Rev. George Knight Hester, eldest son of Mathias and Susannah (Huckleberry) Hester, was born near Charlestown, Ind., September 26, 1794. The following sketch of his ministerial life was written by himself and furnished for this book by his son, the Rev. Francis Asbury Hester, of Indianapolis, Ind.:
"I became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as a member on trial, in the fall of the year 1809, when I was little past my fifteenth year. This was under the ministry of Rev. Sela Pain, one of the most pious and devout men I ever knew. It was some time after this before I had obtained a sense of saving mercy. Soon after this my mind became impressed with the necessity of preparing for the ministry. Had circumstances favored me with the means of obtaining a scientific education, how gladly would I have embraced the opportunity. For want of proper advice, I deferred this matter for a number of years. In September, 1818, I preached my first sermon at Springville, Ind., from these words, "Be ye reconciled unto God." I spoke about forty-five minutes with no small degree of liberty. It was the first time I ever atempted to speak in public, never having ventured before this to speak even in the classroom or love feast meeting. It occasioned as much surprise to my friends as though a ship had sailed on dry land. A recommendation was immediately granted me from my class for license to preach, but I was prevented from attending the ensuing quarterly meeting by the sickness of my father. A permit was given me by he church to exercise my gift as a preacher until the closing quarterly meeting of the circuit. This, I thought, was unwarranted by the discipline of the church, so I refused to attempt to speak anywhere, except in my class, and then but seldom, until the annual examination in 1819. At that time I was first formally licensed to preach. In the fall of 1820 I was recommended to the traveling connection and was appointed to Mt. Sterling circuit in Crawford county. This was one of the most gloomy regions in the state. The circuit embraced a very poor and broken portion of the country. Many of the people were destitute of the necessities of life, and, of course, I had to share with them in their poverty and suffering. On one occasion I remember having visited a family, preached and remained with them twenty-four hours, and then leaving without breaking my fast, for the simple reason that they had nothing for themselves. The head of tha family had gone a long distance to procure breadstuff but failed to return while I was there. This was a four weeks circuit. The number of my attempts to preach during this year must have averaged at least one per day. I traveled this year about three thousand miles and received for my entire services a few pounds of sugar for my family and nothing more.
"In 1821 I was appointed to Flat Rock circuit. This was a four weeks circuit. The whole amount of quarterage received this year in money and produce was $29.
"During 1822 and 1823 I was on a Blue River circuit. This was a six weeks circuit, embracing a very extensive territory. My quarterage this year amounted to about $39.
"My fourth appointment was back to old Mt. Sterling circuit. There I had abundance of labor and received but little support. My fifth appointment was to Corydon and my sixth to Madison circuit. This ended my first period in the itinerancy. My horse having died this year, I was set afoot without means to purchase another. In this situation I applied to Conference for a location, which was granted. The whole amount of quarterage received by me during those six years was about $258.
"After a location of nine years I re-entered the traveling work in 1835 and was appointed to the following circuits: Lexington, Vernon, Lexington again, Salem, Columbus and Greenville. At the close of this year in 1841 I again located and so remained until 1849. I was appointed that year to White Creek circuit and with its close ended my itinerant career."
He died September 20, 1874, aged eighty.
Beene (Briggs) Hester, wife of Rev. George Knight Hester, was one of the noble pioneer women of southern Indiana in her day. Four of her sons and eight of her grandsons are or have been honored ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Children of George Knight and Beene (Briggs) Hester, being the fourth generation, were: