Bio: Dessert, Joseph (1881) 
Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dessert, Gate, Etheridge, Sanford

----Source: The History of Northern Wisconsin (Marathon County, Wis.) 1881, page 570

JOSEPH DESSERT, saw and planing mill, Mosinee, was born in Maskenonge, Lower Canada, Jan. 8, 1819. He first came to the Lake Superior country, in the employ of the American Fur Co., in 1840, where he remained until the Spring of 1844. He came to Mosinee in October, 1844, where he began working by the month and by the job in the lumber business until the Fall of 1849. He then rented a saw mill, in company with Henry Gate and James Etheridge, and operated it until 1852, at which time they bought the same and ran it until 1854, when they bought the interest of Mr. Ethridge, and in 1859, Mr. Dessert bought Mr. Gate's interest, and took full control, which mills he operated until 1880, when he took in Mr. Louis Dessert, a nephew of his. They are now doing a large business. Mr. Dessert was married in 1862, at Waukesha, to Mary S. Sanford, who was born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1837. They have had two children, Stella L. Dessert and an infant now deceased. Mrs. Dessert died, July 1, 1881, at her home in Mosinee. Mr. Dessert's saw mill was erected and in operation in 1874. The capacity is 85,000 per day. They manufacture 50,000 shingles, 15,000 laths and 8,000 pickets in eleven hours. The planing mill was erected in 1878, the capacity of which is: surfacing, 35,000 per day; dressing, flooring or ship lap, 15,000. They employ 100 men, and have a home market for all of their lumber, etc.