Dr. Isaac Hiester and Esther Muhlenberg

---

---

Husband Dr. Isaac Hiester ¹

---

           Born: 22 Jun 1785 - Bern Twp, Berks Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Sep 1855 - Reading, Berks Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

---

         Father: William Hiester (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Anne Maria [Unk] (      -      ) 1

---

       Marriage: 10 Apr 1810 2

---

---

Wife Esther Muhlenberg ²

---

            AKA: Hester Muhlenberg 3
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Maj.-Gen. John Peter Muhlenberg (1746-1807) 4 5
         Mother: Anna Barbara Meyer (      -      ) 5

---

---

Children

---

1 F Anna M. Hiester ³

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John P. Jones (      -      ) 3

---

2 M William M. Hiester ³

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

3 M Francis M. "Frank" Hiester ^{2 3}

---

           Born: 1828 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Apr 1864 - Reading, Berks Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

---

---

General Notes: Husband - Dr. Isaac Hiester

---

He obtained his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, and subsequently spent five years as physician to the Pennsylvania Hospital. After entering upon the practice of his profession in Reading, Pennsylvania, he soon attained prominence and acquired great proficiency in the art of medicine. He was the first president of the Berks County Medical Society, organized in 1824. His speech on that occasion was a learned production, and appears in Rupp's "History of Berks County."
Dr. Hiester was endowed with more than ordinary mental ability; he did not rest with the knowledge acquired in the university, but, by attention and industry, kept pace with the advances and improvements of the day. Communications from his pen on subjects which came under his observation as a practitioner were frequently published in the medical journals, which gave him both prominence and distinction among those who occupied the highest rank as physicians and surgeons.
A dignified presence, the address and manner of a gentleman, united with qualities which adorn human character, could not fail to make him a man of note in the community in which he spent his whole life.
To the distinguishing traits referred to was added a progressive spirit which placed him in the front of every movement having in view the growth and improvement of the city of which he was a resident. From a very early period he was an earnest advocate of higher methods of education than were then in use. The establishment of a new academy on a plan of class-rooms, lecture-room, library, with the introduction of a higher grade of educational training, is mainly due to his courageous and persistent efforts. He was also largely instrumental in procuring the necessary improvements for an adequate supply of water and gas for the city; and encouraged with his aid and support the numerous individual industrial enterprises which have insured such prosperity and growth as were scarcely believed possible. Nor was the spirit of enterprise characteristic of him by any means local. He was among the first to engage in the project to establish a line of rail way communication from the anthracite coal-field to tide-water at Philadelphia. These efforts on the part of himself and those with whom he was associated resulted in effecting the construction of the railroad from Tamaqua to Port Clinton, the point where the Schuylkill Canal was reached, and to which for a time the coal from the mines was transferred. This arrangement was not of long continuance, but led to a desire to have the benefits of more rapid transportation by means of a continuous railroad line. Extensions with that view were commenced in 1837 and 1838. The road from Reading to Philadelphia was first completed. The one from Reading to Pottsville was built several years thereafter. These railroads, built as branches by the Philadelphia and Reading Company, were chartered as separate companies and eventually merged in the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.
Dr. Hiester was selected as the president of the first-named and discharged the duties of the position until it was completed. He was also elected president of the road from Reading to Philadelphia, and served in that capacity in the early period of its organization.
Dr. Hiester was the first president of the Reading Gas Company, a member of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church and one of the original members of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company, of which he was president at the time of his death.

1 Morton L. Montgomery, History of Berks County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886), Pg 594.

2 Morton L. Montgomery, History of Berks County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886), Pg 595.

3 Rev. P. C. Croll, D.D., Annals of Womelsdorf, Pa., and Community, Pg 133.

4 —, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 569.

5 Rev. P. C. Croll, D.D., Annals of Womelsdorf, Pa., and Community, Pg 132.