre county, he was born in Haines township, February 27, 1831, a son of Michael and Margaret (Musser) Hess, who spent their entire lives there. Only two children were born to them, the other being Harriet, now the widow of Jonathan Stover, a machinist by trade. When our subject was only three months old his father died, and his mother afterward married the latter's brother, Samuel Hess. They became the parents of six children: Jonathan, a retired merchant of Williamsport, Penn.; Lydia, widow of Samuel Stover; Sarah, deceased; Mary, wife of Frederick Bostorf, a retired farmer of Pine Grove, Centre county; and Samuel, deceased. The father of these children served as county commissioner of Centre county in 1851-2-3; he died in 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The mother died in 1855, at the age of fifty-seven. Michael Hess, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, and during the Revolutionary war came to the New World with Count Raushambau in 1786, and aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence. After peace had been declared he located in Snyder county, where he operated a flouring-mill and engaged in farming. He became quite wealthy, but later sold his property to an Eastern man, who paid him in Continental money, which in a short time was worthless. In this way he lost almost everything. Subsequently he came to Centre county, and purchased the farm on which our subject's birth occurred, and where he spent his remaining days. He married a Miss Crider. Upon the home farm, William Hess remained until sixteen years of age, when he started out to seek his own livelihood, first working in a tannery in Centre county for three and one-half years. During the following two years he was similarly employed in Lewisburg, Penn., and then worked in the lumber woods until 1873, when he returned to Philipsburg, and was employed in a tannery for two years. Subsequently he began contracting and dealing in lumber, which business he carried on until 1881, when he embarked in the manufacture of brick. Four years later he established his present store, which he has since successfully conducted, receiving a liberal share of public patronage. Mr. Hess was married in Snyder county, Penn., in March, 1854, to Miss Sarah Eisenhauer, and they became the parents of three children: Charles C., born January 26, 1856, married Kate Miller, by whom he has seven children; he is a gardener and florist of Philipsburg. W. Frank, born August 31, 1870, married Annie Swaggart, and has one son, William H.; Frank is now serving as manager in his father's store, and is chairman of the Democratic club of Philipsburg, and county auditor. Ida M., born May 19, 1861, is the wife of C. J. Rothrock; a carpenter of Philipsburg, by whom she has a daughter, Ida M. Mrs. Hess was born February 28, 1832, in what was then Union county, but is now Snyder county, Penn., and is a daughter of Abraham and Eva (Bollander) Eisenhauer, natives of Berks and Union counties, Penn., respectively. The father became an extensive farmer of the latter county, where both spent their remaining days. They were faithful members of the German Reformed Church, and in politics he was a Whig. He died March 24, 1875, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife passed away in September, 1840, at the age of forty-three. His father, Martin Eisenhauer, was born in this country, and was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. By trade he was a blacksmith, but spent his last years in retirement, dying at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Hess is one of a family of ten children, in order of birth as follows: Eliza, deceased wife of Henry Rearick, a farmer, by whom she had six children; Harry, a retired farmer of Union county, who first married Hettie Agler, by whom he had eleven children, and by his second marriage, with Symira Baker, had one child; Catherine, wife of Jacob Walter, a farmer of Michigan; Amelia, deceased wife of George Ott; Philip, who died in childhood; Mary, widow of Reuben Agler, of Beavertown, Penn.; Barbara, deceased wife of William Engle, also deceased; Sarah, wife of our subject; Lucinda, wife of Samuel Bowen, of Snyder county; and Robert, who married Elmira Nearhoof, and died upon his farm in Michigan. In 1895, Mrs. Hess met with a severe accident, slipping on the ice in front of her home; she has since had to use crutches, but the doctor thinks she will fully recover; otherwise both she and her husband enjoy excellent health. They are worthy and devoted members of the Method- 390 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ist Episcopal Church, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Politically, Mr. Hess is a firm supporter of the Democratic party, and advocates the free coinage of silver. His business career and his private life are alike above reproach, and his history is that of a man who has faithfully performed all duties and been ever true to the trust reposed in him.