Bio. of Henry A. Dessel ~ son of Henry W. and Marie Anna (Figge) Dessel
NORTHWESTERN
IOWA
ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION
VOLUME III
1804-1926
H. A. DESSEL
Regular in habit and methodical in action, Henry A. Dessel was able to
perform duties as varied in character as they are successful in result. Well
defined plans and purposes carried him into important business relations and his
activities also extended to the field of public service. High honors were
bestowed upon him by the Masonic order, and his death in June, 1924, was a distinct loss to Ida Grove and also to the state. A native of Germany, he was born January 27, 1861, and his parents, Henry W. and Marie Anna (Figge) Dessel, were also born in that country, where the father passed away in 1861. The mother remained in the Fatherland until 1867, when she brought her family of six children to the United States and purchased a farm in Winneshiek county, Iowa. The remainder of her life was spent in this state, and in 1909 she was called to her final rest.
Henry A. Dessel was reared and educated in Winneshiek county and in 1881,
when a young man of twenty, came to Ida county, securing a position as clerk in
the store of his uncle, at that time a prominent merchant of Ida Grove. He
acted in that capacity for about three years and in 1884 engaged in the
hardware business in Holstein. He was appointed postmaster of the town and
subsequently was elected auditor of Ida county. He filled that responsible office
for eleven years, displaying rare qualities as a public servant, and then
entered the lumber industry. He was engaged in that business both in Holstein
and Battle Creek, Iowa, and was very successful in his undertakings. He was
keenly alive to every new avenue opened in the natural ramifications of the
trade and brought to the solution of intricate business problems unerring
judgment and a broad grasp of affairs. In 1919 he retired and established his
home in Ida Grove, where he passed away at the age of sixty-three years.
Mr. Dessel was twice married. His first wife was Miss Ottilie Witt, of
Davenport, Iowa, and they were the parents of two children; Arthur, who died in
infancy; and William Henry, who enlisted for service in the World war and died
at Camp Dodge, Iowa, in 1918. Mr. Dessel's second union was with Miss Julia
Jacob, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and a daughter of A. M. and Mary
Julia (Woods) Jacob, who were also born in that state. They came to the
middle west in 1877 and for four years the father operated a tract of land near
Ida Grove. In 1881 he bought a farm in the vicinity of Arthur and eight years later sold the place, purchasing a farm adjoining Ida Grove. There he lived until his demise in 1892, and Mrs. Jacob passed away in 1914 at the advanced
age of eighty-six years.
Mrs. Dessel survives her husband and capably manages her business interests.
She is affiliated with the Episcopal church and takes a leading part in the
social life of the community. She was engaged in teaching for a quarter of
a century and enjoyed an enviable reputation as an educator, serving for
three years as superintendent of schools of Ida county. Mr. Dessel was a member of the Unitarian church and contributed liberally toward its support. He was very active in county affairs and his support was always to be relied upon in the furtherance of projects for civic development. He was one of the most prominent Masons in the state and in recognition of his services to the order
was honored with the thirty-third degree, which he received in Washington, D. C. Scrupulously honest in all his business dealings, he left to his family the heritage of a good name - a possession which is more to be desired than
great wealth.
posted at this site with Debbie's permission
Deborah
see:http://www.iagenweb.org/history/index.html