William B. Kessler
"History of Miami County Ohio"
Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1880
pg 836, Biographical Sketches
WILLIAM B. KESSLER, farmer; P.O. West MIlton; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the year
1824; is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Hart) Kessler, his father a native of Virginia, and
his mother of Pennsylvania; they removed to and settled in Montgomery Co., in which they
lived a number of years, then came to this county and took up their abode for awhile;
removed to near Little Rock, Ark., and finally back to Southern Indiana, in which state
his mother died, aged about 40 years; after her death, his father came to this county, and
lived till his death which occurred at the age of 72 or 73 years; they were parents of six
children, three of whom are living, viz., Melinda, Wm. B. and Henry; the deceased are
Joseph, John and Cyrus; his father's marriage was with a Miss Fetten, by whom he had four
children, three living, viz., Nancy, Lucinda and Sarah; Mary deceased; his third marriage
was celebrated with Elizabeth Rublia, by whom he had one child, Amanda; his fourth
marriage was with Nancy Robinson, by whom he had one child, a son, Franklin. Our subject
was reared on the farm, on which he labored until he was 19 years of age, at which time he
was in Indiana, but returned to this county and worked as a hand on the farm for about
four years, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for several
years. In 1846, he was married to Mary Albaugh; they had
eight children, seven of whom are living, viz., Clara, Calvin, Cyrus, Walter, Aaron,
William and Samuel; Susanna deceased. After his marriage, he continued at his trade, and
in a small way, did something at farming. In 1847, he came to the place on which he now
resides; it was only partly improved but, by dint of hard labor, he has cleared up and
subdued his land, besides erecting good, comfortale and substantial buildings; he also
owns the old Albaugh homestead, which contains 80 acres; this, in
connection with the other, makes him possessor of 182 3/4 acres of fine land; his wife is
a daughter of Samuel and Anna Albaugh, who were among the early pioneers
of this county; Mr Kessler is one of our self-made men having begun life empty-handed, and
with slight assistance, he has by energy and frugality, combined with good management,
amassed a fine property, the fruit of honest toil. Mrs K. is a member of the Christian
Church, and an exemplary Christian woman.