My Genealogy Hound

JOHN NESTER was born November 3, 1837, in Fussengoenheim, Rhine Bavaria, Germany, one of five children born to John J, and Elizabeth (Hank) Hester. The mother dying in the old country in 1849 the father and our subject crossed the ocean and settled at Troy, Ind., where the remainder of the family immigrated soon after and where Mr. Nester died August 28, 1856. The subject of this memoir farmed and worked at brick-making for a time; learned harness-making, following the latter occupation a number of years in Newburgh and Evansville. After this and until 1870 he combined the grocery business and his trade at Newburgh. Having been the successful nominee of the Democratic party for County Auditor, he removed to the county seat and for eight years administered to the duties of that office. In 1878, at the Democratic State Convention, he received the solid vote of the First Congressional District for the office of State Auditor, but did not succeed in securing the nomination, having withdrawn in favor of Gen. Manson. For two years Mr. Nester was engaged in the dry goods trade at Boonville, but is now soliciting for some of the most reliable insurance companies known. As a Democrat he was a delegate to the National Convention in 1880 and from 1882 to 1884 was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. He belongs to the F. & A. M., K. of P. and A. O. U. W. orders and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. Was married June 23, 1859, to Magdalena Hochhalter. The following of their seven children are yet living: George P., Otto L., Katharine and Charles J.