Surnames: Messer, Smith, Olson, Vandercook, Dietel, Evers, Loughead, Evenson, Langdon

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 04/08/1948

Messer, Ernest L. (17 June 1867 - 31 Mar. 1948)

Ernest L. Messer, age 80, former postmaster of Unity and newspaper editor, died Wednesday, March 31, at his home in Unity where he resided the past 38 years. He had been ill four weeks and died as the result of a stroke. He had been retired the past 12 years.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Messer home and at 2 o’clock at the Unity Methodist church. The Rev. Frederick J. Smith and the Rev. J. A. Olson officiated and burial was made in the Colby (Colby, Clark Co. Wis.) Cemetery.

Mr. Messer was born in Lincoln, Maine, June 17, 1867, and came to Spencer with his mother, brother and sister in 1875, receiving his early education at Spencer, Wis. He also learned the printers’ trade there under Gilbert E. Vandercook.

On Oct. 15, 1895, he was married at Marshfield to Anna Dietel, who died March 28, 1920. Surviving are three sons and three daughters, Lloyd L. Messer, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Alvah Messer, Spencer; Ansel Messer, Unity; Mrs. Million (Katherine) Evers, Menomonie Falls; Mrs. Thomas (Gladys) Loughead, Unity; and Mrs. Martin (Myra) Evenson also of Unity. A sister, Mrs. Flora Langdon, lives at Rhinelander, and there are 19 grandchildren.