GEORGE W. HESSER, a farmer and stock-raiser in Illiopolis Township, stands among the foremost men in his calling in this county. He was born in 1833 at Berryville, Frederick County, Va., to Samuel L. and Ann Maria (Slagle) Hesser. His father was a native of the Old Dominion and his mother was from Hagerstown, Md. On June 6, 1836, Samuel Hesser came to Springfield, Ill., with his family and for twenty-five years pursued his trade and then retired to a farm in this county. He closed his eyes in death at Buffalo in 1871. He was a charter member of the first Masonic lodge in the county and was a man of high repute who was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. The mother of our subject is still living and makes her home in Clear Lake Township with her son, John D. Hesser. The nine children born of her marriage are all living except Edmonia E., who died July 4, 1864, and are widely scattered in different parts of the country.

George W. Hesser grew to man's estate in this county and received an excellent education in a private school taught by Francis Springer, who is still a resident of Springfield, Ill. He learned the carpenter trade of his father, and carried it on until 1860, when he began farming. For twenty years he was stationed at Mechanicsburg, but in 1880 came to Illiopolis Township, and has since carried on his farming and stock-raising here. He began to devote his attention to fine Short-horn cattle in 1877, and of this he now makes a specialty, his herd of thoroughbreds being one of the finest in the county. He also raises standard Berkshire hogs and Oxford-down sheep. He brings a keen intellect to bear upon his work and is carrying on farming after the best scientific methods, as is shown by his model farm of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.

On May 15, 1860, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Morgan, a native of Mechanicsburg, coming of one of its first families. The children born of this marriage are as follows: Byron B., who was a telegraph operator and was killed by the cars April 8, 1880, at the age of nineteen years; Jessie Maria is at home with her parents; Homer H., in business at Illiopolis; Arthur A. and Clara Belle are both at home; George Samuel died in infancy. Mr. Hesser is a man of more than ordinary intelligence with enlightened views on various subjects, and brains and business tact, combined with steady industry. Have brought him to the front. His fellow-citizens, recognizing his ability and superior business qualifications for civic life have repeatedly called him to positions of responsibility and he has held nearly all the offices within their gift. At present he represents the interests of Illiopolis Township as a member of the County Board of Supervisors. Politically he casts his vote and influence on the side of the Republican party.