TESSMAN, E. R.

TESSMAN, GROTH, ROSEL, SIMERING, TROGE, CHRISTIANSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/29/2011 at 15:34:30

E. R. Tessman is engaged in the implement business in St. Ansgar as a member of the firm of Tessman & Simering. He is a native son of the city in which he makes his home, his birth having there occurred July 5, 1874. He is also a representative of one of the pioneer families of the county, his parents being C. L. and Augusta (Groth) Tessman. The father was born in Russian Poland and emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1866, the family home being first established in Wisconsin, whence a removal was made to Mitchell county, Iowa, where C. L. Tessman yet makes his home. He was born July 21, 1844, and has therefore passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has always followed. A member of the German Lutheran church, he became one of the organizers of the church of that denomination in St. Ansgar. To him and his wife were born six children: E. R., of this review; Mary, the wife of H. A. Rosel, of Mitchell county; Bertha, deceased; Augusta, the wife of Otto Simering, of St. Ansgar; Paulina, the wife of A. Troge, of St. Ansgar; and Linda, the wife of C. B. Chris­tiansen, of Osage, Iowa.

In the common schools E. R. Tessman began his education, which he supple­mented by two terms study in St. Ansgar's Seminary. Through the period of his boyhood he worked to a greater or less extent on farms and in connection with the operation of a threshing machine until 1902, when he became connected with the implement business, in which, he is now engaged. He was originally associ­ated with Mr. Meyer but a change in the ownership has led to the adoption of the present firm style of Tessman & Simering. They have a well appointed imple­ment establishment, carrying a large line of farm machinery, and their business has reached a gratifying figure. Mr. Tessman is also a stockholder in the Cooperative Lumber Company.

On the 14th of July, 1903, occurred the marriage of E. R. Tessman and Miss Emma Rennebohm, a daughter of Augustin Rennebohm, one of the early settlers of Mitchell county. Four children have been born to them, Arthur C., Elmer C., Norma Alice and Gertrude Emily, all yet at home.

Mr. Tessman has been quite prominent in public affairs. For two years he filled the office of marshal and has been fire chief of St. Ansgar since 1902. He has also been president of the school board for three years and for several years was one of the school directors. He is president of the city council and he ex­ercises his official prerogatives in support of all measures for the public good. In politics he has maintained an independent course, voting for the man whom he regards as best qualified for the office rather than for party. He belongs to the Commercial Club and also to the German Lutheran church and his aid and influence are always on the side of those interests which are looking to the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 317.