KESSLER, GEORGE, a retired German-American citizen of Williamsville, Ill., has been a resident of that village for the past fifteen years and is well know in the community. He is a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, born June 28, 1832, son of John J. and Mary Dorothy (Brul) Kessler, both also natives of Germany, who died in that country. The father was an extensive manufacturer of cloth and carried on a successful business. He and his wife were parents of four sons and seven daughters of whom all are deceased except George and one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Deipel, now eighty-one years of age, and residing in Baltimore.

George Kessler attended the schools of his native country until he was fourteen years old, then engaged in various occupations until he sailed from Bremen, July 10, 1848, for the United States, landing in Baltimore, where he lived twenty years, learning and following the trade of shoemaker. He became a skilled workman and established a good trade in custom work. From Baltimore he went to St. Louis in 1868 and there spent one year at his trade, then spent a short time in various places in Missouri, and one year in Leavenworth, Kan., after which he returned to St. Louis. He worked two years at Jerseyville, Ill., spent several months in New Douglas, Ill., lived six months in Morrisonville, whence he moved to Springfield, and December 29, 1895, came to Williamsville, where he built up a trade in custom work. He is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Williamsville and has established himself in the good will and esteem of his fellow townsmen. He owns a very pleasant home in the village.

Mr. Kessler was married in Baltimore, in 1856, to Margaret Stoffel, a native of Germany, whose parents came to Baltimore and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Kessler died, having had five children, of whom but one survives, a daughter residing in Baltimore. Mr. Kessler is a member of the Lutheran church and lends his influence to church and benevolent work. He has many friends in the community.