Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/266

 HICKS

IIIESTER

HICKS, Thomas, painter, was born in New- town, Pa., Oct. IS, IS'^^. He attended the acad- emy in iiis native town and in 1837 entered the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadel- phia. The following year he went to New York city, where he continned the study of art at the National Academy of Design. His first important picture, " The Death of Abel,"' was exhibited at the Academy in 1841. He studied in Europe, 1845—49, and on his return devoted his attention chiefly to portrait painting, his subjects includ- ing many prominent men of his time. Lincoln, Longfellow, Booth, Bayard Taylor, Verplanck, Halleck, and Holmes were among his sitters. He was made a National Academician in 1851, and was president of the Artists' Fund society, 1873-85. He died at Trenton Falls. N.Y., Oct. 8, 1890.

Hicks, Thomas Holliday, governor of Mary- land, was born in Dorchester county, Md., Sept. 2, 1798. His fatlier was a farmer, and he was brought up to work on the farm and attend the school of the neighborhood. He entered public life as town consta- ble, and was promot- ed to the office of county sheriff. He was a state represen- tative, 1836-37 ; regis- ter of wills, 1838 ; a member of tlie state constitutional con- Tention, 1849 ; state representative, 1848- 58, and governor of the state, 1858-62. He opposed secession in 1861, and used the power of his office to prevent the assem- bling of the state legislature, intent on seceding. He also exercised his authority in suppressing the riot caused by the passage of the Massachusetts troops through Baltimore, April 19, 1861. On the death of Senator James A. Pearce, Dec. 20, 1862, Ex-Governor Hicks was appointed by Governor Bradford to the vacancy in the U.S. senate and on the meeting of the legislature he was elected for the term expiring March 3, 1867. He was a member of the committees on claims and naval af- fairs. He died in Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 1865. HIESTER, Daniel, representative, was born in Upper Salfonl township, Philadelphia (now Mont- gomery) county, Pa., June 25, 1747 ; .son of Daniel and Catharine (Schuler) Hiester (or Hil.ster). His father, a native of El.soflF, Wittgenstein, West- phalia, Germany, arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam and purchased a farm in Goshenhop- pen, Pa., where he engaged successfully in farm- ing and tanning, and became an influential

citizen. He subsequently bought large tracts of land in Berks count}-. Pa. In 1757 he erected a large double brick mansion on his i)roperty in LTpper Salford, which was still standing in 1900 in a good state of preservation. The sou was well educated and in 17C8 made a journey tt) the Caro- linas, having serious thought of settling there or further south. He wasmarrietl in 1770 to Ro.s- anna, daughter of Capt. Jonathan Hager, of Ha- gerstown, Md. The fathers of the contracting parties had been friends in Germany and had come to America about the same time, Hager settling in Maryland and Hiester in Pennsylvania. After his marriage j-oung Hiester settled upon his father's property in Upper Salford and IMarlboro townships and devoted himself to the cultivation of his farm and the business of the tannery. He was commissioned colonel of the 4th battalion, May 6, 1777, and on Oct. 21, 1777, he was appointed bj- the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania one of the commissioners for Philadelphia county to seize the personal effects of traitors. In 1778 Jonathan Hager, father of Mrs. Hiester, gave Daniel Hiester 1400 acres of land in and about Hagerstown, Md. On May 6, 1778, he was ap- pointed an agent for forfeited estates, and in October, 1779, chairman of the committee of the public accounts of Pennsylvania. He was elected a brigadier-general, May 23, 1782, and on Oct. 14, 1784, he was elected to represent IMontgomery county in the supreme executive council of the state. He was a commissioner to examine the Connecticut claims to lands in the county of Luzerne in 1787. On Nov. 26, 1788, he was elected a representative in the 1st U.S. congress. Ho was then a resident of Berks county, but when he transferred his residence from Old Goshen- hojipen is not apparent. He was re-elected to the 2d, 3d and 4th congresses, and resigned his seat Dec. 8, 1796, being succeeded by George Ege. In 1796 he removed to Hagerstown, Md., whence he was a representative in the 7th and 8th con- gresses, 1801-04. He died while attending the 8th congress in Washington, D.C., March 7, 1804.

HIESTER, Daniel, representative, was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1774; son of Gen. John and Hannah (Pawling) Hiester, and grandson of Daniel and Catharine (Schuler) Hiester. He was appointed by Governor McKean prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Chester county, Jan. 6, 1800, and held the office until 1809. He was in- strumental in establishing the Bank of Chester County and was its first cashier, 1814-17. He was elected burgess of West Chester in 1815, 1816, and 1817; and was appointed register of wills and recorder of deeds, Feb. 28, 1821. He was a representative in the 11th congress, 1809-11, succeeding his father. He was married to Mary Springer. He died in Hagerstown, Md., in 1834.