History of Berne, (Berks County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Joseph Hiester, governor of Pennsylvania, was born in Bern, Berks county, Pa., Nov. 18, 1752; son of John Heister, the eldest of three brothers who came from Elsoff, Wittgenstein, Westphalia, Germnany, to Philadelphia. Daniel and Joseph Hiester (or H?ster) arrived in September, 1787, John having come in 1732, and they all took up their residence in Goshenhoppen, Pa., where Daniel purchased a farm and located permanently, John and Joseph settling in Berks county. Joseph Hiester, son of John, was brought up as a farmer and also engaged in merchandising. He equipped a company of eighty men at his own expense, joined the Continentak army in 1776, was promoted colonel and commanded a company in Col. Henry Haller's battalion in the battle of Long Island, where he was made a prisoner and confined in the prison-ship Jersey, where he used his money liberally in alleviating the sufferings of his companions. He was exchanged, took part in the battle of Germantown, where he was wounded, and remained in the service till the close of the war. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1776, a state representative five years, and a state senator four years, and a member of the convention of 1787 that ratified the Federal constitution and of the state constitutional convention of 1790. He represented his district in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th congresses, 1799-1805, succeeding his cousin Daniel, a representative in the 1st-4th congresses inclusive. In 1807 he was one of the two major-generals appointed to command the Pennsylvania contingent called by President Jefferson. He then retired to his farm, but again served as a representative in the 14th, 15th and 16th congresses, 1815-20. He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Pennsylvania in 1817, was elected governor in 1820 and resigned his seat in congress to accept the office. In his administration he directed especial attention to the introduction of better methods of instruction in public schools. In 1823 he retired from public life. At the time of his death his estate was worth over $406,000. He died in Reading, Pa., June 10, 1832.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Isaac Althaus Loos, educator, was born in Upper Bern, Berks county, Pa., Dec. 6, 1856; son of John and Sarah (Althaus) Loos, and grandson of George Loos, and of Daniel Althaus and a descendant of German ancestors who settled in Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1750. He was graduated from Otterbein university, Westerville, Ohio, B.A., 1876, M.A., 1879; and from Yale university, B.D., 1881, where he was special fellow in theology and philosophy, 1881-82. He was a student in the college of France, Paris, 1882-83; and in the University of Leipzig, 1883-84. He was professor of history and political science in Western college, Toledo, Iowa, 1884-89, and in 1859 was made professor of political science in the State University of Iowa, becoming in 1900 professor of sociology and political philosophy including municipal government and international law, and director of the school of political and social science. He was elected a member of the council of the American Economic association in 1889; a member of the American Academy of Political and Social science in 1891, and a member of the council of the Academy in 1901. He became associate editor of the World Review, Chicago, Ill., in 1901. Penn college, Iowa, gave him the degree of D.C.L. in 1898. He is the author of: Outlines of the Industrial Revolution (1892); Studies in the Politics of Aristotle and the Republic of Plato (1900), and contributions to current periodicals on political and social science questions.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor