William Hess Sr. (b.ca.1750), son of a German immigrant, married Mary Waltour Hess (?) and lived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Descendants and relatives lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, South Dakota, Washington, California, Indiana, Oklahoma, New York, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, Idaho, Nebraska, Minnesota and elsewhere. Includes history of the seven annual Hess--Higbee Family Reunions between 1903 and 1909 in various towns in Michigan, as well as listing the officers of the family organization.