Frank Messmann

    Frank Messmann, farmer, is a native of Germany. His parents were Frank and Agnes Messmann, likewise natives of Germany, where his mother is buried. His father emigrated to America November 7, 1859, and died in Cincinnati in 1866. Frank Messmann followed the sea four years before coming to America, and landed at New Orleans June 19, 1856; he afterward followed the sea for twelve years; and also, later, had a second-hand store in Cincinnati.

    April 19, 1874, he came to this county (Benton), and has since resided on his farm. In 1882, he had the ill fortune to break both arms, and dislocate the elbow and shoulder of the right arm, by falling from a hay-rack. While in Cincinnati, he was wedded to Mary A. Steffens, a native of Holland, of German parents, who came to Cincinnati, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Messmann have had six children -Rose (deceased), Mary Helena, Frank, Anthony and Joseph. Mr. Messmann has 160 acres of fine prairie land, and is comfortably circumstanced.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.