Birthplace of Joseph Heister – Fifth Governor of Pennsylvania

I confess that, despite my mandatory High School course in Pennsylvania history, I did not recall the name of Joseph Heister.

Recently, however, I found this postcard celebrating his birthplace in Berks County.

Published by H. Winslow Fegley of Reading, the postcard was printed in the early 1920’s; it was not mailed.

A soldier and colonel in the Revolutionary Army, Heister was captured by the British and held on one of the notorious prison ships in New York harbor.

Heister later served in the Continental Congress, the PA House and Senate, and the US Congress.

As Governor, he limited himself to a single term in office and astonished his contemporaries by filling state offices on the basis of merit.

Heister spoke with a pronounced “Pennsylvania Dutch” accent throughout his life.

He is the grandfather of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg.