WI BIO - Dane Co - ESSER, Jacob & Mathias
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co.
1893, Vol II, pp 565-566, 626-628
Biography of Jacob ESSER (pp 626-628) - brother of Mathias
Among those who have contributed by their industry and ability to the substantial growth of Madison, Dane County, WI, no one
is more deserving of mention than Jacob ESSER. To his enterprise is due the establishing on 02 Mar 1892 of the firm of Esser &
Dawling, successful dealers in boots and shoes, at No. 21 West Main Street. They carry a high class of goods and do a
flourishing business, having by upright business principles and uniform courtesy gained great popularity among their patrons. Prior
to entering this business, Jacob ESSER served acceptably as Clerk of Dane County for four years (two terms). He was elected on
the Republican ticket, being considered by the leaders of that party as the fit man for the [p 627] position. Jacob ESSER came
to Madison in the early part of 1856, and since that time has been closely identified with the interests of the city. He has grown
to manhood in the
city of his adoption; has received his education in her excellent schools, and learned his trade of shoe and boot maker. He
followed his trade for some years, and then clerked in a boot and shoe store for a time to acquire practical knowledge of the
business.
Jacob ESSER was born near Cologne, in a Rhine province of Germany, 12 Dec 1846, son of Francis and Agnes (WIELAND)
ESSER. [Note the bio of Mathias gives the mother's maiden name as WHALEN.] Jacob was a boy of 10 years when his parents
left their native land, sailing from Antwerp, Germany, on a three-mast sailer that landed them in Boston, MA, after a voyage of
59 [52?] days. On arriving in this country, the family proceeded to Madison, via the lakes, river and canal to Milwaukee, WI,
and thence overland to Madison. The parents resided in Madison until their death. The father, Francis ESSER, a miller by trade,
to which he devoted the active years of his life, died at age 65, and the mother, whose maiden name was Agnes WIELAND
[WHALEN?], died some years previous to her husband, at the age of 65. [Note the bio of Mathias ESSER gives the parents' ages
at death as 73 and 60, and provides dates. If Agnes died "some years previous" to Francis, it is unlikely they were the same age
at death.] They were earnest and useful members of the Catholic Church.
Jacob ESSER is the youngest of five children, three sons and two daughters. Barbara died in the spring of 1892, aged 52 years,
some years after her marriage to John KESSENICH [KESSNECH?], a resident of Madison, Dane County, WI. Mathias, a farmer of
Westport Township, Dane County, WI, married Margaretta CLEMMES [CLEMENS?]. Sabilla is the wife of Edward LA CROSS [LA
CROSSE?], a farmer of Vienna Township, Dane County, WI. Martin, a farmer of Vienna Township, married Miss Theresa MOFFET.
[Note the bio of Mathias ESSER does mention Martin.] The fifth child is Jacob, the subject of this sketch.
Jacob ESSER was married in Madison, Dane County, WI, to Miss Maria K. JESBERGER, who was born, reared, and primarily
educated in North Bristol, Dane County, WI, but finished her course of studies in Madison. Her parents were natives of Bavaria,
Germany, who came to America after their marriage and settled in Bristol, Dane County, WI, where the father, Antone
JESBERGER, died in 1889, at the age of 81 years. After his death his wife came to Madison, where she still resides in the
enjoyment of health and mental vigor, at the advanced age of 90 years. For the past 50 years she has been a practicing
midwife in Dane County, and enjoys the esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances. She and her husband were devout
Catholics all their lives. Mr. and Mrs.ESSER are also members of the same church, and Mr. ESSER is one of the present Trustees
of the Holy Redeemer Church. He is also a member of the building board of the new parochial school of the Holy Redeemer,
and is also a Trustee of the school.
Jacob and Maria K. (JESBERGER) ESSER have eight children: Frank W., a printer in the State Journal office, married
Catherine VALLENDER, and they have one child; Antone S., at home, was educated in the city schools; Mathias
J., George, Catherine, Agnes, Anna, and Margaret are all at home.
Jacob ESSER has been prominent in all matters calculated to benefit his city and county. He is a member of the Madison
Maennerchor, and takes an active part in all the meetings of that association. He is a live, active man in all local politics,
as well as in State and national affairs, and has frequently served as a delegate to both local and State conventions. He is
one of those men who may be [p 628] counted on for aid in all good enterprises, one who will go out of his way to aid a
friend, and a thoroughly honorable business man.
