HENRY MESTA, one of the most enterprising and genial citizens of Union township, traces his lineage to a German family. His grandfather, Henry Mesta, was a native of Germany, and was killed by foul air in the Hessian mines. He was the father of five children, namely: Henry, Frederick, Lawrence, Eliza and Elizabeth, all of whom came to America after the death of their father, Henry and Frederick coming first and settling in Pittsburgh, Penn. Henry Mesta, son of Henry the pioneer, was a pattern-maker, and worked at his trade in Pittsburgh until they had saved enough money to bring the remainder of the family to this country. In 1852 the others came, and Henry Mesta continued to follow his trade until 1862, when he bought and moved to a farm in Snowden township, Allegheny Co., Penn. In 1889 he retired from active life, and died December 19, 1892, in his sixty-first year. When a young man he was married to Miss Ann Gerhold, a native of Germany, who came to America, when but five years of age, with her father, John Gerhold. To this union were born nine children, viz.: Henry, Mary (deceased), Anna, George, Matilda (deceased), Aurilla, Charles, Amanda and Frederick. Henry Mesta, the eldest son of Henry and Anna Mesta, was born December 4, 1854, in the South Side, Pittsburgh, Penn., and in 1862 moved with the family to Snowden township, Allegheny county. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, and February 27, 1879, was married to Miss Catherine Knoedler, of Jefferson township, Allegheny county, daughter of Jacob Knoedler, of German descent. The young couple lived on the farm known as the "Horning Farm", in Snowden township, for two years after their marriage; then located near Library, Allegheny county, and in 1885 came to the place where they are now living in Union township, Washington county. The following children have been born to them: Henry, Jacob, George, Rosa, Anna, Louise, William. Mr. Mesta owns 109 acres of excellent land, and keeps a dairy of from twenty-five to twenty-eight cows. He has made a study of his chosen vocation, devoting his whole time to the care and improvement of his excellent farm, and keeps a strict acc! ount of every cent expended, raising only such crops as are most profitable; and he ids further making a study of all kinds of fruit, which he intends to plant and raise largely as soon as the time will permit. When he started on this place in 1885, Mr. Mesta had no money, but a good friend, and has succeeded in paying for the land, and furnishing a place with every convenience. He has been a stanch Republican, and in religious faith is a supporter of the Presbyterian Church of Finleyville, having formerly been a member of the German Lutheran Church.

Text taken from page 708 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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