BIOGRAPHIES: Henry JESSEL, Spring Brook Township, Dunn County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Abood 27 June 2002 ==================================================================== From the 1925 History of Dunn County. HENRY JESSEL, now deceased, who had a long and credible record in the agricultural and dairying industry, was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, April 30, 1852, son of Henry J. and Sophia (Schultz) Jessel, the parents also being natives of Germany. The family came to the United States in 1858, landing in New York and at once coming went to Chicago, in which city they remained for a short time. Then they moved to Whitewater, Walworth County, Wis., where Henry J. Jessel for two years and a half worked as a common laborer. They were evidently economical, for at the end of that time Mr. Jessel bought a farm in Monroe County, to which the family moved and where they lived for 17 years. He then traded that farm for one in the town of Clifton in the same county, which he owned for nine years or until 1884, the farm, however, being managed by his son Henry, as by that time Henry J. Jessel was advanced in years and was no longer able to do hard work. On May 7, 1884, the family made another change of location, moving to Dunn County and buying a farm of 160 acres in Section 2 of the town of Spring Brook. It was a farm that had been improved to some extent, though the buildings were poor. Its management and further improvement developed upon the subject of this sketch, who did the work in very complete fashion, erecting two large barns, measuring 32 x 54 feet each, a silo of 12 x 30 feet, a hog house, granary and other buildings, all well designed and equipped with modern appliances and conveniences. He also supplied all the buildings with running water by digging a well on some elevated land to the north. There he did general farming for many years, his parents residing with him until their death. Gradually he gave more and more attention to dairying, keeping high grade Guernsey cattle with a pure bred sire and conducting the farm successfully until he sold it in the spring of 1915 to his son Louis, and retired, taking up his residence in the village of Elk Mound, where he passed away Nov. 25, 1924. For many years Mr. Jessel was one of the prominent citizens of his town and was active in the affairs of local government. He was supervisor for 15 years, and chairman of the town board for three years, which latter office gave him a seat on the county board and made him one of the factors in county government, as, besides casting his vote on all matters that came up for consideration, he served on a number of important committees. He also served for one year as treasurer of School District No. 5, in the town of Spring Brook. After his retirement, he was still interested in all public questions and in seeing them correctly solved for the welfare of the present and future generations. Mr. Jessel was married May 29, 1877, in the town of Kildare, Juneau County, Wis., to Ernestina Hintzman, who was born in Watertown, Wis., Dec. 18, 1855, daughter of William and Anna (Koplin) Hintzman. Her parents, now deceased, were natives of Germany who came to this country in 1854, first settling in Watertown, Wis., and later moving to Juneau County, where they made their home subsequently until death. Mr. and Mrs. Jessel were the parents of six children, Elinora, Minnie L., Emma, Lora, Louis H., and Irwin, whose further record, in brief, is as follows. Elinora, born March 28, 1878, is now Mrs. Edward Ausman of Elk Mound, Dunn County. Minnie L., born March 28, 1881, became the wife of Emil S. Gregorson and died in June, 1918, leaving two children, Frederick and Helen. Emma, born Sept. 11, 1884, is living at home with her parents. Lora, born April 14, 1887, is the wife of Frank Livingston of Wolf Point, Mont., and has two children, John and Robert. Louis H., born June 24, 1890 and who is now operating the old home farm, as its owner, married Ida Witcher, and has two children, Beatrice and Merton. Irwin, born Sept. 28, 1894, who lives in Elk Mound, married Mabel Benson and has two children, Lois and Dale. Mr. Jessel was affiliated religiously with the Evangelical Trinity Church of Elk Mound, to which the family belong.