History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918

                                       C. B. Esselman & Family

CLEMENS B. ESSELMANN, proprietor of an excellent farm of 200 acres, section 29, and eighty acres in section 20, Loyal Township, is a native of Germany, having been born in Munster, Westphalia, May 13, 1866, the son of H. Clemens and -Anna (Bushman) Esselmann. The father was a farmer, who was born, reared and married in Germany. After his marriage he and his wife resided for four years in Munster, where two children were born to them-Sofia and Clemens B.

In 1867 H. Clemens, with his family, came to the United States, locating at West Bend, Washington County, Wis., where they resided eleven years, and while there five more children were born-Anna, Herman, Dena, Josephine and Mary. The family then came to Clark County, and here H. Clemens Esselmann bought 160 acres of land in section 28, Loyal Township. Most of it was wild, but there was a small frame house on the place and a log barn and he at once began the work of improvement. This place was his home for thirty years, during which time he cleared all the land and built a thirteen-room brick house and a barn 40 by 76 feet. In 1908 he sold the place and moved to Marshfield, where he died only three weeks later, at the age of 74. His wife, born Sept. 25, 1844, is still living there. They had three more children, who were born in Loyal Township: Gusta, Amelia and Louis. Clemens B. Esselmann remained on the home farm until he was about 32 years old. After his marriage he settled on forty acres of land in section 29, Loyal Township. The tract was mostly timber land, but had some improvements on it. Building a brick house and a small barn, he began the hard work of clearing, which in time he accomplished. He then bought 160 acres more in section 29, where he built two barns, 96 by 32 feet, and 96 by 36 feet in size, respectively also two silos, one of 160 tons and the other of 100 tons capacity. He also enlarged his house to sixteen rooms, and having cleared the 160-acre tract, he bought eighty acres more, of which he has since cleared fifty, so that his farm now contains 250 acres of cleared land and thirty acres uncleared. Here he does general farming, raising thoroughbred Holstein cattle. Mr. Esselmann also helped to organize the North Star Creamery.

He served as township clerk about five years and has also been school treasurer. Aside from his farming interests he holds stock in the Citizens State Bank of Loyal, and has served as one of its directors since its organization. Mr. Esselmann is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Esselmann married Barbara Christman, born in Wisconsin, Mar. 3, 1874, daughter of Balthaser and Caroline (Winterhalten) Christman, and they have three children, Joseph, Roselind and Dorothy, all living at home. Balthasar Christman, the son of Conrad Christman, a native of Germany, was born, reared and married in Wisconsin. For a time he conducted a store and saw and stave mill in Hewett, Wood County, this state, and later came to Loyal in this county, where he engaged in merchandizing and milling and secured farm land. He and his good wife are still living in that place.