Hiram Biesecker
b. 12 February 1843, near Allentown, Adams County, Pennsylvania, John and Sarah Ann (Mickley) Biesecker
d. 3 May 1939, Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois
m. 3 August 1870, Centerville, Illinois
Asenith Harper
b. 14 December 1854, Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois, to William W. and Sarah (Wright) Harper
d. 4 September 1921, Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois
Children with Asenith Harper:
- John William “Willie” (1871-1873)
- Joseph Henry (b. 1872)
- Alfred Newton (b. 1874)
- Mary Magdeline (b. 1876)
- Franklin (1880-1880)
- Otis Emery (b. 1881)
- Sarah Ann (b. 1882)
- Clara Etta (b. 1884)
- Madie Belle (b. 1889)
- James Arthur (b. 1892)
- Julia Mae (b. 1895)
Hiram moved with his parents by covered wagon to Colburn, Indiana. There he and his brothers and sisters, who spoke only German, learned the English language. They attended the Lutheran Church where their father often served as the minister.
At age 19, Hiram joined Company A, 116th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers on 11 July 1863 and served as a private. He mustered out at Lafayette on 20 February 1864. Upon returning home, an undertaker paid him $500 to re-enlist in place of his son. This time he served in the 12th Light Artillery and mustered out on 7 July 1865 at Indianapolis, Indiana.
After the war, Hiram and a friend moved to Illinois where he met and married Asenith. They lived on a farm east of Monticello, Illinois but when their home burned, they moved by spring wagon back to Colburn, Indiana for a short time. Their first son was born and died while they were in Indiana and is buried along with his grandparents in the Colburn Cemetery.
Hiram and Asenith returned to Piatt County, near White Heath, Illinois, and had the rest of their children there. Hiram was 96 when he passed away in 1939.
Submitted by:
Melody M. McDaniel
Mahomet IL
E-mail: mmmcdani@mchsi.com