534 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off, Doc. 



REPORT OF THE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE 



Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 25, 1912. 



Again we are called upon to record the removal by death of two 

 of our associates in the agricultural field of our State, Gabriel Hie«- 

 ter, of Dauphin county, and J. F. Johnson, of Fulton county. 



Gabriel Hiester was born on the ancestral acres on which he died, 

 April 28, 1850, his death occuring January 19, 1912. He was gradu- 

 ated at Pennsylvania State College in 1SG8 at the age of 18 years. 

 His father was one of the founders and until his death, one of its 

 honored trustees. Mr. Hiester was graduated in the course in Agri- 

 culture and returned to his father's farm and carried on advanced 

 general farming, specializing in Pomology, in which he became an 

 authoritj'. 



He became a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, also a member of the then Fruit Growers' Association in 1882, 

 serving in the Board for many years as a member and officer, and for 

 many years as its Pomologist. He continued a member and was 

 President of the State Horticultural Society at the time of his death. 



In addition to the original homestead, he purchasea a larm in 

 Perry county. Pa., and converted it into a fruit farm in which he suc- 

 ceeded in growing apples and peaches and cherries, giving an im- 

 portant obje-ct lesson to our fruit growers. 



He has been a prominent Trustee of Pennsylvania State College 

 since 1879, and served for many years on its Executive and Advisory 

 Committee. His was a master mind wliich was shown in every 

 line of work he pursued. 



When the history of Pennsylvania agriculture is written, the name 

 of Gabriel Hiester will be in the foremost rank of its progressive 

 members. 



He was a man of unbending integrity and a high sense of honor; 

 courageous and aggressive, yet courteous and afi'able, he possessed 

 the qualities of a great leader. His death is not only a loss to the 

 Board, but to the entire State. 



Mr. J. F. Johnson was an active member of this Board for two 

 consecutive terms, a prominent citizen and farmer of Fulton county. 

 He died at his home, in February 1911, aged about 54 years. While 

 a member of this Board, he was a regular attendant and interested in 

 its work. 



We desire to express our loss by the demise of these co-workers, 

 and extend our sympathies to their bereaved families. 



We ask that this report be spread upon the minutes of this Board 

 and a copy be sent to the bereaved families. 



J. A. HERR, 

 JAS. A. BEAVER, 

 A. J. KAHLER, 

 HENRY C. SNAVELY, 

 MATTHEW RODGERS, 



Committee. 