Biography of Mathias ESSER (pp 565-566) - brother of Jacob
Mathias ESSER, a successful farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in Prussia on 15 Jan 1835, a son of Francis and Agnes
(WHALEN) ESSER, also natives of that country. [Note the bio of Jacob gives the mother's maiden name as WIELAND.]
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John ESSER, was a miner of coal, and was accidentally killed in a mine at the age of
50 years, leaving six daughters and two sons, of whom Francisco was the eldest child. The grandmother ESSER died in
Germany in 1863, in her 87th year. The maternal grandparents, Jacob and Wilbarger (HORATZ) WHALEN, were farmers of
Prussia, where they died in the [p 566] prime of life, leaving four daughters and one son. The son, Chrisitan WHALEN, a
soldier in the French army, was killed in 1809 at the age of 27 years.
In the summer of 1856 the parents of our subject, Francis and Agnes (WHALEN) ESSER, emigrated to America on an
American schooner, Captain KENDRICK commanding, and arrived in Boston, MA, after a pleasant voyage of 52 [59?] days.
They brought their family of three sons and two daughters, and also two sisters of Francis ESSER. These sisters of Francis
ESSER are: Anna J., wife of Theodore CULLEN, a farmer of Berry Township, Dane County, WI; and Christine, wife of
Conrad SHAUF, a farmer of Grant County, WI. From Boston they came to Madison, WI, their objective point when they
left their native land, and after reaching that city they were comparatively without money. They soon found
remunerative employment for all, except the youngest son, then a lad of nine years, and one year later, in Apr 1857, they
rented a farm in Middleton Township, Dane County, WI, where they lived five years. During that time the father and sons
worked together, and soon accumulated sufficient money to purchase 20 acres of land for the parents, and erected a
comfortable dwelling. The father, Francis ESSER, died on this place, in Middleton Township, Dane County, WI, on 28 Apr
1880, at the age of 73 years; and the mother, Agnes (WHALEN) ESSER, died on 12 Jun 1865, aged 60 years. [Note the bio of
Jacob ESSER gives the ages of both parents at death as 65.] Francis and Agnes (WHALEN) ESSER were the parents of the
following children: Mathias, our subject; Barbara, formerly Mrs. KESSNECH [KESSENICH?], died in MO in May 1892; Sabilla,
wife of Edward LA CROSSE [LA CROSS?], a farmer of Vienna Township [Dane County, WI]; and Jacob, proprietor of a shoe
store in Madison, Dane County, WI. [Note this bio also states there were five children, but only names four, omitting Martin.]
On 12 May 1860, Mathias ESSER was married to Margaret CLEMENS [CLEMMES?], a daughter of Mathias and Anna (BEHRENDS)
CLEMENS. Her mother died in Germany, and in the spring of 1852 Margaret CLEMENS came with her father and
stepmother to America, being then in her 13th year. The father was twice married and reared a family of nine children;
Mathias CLEMENS died very suddenly of heart disease at Cross Plains [Dane County], WI, at the age of 62 years.
Mathias and Margaret (CLEMENS) ESSER began married life on a rented farm in Madison Township [Dane County], WI, and
later lived on rented land in Springfield Township [Dane County], WI, until the spring of 1866. In that year they purchased 40
acres of land, which was covered with second growth timber, and for which they paid $10 per acre. They soon erected a
one-story, two-room log house, where they lived from 1866 to 1884, and in 1884 moved into their fine large brick dwelling.
Mathias ESSER cleared his first 40 acres; in 1868 purchased 40 acres more, paying $10 per acre; in 1870 bought the third 40
acres, for $22.50 per acre; and in 1882 added 90 acres adjoining, but in Springfield Township. They now own 210 acres of good
land, with fine railroad facilities for shipping, and is located near Waunakee, WI. He has a fine large stone basement barn,
2x60 feet, with 18 foot posts, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Mathias and Margaret (CLEMENS) ESSER have eight living children: Frank, of Waunakee [Dane County], WI, is married and has
two children; Agnes, wife of Ignatius WRIGHT, also of Waunakee; John, a blacksmith of Waunakee; Jacob, at
home; Mary, wife of Herman DULL, a blacksmith of Waunakee; Erwin, at home; and Anna F., aged 17 years, is also at home.
Mathias ESSER served as Supervisor of the Side Board for two years, as Town Treasurer one year, as Postmaster, as a member
of the School Board, and is a Republican in his political views. Religiously, the family are members of the Catholic Church.
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Raymond
Esser b: 6 Aug 1895
William
Esser
