Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Hess, Jere. S.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Springfield Township


   JERE. S. HESS lumber merchant, P.O. Hellertown, Pa., is 
the most distinguished representative living of one of the 
oldest families of Bucks county.  Nicholas Hess was born in 
Zweibrucken, Germany, in the first quarter of the last 
century, and came here about twenty-five years later, 
settling in Springfield township, Bucks county, where he was 
married to Catharine Funk, and died in 1795.  He had three 
sons, one of whom, John George, went to Lower Saucon, 
Northampton county, and bought the mill yet known as the 
Hess mill.  He had six sons, none of whom are now living.  
The youngest, Samuel, was the father of Jere. S.   He was 
born in Lower Saucon on December 25, 1804.  He studied 
theology with Dr. J. C. Becker, of Kriedersville, and was 
ordained minister of the German Reformed church at York, 
Pa., in 1827, and appointed pastor of the "Blue" church in 
Upper Saucon township, which charge he filled until 1868, a 
record of forty-one years as pastor over one congregation.  
In that time he also had charge of the church of that 
denomination in Springfield township, this county; and 
established a congregation and had a new church built at 
Applebachsville, in Haycock township.  He also started the 
congregation which worships in the Keller church in 
Bedminster township.  Mr. Hess was active in establishing 
schools in Northampton county, on the enactment of the 
public school law. He died November 23, 1875.  He was twice 
married, first in June, 1828, to Elizabeth Owen, who died in 
1838, leaving no issue.  On February 18, 1840, he was 
married to Lucetta Kline, who was born November 30, 1812, in 
Weisenberg, Lehigh county.  They had two children, Milton J. 
living on the old homestead, and business partner of Jere. 
S.   The latter was born December 3, 1843, and attended 
school in Bethlehem and Allentown, graduating at Franklin 
and Marshall college, at Lancaster, in 1862.  He taught in 
Allentown seminary for two years and attended the 
Mercersburg Theological seminary for a year.  The following 
two years he spent in Germany, attending lectures at the 
universities there.  Returning home engaged in his present 
business, dealing in lumber, coal, etc.   From 1873 to 1877 
he was cashier of the Saucon savings bank, has been school 
director, member of the town council, and chief burgess of 
Hellertown.  In 1882 he was elected to the State senate for 
a term of four years, serving his constituents acceptably.  
On June 17, 1875, he was married to Tillie Henninger, a 
native of Hellertown, born June 19, 1856.  They have four 
children:  Herbert, Clara, Mary and Samuel.  Mr. Hess takes 
an active part in the affairs of the German Reformed church 
at Hellertown, and has been superintendent of the Union 
Sunday school there for twenty years.  He is also 
vice-president of the Forestry association of Pennsylvania, 
and while in the senate introduced a measure to promote the 
objects of the association, in which he takes an active 
interest.