Bio: Messer, E. L. (79th B-day - 21 June 1946)

Contact:  Stan

Surnames: MESSER LEBELL HALL

----Sources: Marathon County Register (Unity, Clark Co. Wis.) 06/21/1946

Messer, E. L. (79th B-day = 17 Jun. 1946)

E. L. Messer, one of our highly esteemed citizens, celebrated his 79th birthday June 17th. Mr. Messer was born at Lincoln, Maine. He and his wife and family came to Unity in 1910 from Prairie du Chien where he and his brother Ansel owned and published a newspaper.

Mr. Messer was appointed Postmaster in that year to succeed Mr. Hall who was retired. He also took over the Marathon County Register as editor and publisher until 1920, when he sold the paper to James LeBell. Mr. Messer was always a good servant to the Public, taking part in many of the activites. He sang bass for many years in the choir and quartets and sang for practically every funeral held in the Methodist Church up to the time of his illness nearly two years ago. He also directed the Methodist Choir for several years.

Newspaper work was what he loved and he acted as Special Correspondent for the Wausau Herald in 1935. He was retired as Postmaster and in 1938 was elected Treasurer of the village, which capacity he diligently fulfilled until 1945. He was also Secretary for the M. W. A. since 1918.

In 1920 Mrs. Messer passed away, leaving him with a family of three boys and three girls. Ansel, the youngest son was just a small boy at that time. Today, the children are all married and he is the proud grandfather of sixteen grandchildren. We wish to express our appreciation to Mr. Messer for his outstanding service to the community thru the years. Truly we can say as the Good Book does, "Well done, they good and faithful servant."

Many more Happy Birthdays!