KESSINGER, Laurence

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 163

Laurence KESSINGER, teacher, Alma [Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was born 10 
August 1826 in Baden, Germany, and is a graduate of the Meersburg Normal 
School in Germany. He came to America in 1853, and first located in St. 
Louis [St. Louis County, Missouri], where he remained there six months. He 
then went west to Terre Haute [Vigo County], Indiana, where he was employed 
as a teacher for one year. In 1855 he came to this county [Buffalo], and 
settled in Buffalo City, and was still engaged as a teacher. In 1865 he was 
elected County Surveyor, which office he held for two terms. He was also 
Superintendent of Schools three terms. In 1870 he removed to Alma, where he 
has since resided. [Wisconsin land records note that on 10 September 1867, a 
"Lawrence" KESSINGER purchased forty acres on Section 32 of Town 23 North, 
Range 13 West, which is Nelson Township, Buffalo County.]

He [Laurence KESSINGER] married Mary SCHNEIDER, a native of Switzerland. 
They have four children: Alice, Mary, Charles and Matilda. [This family is 
enumerated in the 1880 census of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin (p 321): 
Lorenz KESSINGER (Laurence of the biography), age fifty-three, surveyor, born 
in Germany, about 1827 by his census age, to parents also born in Germany; 
wife Mary KESSINGER, age forty-six, born in Switzerland, about 1834, to 
parents both born in Germany; and the following children of Lorenz, all born 
in Wisconsin, father born in Germany and mother born in Switzerland: (1) 
Alice KESSINGER, age seventeen, single, a teacher, born about 1863; (2) Mary 
KESSINGER, single, age sixteen, at home, by her census age born about 1864; 
(3) Charles KESSINGER, age thirteen, attends school, born about 1867; and 
(4) Matilda KESSINGER, age eleven, who also attends school, born about 1869. 
Bracketed material added by submitter (who is not researching these 
surnames) to support and clarify information given in the biography and to 
raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly