Francis Asbury Hester papers

John Laurens Hester (originally Hoerster) was born c. 1738 in Hanover, Germany. He and his family arrived in America in 1771. His son, John Matthias Hester was born in 1766 and married Susannah Huckleberry. He died in 1823 in Charlestown, IN. George Knight Hester, son of John M. Hester, was born in 1794 in Kentucky and married Benee Briggs in 1820 in Charlestown, IN. Licensed to preach in 1819, George Hester was an early Methodist Episcopal minister. Among his children were Rev. Francis Asbury, Rev. Matthias Addison, Rev. William McKendree, Rev. Andrew Briggs and Judge Melville C.

Francis Asbury Hester was born 4 April 1822 near Vernon, IN and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836. Admitted to the Indiana Conference in 1843, he was ordained a deacon in 1845 and two years later ordained an elder. Between 1843 - 1874 he served 15 charges. He married first in 1846, then again in 1849 and was the father of eight children. In 1858 he received his A.M. from Ohio Wesleyan College and his D.D. in 1872 from Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University. He was sent as a delegate to the General Conference twice, first in 1868, then again in 1872. From 1872 - 1875 he was president of Moores Hill College. He then served two charges before being superannuated in 1881. He died 20 December 1906.

Matthias Addison Hester was born 20 September 1824 in Charlestown, IN. He taught school prior to entering Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University in 1844. He received his A.B. in 1846, his A.M. in 1849 and taught before entering the ministry in 1848. He served the Cynthiana circuit for a year before being appointed to the St. Louis City Mission in 1849. He died in 1850 while attending to the victims of a cholera epidemic.

Rev. Charles Edward Hester, the son of Francis A. Hester, was born in 1853 and attended Moores Hill College. In 1882 he entered the ministry and in 1886 married Laura Karnes. He retired in 1921 after 21 years in the ministry and serving 19 charges. He died 28 December 1938.