Dessel, Frank W. 1846 - 1922
DESSEL, FEGGE, CHUSWELL, BECKER, SEIPMAN, MEYER, MILLER
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 19:32:48
Frank W. Dessel is one of the prominent business men and extensive landowners of Winneshiek County, controlling an important trade in agricultural implements in Ossian and owning one hundred and forty-six acres of land, mostly within the corporation limits. Throughout his business career he has manifested sterling qualities of industry, perseverance and integrity and thus he has gained for himself the substantial prosperity which he now enjoys.
He dates his residence in Iowa from 1868, but was born in Germany on the 23d of April, 1846, a son of Henry and Mary Annette (Fegge) Dessel, also natives of that country. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, never came to America, dying in Germany. After his death the mother crossed the Atlantic, settling in Iowa in 1869 and passing away in this state June 26, 1909. In their family were ten children: Frank W. of this review; Ann Mary, the wife of Joseph Becker of Ossian; Thrasia, the wife of Peter Chuswell, of Ossian; Elizabeth; who married Joseph Becker of Ossian, a cousin to the husband of her sister, Ann Mary; Aldine, who became the wife of William Seipman, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Henry, who resides in Holstein, Iowa; Annie, the wife of Charles Meyer of Sioux City, Iowa; Pauline and Marie, who have passed away; and one son who died in infancy.
Frank W. Dessel was reared in Germany and at the early age of fifteen, following the death of his father, was called upon to assume the entire management of the homestead. He operated it successfully until he was twenty-two and then in 1868, crossed the Atlantic to America, pushing immediately westward to Iowa, where he obtained work on a farm. As soon as he could sell his property in Germany he purchased one hundred and twenty acres one mile from Ossian and developed this along modern and practical lines for eight years, finally disposing of it and moving into the town where he turned his attention to business pursuits. He purchased a lot and upon it erected a fine brick store with a frontage of sixty-five feet and in this installed a complete line of agricultural implements. In the control of this enterprise he displays keen discernment and excellent management and his business has steadily grown, a large and representative patronage being now accorded him. He has recently purchased one hundred and forty-six acres of land, lying almost entirely within the corporation limits of Ossian, and this property he has developed and improved until it is today productive and valuable.
Mr. Dessel was married to Miss Caroline Meyer and they became the parents of ten children: Andrew, who resides in Ossian; Joseph, also of Ossian; Leo, who makes his home in Portland, Oregon; Louis, of Chicago; Mary, who married Fred Miller, cashier in a bank in Flaxton, North Dakota; Lillie, who lives at home; Henry, who resides in Ossian; Edith, at home; Regina, a resident of Florida; and Frank, who lives at home.
The family are members of the Catholic Church, and politically Mr. Dessel gives his allegiance to the Democratic Party. He has been township trustee and a member of the town council and in both positions proved loyal and faithful to the duties which devolved upon him. Wherever he is known he is respected for his unfaltering allegiance to principles of honorable manhood as manifested in business relations, in matters of citizenship, and in all phases of life.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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