A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 965-966
Aaron V. Hester, a pioneer farmer of Eel River Township, Hendricks County, Ind., and a veteran of the Mexican War, was born in Fleming County, Ky., June 6, 1823, and descends from a colonial family that antedates the Revolutionary War. His great-grandfather, John Hester, came to America from Germany and settled in Kentucky contemporaneously with Daniel Boone. His death took place in Fleming County. His brother, named Jacob, was captured by the Indians and burned at the stake. The grandfather of our subject, also named John, and son of the John first named, was born in Nicholas County, Ky. He married Margaret Gilbert, and in 1837 he came to Indiana and settled in Morgan County, where he engaged in farming. He was a Democrat in politics, and died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. Adam Hester, son of the last-named John, and father of Aaron V. Hester, was also born in Fleming County, Ky., was a substantial farmer, a Republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in his religious faith. He married Ann M. Van Zandt, daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Keith) Van Zandt, and the children born to this marriage were named, in the order of birth, as follows; Aaron V., Eliza J., Manda, John, James W., Levi, Isaac, Margaret and James M. The mother of this family died in July, 1862, and the father survived until August 2, 1882.
Aaron V. Hester, the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biographical notice, was reared to farming, but also learned the trade of cabinet-making and carpentering. His literary education was acquired in the primitive and antiquated log school-house of his early day, but this he supplemented with hard study at home and by a close observance of events as they passed before him in after days. His earliest mark in life, however, was made by his enlistment, in June 1846, in Company D., First Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for the Mexican War. He reached the scene of conflict, via the Mississippi River, across the Gulf of Mexico in a sailing vessel, and by a march to Monterey, Mexico, the details of which glorious battle the general reader is fully acquainted with. In this march over the mountains, Mr. Hester underwent many thrilling and dangerous adventures and saw a great deal of new country, and, to him, strange and peculiar people. He was, however, seized with the plague of the country, the slow fever, from which it took him a over a year to recover. After all the turmoil and strife incident to the glorious struggle, Mr. Hester was honorably discharged, in July, 1847, and now receives a pension of eight dollars per month for his gallant services. September 4, 1858, Mr. Hester married Miss Sarah McDaniel, daughter of Judson and Sarah (Carrington) McDaniel, to which union were born the following children: Mary C., Noral L., Melvina, Manda M., Hattie, Eva and Evert, of whom Mary C. and Evert are deceased. Mrs. Hester was a devout member of the Christian Church, in the faith of which she was called from earth, January4, 1874, leaving to her loving husband the care of their offspring, for whom he has fulfilled all the duties of a dual parent. He has given the children good educations and trained them in the graces of the Christian Church, of which he is himself a pillar. Besides having worked for nearly fourteen years at the trade of carpenter, Mr. Hester has given much attention to farming, and is now the owner of eighty acres of fertile land, which he keeps under a state of good cultivation. He has won the respect and regard of his neighbors and friends, and is viewed as a model citizen by all who know him.