John A. Hiestand was born in East Donegal Township, Pennsylvania.

He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1849 and commenced practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Hiestand was elected as a Whig to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1852, 1853, and 1856.

[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1868 to Congress to fill the unexpired term of Thaddeus Stevens.

He was appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1871 naval officer at the port of Philadelphia.