Bio: Esselman, Herman B. (1871 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Esselman, Bushman, Leonard, McKim, Herbst, Claridge, Kouetzer, Sala, Filber, Brasch

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Esselman, Herman B. (1871 - 19??)

HERMAN B. ESSELMAN, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Athens Implement and Manufacturing Company, was born in Washington County. Wis., in January, 1871, and is a son of Clemens and Anna (Bushman) Esselman. The parents of Mr. Esselman were born, reared and married in Germany. After they came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, the father followed farming during his active years. His widow survives him and lives at Marshfield. They had the following children: Sophia, who is the widow of Joseph Leonard; Clemens; Anna, who is the wife of Joseph McKim; Herman B.; Dena, who is the wife of Joseph Herbst; Josephine: Mary; Augusta; Amelia, who is the wife of George Claridge; and Louis.  

At the age of nine years Herman B. Esselman was considered old enough to put aside his school books and begin to help on the home farm and he worked for his father at farming and in the woods and logging and teaming until he was twenty-one years of age. Wishing to see something of other parts of the country, Mr. Esselman then went to Minnesota and while there was in a general store business until 1894, when he returned to Wisconsin and for one year was in the hotel business at Loyal in Clark County. Later he bought a blacksmith shop and taught himself the trade and conducted the shop for three and one half years, when he bought a hardware store. Six months later, after selling the store, he came to Athens, in the spring of 1901, and here bought a blacksmith and wagon shop and operated the same for three years. In 1904 the Athens Implement and Manufacturing Company was organized for the sale of farm implements and the manufacturing of wagon hubs and all kinds of turned wood. Since July, 1905, Mr. Esselman has been manager, secretary and treasurer. It is one of the prospering enterprises of this section, largely owing to Mr. Esselman's energy and good judgment. In 1912 the above concern added a department for the sale of automobiles and operation of an up-to-date garage. Mr. Esselman is a stockholder in the Bank of Athens and the Athens Telephone Company, and, in partnership with George A. Kouetzer is interested in lands and also owns personally other lands.  

On February 13, 1898, Mr. Esselman was married to Miss Emma Sala, who was born at Kewaskum, Wis., a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Filber) Sala, the former of whom was a millwright and carpenter by trade. Mrs. Esselman has the following brothers and sisters: William; Elizabeth, wife of John Brasch: and Charles, Jacob, Frederick, Minnie and Linda. Mr. and Mrs. Esselman have three children: Herman, Bernard and Marcella. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Esselman is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Eagles. He is a Republican in politics and for two years, 1902-4, served very efficiently in the office of marshal of Athens, but otherwise has accepted no public office.