In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1836, Crawford county
From A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906)
WILLIAM A. HESS, a carpenter, contractor and farmer residing on section 20, Pipestone township, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, February 18, 1836. His father, Andrew Hess, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Harrison county, Ohio. After attaining his majority he located in Crawford county, Ohio, and was there united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, a native of Carroll county, Ohio. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Crawford county, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother at the age of eighty-three. In their family were twelve children, of whom ten reached adult age, while two died in infancy.
William A. Hess is the second of this family and was reared in his native county, obtaining a common-school education there.
At the age of twenty he learned the carpenter's trade in Crawford county, serving a regular apprenticeship, and later he began business when a young man as a contractor and builder. He did much carpenter work there, erecting many buildings in the county, his skill and efficiency being such as to secure for him a liberal patronage that connected him with leading building operations in that part of the state.
While living in Crawford county, William A. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Susan Bell, a daughter of Pharo and Catharine (Couts) Bell, and a native of the county in which the marriage was celebrated. For three years thereafter they remained in Ohio and then came to Berrien county, Michigan, locating at Berrien Center, where Mr. Hess followed the trade of contractor and builder. In 1875 he removed to a farm in Berrien township and in 1880 he located in Pipestone township, on the farm which he now makes his home. He has always continued his building operations, which have been the more important branch of his business, farming being merely a side issue. Many important contracts have been awarded him and in many parts of the county are seen evidences of his skill and handiwork. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 20, Pipestone township, which is well cultivated and adds materially to his income.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess have been born three children: Homer E., a farmer and supervisor of Pipestone township; Cora B., who died. in childhood; and Pearl, the wife of Fred A. Bowman, a resident farmer of Pipestone township. Mr. Hess has been a life-long Republican and active in the interests of the party. Upon its ticket he has been elected to various local offices, serving as highway commissioner and in other positions. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Berrien Center, and at one time was a member of the Grange. For over forty years he has been a resident of Berrien county and has been closely identified with its material improvement and progress. He has erected more buildings in Berrien and Cass counties than any other contractor
9i6 of the two counties, a fact which is indicative of his foremost position as a representative of the builders art, and of the honorable methods which he follows in all his business transactions.
As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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