Biographical Sketch of Rudolph Kessler, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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Rudolph Kessler, proprietor of the Mammoth Livery and Feed Stable at 
Salem, was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, August 19, 1844,
and is the son of Rudolph and Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Kessler.  Rudolph
Kessler, Sr., was born in Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, in 1818, and was
a miller and distiller in his native country.  He came to America in 
1857, locating in Pilot Knob, Mo., and soon went to Madison Co., where
he purchased a farm and tilled the soil the remainder of his days.  He 
died in 1883.  His wife was also a native of the Kingdom of Prussia,
Germany, born in 1825, and is yet on the old home place.  She is the
mother of six children: Rudolph, Emily D., wife of Jacob Kessler; 
Charles, in Mine LaMotte, Mo.; Joannah, Lena and John.  The last three
are at home.  Rudolph was thirteen years of age when he came to America
with his parents, and remained with them until they moved to the farm,
when he commenced working at Pilot Knob.  At the opening of the war he
was employed in the Government stables at Pilot Knob.  In 1863 he 
enlisted in Company M, Eighth Missouri Mounted Infantry, and served 
about six months, when he was discharged.  He then enlisted in Company
F, Fiftieth Regiment Mounted Infantry, and served abour four months. He
was in the battle of Pilot Knob.  He was wagon master while in the 
Eighth Regiment, and was quarter master sergeant in the Fiftieth Regi-
ment.  After the war he lived in Wayne county for a year, and from 1866
to 1872 he was at home in Madison county.  In the last named year he 
came to Salem, and bought an interest in the livery and feed stable 
with Richard Pohlman, the firm being Pohlman & Kessler for over two
years.  Mr. Kessler then bought Mr. Pohman's interest, and from that
time until the present he has been sole owner.  He keeps an average of
twelve horses, seven buggies, five spring wagons, one lumber wagon and
a hack to all trains.  In 1881 he erected his present stable, which is
30 x 80 feet, with a thirty-foot shed on one side and a 130 foot shed 
on the rear; twenty-two feet wide.  Mr. Kessler keeps a first class
stable, the best and most complete stable in Salem or in Dent county.
By his long experience in the business he knows the needs of the 
traveling public, and keeps his stable and traveling apparatus in first
class order.  He is courteous, obliging, and a true gentleman.  In 1872
he married Miss Rosa Weaver, daughter of John C. Weaver.  She was born
in Warren county, Ohio, in 1850, and by her marriage became the mother 
of four children: Rudolph, John, Lizzie and Rosa.  Mr. Kessler is a
Republican in politics, and was a member of the city council two years.
He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and Select Knights.  He and wife are
members of the German Lutheran Church.

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