One of our best and most liked citizens and pioneers, Johann Hiester from South Richland, rests since Saturday in the lap of the earth. For the deceased, whom we were able to count among our personal friends, we can write no finer necrology than the obituary, which was given for him by his pastor, N. E. Bitz from the Reformed Church in Defiance, at his burial. He said:
"Mr. Johann Hiester was born in Berks County, Pa., on the 19th of January 1820. At the age of 21 years he came to the state of Ohio, where he first lived in the vicinity of Dayton, and there on the 1st of November 1846 married Lovina Geiger, who on the 6th of April 1881 in Defiance County preceded him in death. Mr. Hiester came to Defiance County in 1849 and settled on the farm in South Richland, which remained his home until his passing. Of his four children, Mrs. Daniel Aschbacher and Mrs. Heinrich Hohenberger who both reside in South Richland, are still alive. Further, there are six grandchildren and 5? great-grandchildren left behind.
Mr. Hiester was liked by all who knew him. He was an honest, industrious and God-fearing man and consistently an active member of the St. John's Reformed congregation. On Sunday, the 12th of August, as he felt that his end was approaching, he took the Holy Supper. A few days later -- on the morning of the 16th of August shortly after 1 o'clock -- the Lord fetched him home to the eternal dwellings. His age was 86 years, 6 months and 28 days."
The burial took place Saturday morning with a large attendance in Hire's Cemetery, after Pastor Bitz had held the funeral rites in the former residence at half past nine o'clock and a half hour later in the Dunkard Church.
The survivors have asked us, in their name to offer thanks to all their dear friends for their sincere sympathy, in their time of sorrow.
[died: 16 August 1906]
Mrs. Rachel Hohenberger
Without any previous illness in the night Sunday about 12 o'clock Rachel Hohenberger, a born Hiester and wife of Mr. Heinrich Hohenberger died in her residence in South Richland from a heart complaint. On Saturday she had gone about the usual household duties, then shortly after 11 o'clock had felt unwell, went with her husband into the living room, where sitting on a chair she suddenly took her last breath.
She was born on the 26th of October 1860 as the daughter of Johann and Lovina Hiester in South Richland and on the 7th of September 1880 she married Heinrich Hohenberger, who survives her with the daughter Mrs. Valentin Peter and the son Frank. Her mother died on the 6th of April 1881, her father just on the 16th of August of this year. Of siblings she leaves behind only Mrs. Daniel Aschbacher in South Richland; two siblings preceded her into Eternity.
The burial took place Tuesday afternoon with a large attendance under the direction of Pastor N. E. Bitz in the Riverside Cemetery. The funeral rites were held in the residence at 1 o'clock and one hour later here in the Reformed Church on Washington Street. The pallbearers were George Lesch, James Brocklesby, John Hire, George Ort, John Caylor and Frank Noffsinger.
[birth: Oct 1860 Defiance Co., Ohio] [death: 01 Dec 1906 South Richland, Defiance Co., Ohio]