Daniel Hiester was born on June 25, 1747 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the son of Daniel and Catharine (Schuler) Hiester. Joseph Hister was his cousin.
His father, remotely descended from Silesian origins, emigrated to Pennsylvania from Elsoff, province of Westphalia, Germany, in 1737, owned a farm and tannery at Gosenhoppen, and became an outstanding man in his community.
Hiester received a good education and was trained to succeed his father in the management of the farm and tannery.
An ambition to travel prompted Hiester to take a journey to the Carolinas which pleased him so well that he planned to repeat it and to extend his trip to the West Indies.
In 1774, upon his father's moving to Reading, Daniel acquired possession of the farm and tannery. These responsibilities, added to that of managing the large estate of his father-in-law, who was killed in an accident in 1775, afforded him abundant opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities as a businessman.
At first only lukewarm to the Revolution, Hiester later (1777) became colonel of the 4th Battalion of Philadelphia County militia and on May 23, 1782, a brigadier-general of militia. His unit was called for duty in May and September 1777, in the latter month having rendezvoused at Swede's Ford below Norristown.
During the war he was also engaged in various other duties. He was appointed a commissioner for Philadelphia County to seize the personal effects of traitors on October 21, 1777; agent of forfeited estates on May 6, 1778; and chairman of the committee of public accounts of Pennsylvania on October 7, 1779. In 1778 he visited Nova Scotia in an effort to obtain the release of his brother-in-law who was held prisoner by the British.
He was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly annually from 1778 to 1781; to the Supreme Executive Council from the newly created Montgomery County in 1784; and a commissioner of the Connecticut land claims in 1787. In 1788 Hiester was elected to Congress from Berks County, where he had moved in the meantime, on the Anti-Federalist ticket, though he received the support of German Federalists. He served continuously until his resignation in December 1796.
In 1796 he sold his property in Upper Salford and moved to Hagerstown, Marylandd, from which state he was elected to Congress in 1800. His service on this occasion was terminated by his death in 1804.
Hiester was opposed to Hamilton's scheme for the assumption of state debts, but he favored the national bank and advocated import duties for protective purposes.
He also used his influence to make Harrisburg on the Susquehanna the permanent seat of government. He spoke seldom in Congress, but invariably from conviction, giving evidence of practicality and sound judgment.
He was among the number that voted to move the U. S. capital from Philadelphia to a place on the Potomac later named Washington.
Hiester was tall, of handsome features, and possessed a charming personality.
At one time Hiester thought seriously of settling in the South as a merchant, but his marriage about 1770 to Rosanna, the daughter of Jonathan Hager, founder of Hagerstown, and Elizabeth (Krischner) Hager, changed any such plans. After their marriage they made their home at the Hiester homestead.
