(transcribed from a letter written by Mathilde Hesler Munsterman in 1947 age 92)

We note from the Diary of August Hesler

     He was born July 5, 1819 in Solingen, on the Rhein and in consequence of the political disturbances of 1848 he decided to come to America with his wife and 2 year old daughter, Augusta, to visit his brothers in St. Louis. He had not intended to remain here but expected to return to Germany after the close of the revolution, but fate decreed otherwise. The sea voyage on a sailing vessel lasted six weeks, during which the wife never left her bed. After landing in New York they finally reached Albany after a strenuous ride, by boat, on the Hudson stoppping in Buffalo and Cincinnati and from there reached St. Louis by boat. Here he found an epidemic of cholera, one brother had died and another soon followed. The family fled to the country but returned to St. Louis and opened a furniture store, which was later destroyed by fire.

     Discouraged by many mishaps they finally moved to Peoria about the year 1854.

Obituary of David Hesler, 7 February 1895

     In Hallow, St. Louis County there passed away David Hesler, one of the most respected and capable residents of the county. He came from Germany as a boy and was a self made man in the fullest meaning of the word. He operated a tobacco factory in St. Louis many years, but about 20 years ago finding his health impaired he settled in the western part of the county. There he bought a fruit farm of which he made a great success. He was at all times ready to help his neighbors and was indeed a citizen in the ideal meaning of the wood. He is survived by his widow and three children, and honored by all who knew him in a business or social way.

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