Andrew J. HESS, proprietor of the Ohio House, Wirt, Iowa, is a native of Knox County, Ohio, born September 4, 1832, a son of Joseph and Mary (BLACK) HESS, natives of Pennsylvania. He was the fourth of twelve children, ten of whom are living. He was reared in Knox County, and was there married in his twentieth year, to Miss Margaret NYHART. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Ohio, living there until the summer of 1865 [and after a year's service with Company E of the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War], when he removed to Ringgold County, Iowa, and settled on section 16, Union Township.

In 1884 he left the farm and removed to Wirt [present-day Ellston], and has since given his attention to the hotel and livery business. He has been successful in his business transactions, and although a poor man when he came to Iowa, now has a competency for his declining years.

He has held several offices of trust in the township. He was appointed postmaster at Union Hill under JOHNSON's administration and held the position seven years. He was served as justice of the peace eight years. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

NOTE: Joseph HESS, son of Henry HESS, was born October 28, 1802 in Pennsylvania, and died in Jefferson Township of Knox County, Ohio, at the age of 53 years, November 14, 1855, Jefferson Township of knox County, Ohio. Joseph married on August 4, 1823 in Pennsylvania to Mary Ann BLACK, born September 4, 1805, Johnstown, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jacob BLACK. Mary Ann died on September 10, 1881. Joseph and Mary Ann (BLACK) HESS were the parents of twelve children:

1) George HESS, born 29 Jun 1824, Johnstown PA; died 04 May 1911, Piercetown IN
    married Sarah McMULLIN (1819-?)
    Children: Thomas born 1841; Lydia born 1841; Henry born 1844; Rachel born 1845; Josephine born 1847; Mary born 1847

2) Phoebe Ann HESS, born 17 Jun 1826, Johnstown PA; died 15 Mar 1924, Dayton OH

3) Mathias J. HESS, born 03 Feb 1828, Johnstown PA; died 14 Jun 1909, Pratt KS
  married Catherine E. BURKETT (1851-1903)
  Children: Catherine Ellen (?-1903), Jessie (1876-1956), and Plymton Seth (1877-1964)

4) John Fletcher HESS, born 16 Feb 1830, Johnstown PA; died 17 Oct 1907, Great Bend KS

5) Andrew HESS (1832-1900), married Margaret NYHART

6) Jesse HESS, born 19 Aug 1833, Knox Co. OH; died 16 Dec 1930, Wesley Chapel OH
  married Mary HORN

7) Jacob HESS, born 24 Jul 1835, Knox Co. OH; died 1903, Stillwater OK
  married Margaret McGLOTHLIN

8) Mary Ann HESS, born 01 Oct 1837, Knox Co. OH; died 03 Apr 1864, Pierceton IN

9) Joseph HESS, born 09 Sep 1839, Knox Co. OH; died 21 Aug 1881, Bourbon IN
  married Elizabeth CLESS

10) William B. HESS, born 16 Sep 1841, Knox Co. OH; died 20 Mar 1925, Plymouth IN
  married Annie E. MOORE (1845-1921)

11) Lorenzo Dow HESS, born 20 Dec 1843, Knox Co. OH; died 23 Mar 1943, Pratt KS
  Lucinda Jane LAMB(1849-1945
  Children: Clara Belle (1870-1935, Agnes Laura (1871-1916), Bertha Clemintine (1873-1875), Estella E. (1875-1897), William B. (1877-1956), Olis M. (1880-1972)

12) Sarah Ann HESS, born 22 May 1846, Knox Co. OH; died 12 Nov 1912, Garrett IN

Andrew J. HESS died at the age of 68 years and 7 days on June 14, 1900, Dallas Center, Iowa. Margaret (NYHART) HESS was born November 17, 1832, and died September 10, 1900, Ellston, Iowa. Andrew and Margaret were interred at Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Andrew and Margaret were the parents of thirteen children:

1) Mary Ann HESS, born 12 May 1852, OH; died 23 Jan 1945

2) Sibyl "Samantha" (HESS) HOBBS, born Aug 1854, OH; died 03 Jan 1917, Augusta KS

3) Elizabeth Alice HESS, born 1859, OH: died 1908, Ellston IA

4) Noah B. HESS, born in 1861, OH; died 02 Oct 1893, interred Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

5) Jacob E. HESS, born 1864; residence Ellston IA

6) Rilla Sarasophia HESS, born 27 Apr 1866, Dallas Center IA; died 19 Jan 1957, Dallas Center IA
    married Sep 1884 Charles Clayton BUCK, born 03 Apr 1861, White Co. IL; died 02 Jun 1896, Ellston
    son of Marmaduke BUCK (1831-1889) and Harriet E. (McKNIGHT) BUCK (1834- ?)
    Children of Rilla S. and Charles C. BUCK:
      1) Arthur Lee BUCK, born 04 Jun 1886, Wirt (Ellston) IA; residence Palisade CO, 1930
          married Wilsie May FENNER, born 1893; child: Lelia BUCK, born 1909
      2) Leila M. BUCK, born 19 Nov 1887, Wirt (Ellston) IA; died 13 May 1947, Waterloo IA
      3) Myrtle M. BUCK, born 30 Oct 1889, Wirt (Ellston) IA; died 1947, West Des Moines IA
      4) Winifred BUCK, born 07 Aug 1892, Wirt (Ellston) IA; died 15 Jan 1975, Dallas Center, IA
      5) Zeta BUCK, born 23 Nov 1894, Beaconsfield IA; died 08 Mar 1974, Leon IA
    Rilla married 2nd Theodore T. JOHNSTON (1860-1929)

7) Jessie HESS, born 08 Jun 1868 IA; died 1962, Dallas Center IA

8) Lilly HESS, born 1870 IA

9) Louis W., HESS, born 1872 IA; residence Ellston
    Child: Infant son, born 05 Feb 1905; died 08 Feb 1905, interment Ellston Cemetery

10) David L. HESS, born 1877 IA; residence Chicago IL

12) Margaret Florence HESS, died young

13) William Artie HESS, died young

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 365-66, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z