Samuel Phillip Hiester 1
- Born: 15 Jun 1846, , Chester, PA 1
- Died: 12 Sep 1933, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA at age 87 1
- Buried: 15 Sep 1933, Philadelphia: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA 1
FamilySearch ID: 9JRK-4VH.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occupation: pulmonary edema, chronic myocarditis on 12 Sep 1933 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 1
2. Occupation: retired wholesale grocer on 12 Sep 1933 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 1
3. Residence: 1808 Wallace St., Philadelphia, PA on 12 Sep 1933 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 1
4. Newspaper: Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown Hospital To Get $10,000 as Estate Beneficiary, 24 Nov 1950, Pottstown, Montgomery, PA. 2 Pottstown Hospital To Get $10,000 as Estate Beneficiary
The Pottstown hospital has been named a beneficiary int he estate of the late Samuel Hiester to the extent of $10,000, according to a Philadelphia Orphan's court accounting made on Tuesday.
Attempts last night to further identify Mr. Heister, who died in 1933, were without availl.
A balance of $46,187 in the estate is left also to the Phoenixville hospital, $10,000; the Home for the Aged in Philadelphia, $5000; and $20,000 to be shared equally by three nieces, Margaret Beecher, Grace Beecher Epler and May Beecher, all of of North Wildwood, N. J.
Under the terms of his will, Mr. Hiester decreed that his estate be given in trust to insure a life income for his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary B. Hiester, who died the past March 22.
5. Newspaper: Pottstown Mercury: Hospital's Benefactor Born Near Here, Was Beecher Family Kin, 25 Nov 1950, Pottstown, Montgomery, PA. 3 Samuel Hiester, who left $10,000 to Pottstown hospital, was born in the Pottstown area and was related to one of the borough's best known businessmen of the late 19th century, older residents of the borough recalled yesterday.
Hiester was born in Lower Pottsgrove township, on a farm on the Schuylkill river, near the site of the Firestone Tire and Rubber company.
He spent nearly all his life in Philadelphia, however, were he became a member of the wholesale grocery firm of Krause, Ingham and Hiester. He often visited Pottstown but never lived here.
Hiester died in 1933 and the balance of his $46,187 estate went to Phoenixville hospital, the Home for the Aged in Philadelphia, and three nieces living in North Wildwood, N. J., as well as to Pottstown hospital.
He was a brother-in-law of William C. Beecher, who, with his cousin, Lyman Beecher, operated the L. and W. C. Beecher dry goods store, on the site now occupied by the Ellis Mills department store.
Hiester's sister, Mrs. Beecher, lived in a house at the northwest corner of High and Bailey int he last years of her life and of her husband's.
The Beechers operated their store for many years, but their name has lived in Pottstown among old-timers because of the "Beecher fire."
At 1:30 o'clock the morning of Saturday, Dec. 13, 1890, fire brok out in the clothing store of John R. Shaner, 227 High street.
It spread quickly to both sides, including the Beecher shop. Although the fire involved several shops in the block, it became known as the "Beecher fire."
Before the borough's small fire department put out the blaze, it had caused property damage estimated at $160,000 and became the most disastour fire int he town's history up to that time.
Not only were the Beecher's and Shaner's stores damaged, but also the George Evans book store; the R. M. Root men's furnishing shop; the W. L. Stone Jewelery shop; Howard Leopold's dry goods and dressmaking shop; H. A. Custer's stationery store, and quarters occupied by M. J. Ensminger, painter, and Mrs. M. B. Geyer, dressmaker.
The Beechers rebuilt their place after the fire and continued in business for several years.
Hiester's family settled in Philadelphia and in Wildwood.
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