Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

Surname: MCKIMM, COURTNEY, ESSELMANN, BUSHMANN, LEE, HERTZEL

Samuel McKimm and Joseph McKimm

JOSEPH MCKIMM, a prosperous farmer and township official of York Township, was born in Canada, twenty-two miles from Prescott, Dec. 5, 1865, son of Samuel and Isabella Jane (Courtney) McKimm. The parents were natives of Scotland and Ireland, respectively, Samuel being born Nov. 3, 1826, and his wife Nov. 23, 1830. They came to Canada with their respective parents, Samuel McKimm becoming a woodsman in the Canadian forests. Married in Canada, they had several children there, their entire family numbering finally eight, namely: James, who always lives in Canada; Margaret, Eliza, Adeline C., Samuel, Robert, Mary Ann and Joseph. The family left Canada for the United States when Joseph was 8 years old, or in 1873, locating in Neillsville, Clark County, Wis. Samuel McKimm worked in the woods and had charge of a logging camp for many years. He secured eighty acres of land in Section 19 York Township, clearing about forty acres of it and putting up good buildings. He died at the age of 80 years, and his wife at the age of 85. Joseph McKimm, attended district school in York Township, and grew to manhood amid forest scenes, and the life and bustle of a logging camp. At the age of 14, he was driving a four-horse team in the camp. He continued to work in the woods for sixteen winters, and was on the drive seventeen springs working as many as eighty-four days on a drive without knowing when it was Sunday. On July 10, 1892, Mr. McKimm was married to Anna Mary Esselmann, who was born in Trenton, Washington County, Wis., April 9, 1869, daughter of Clement and Anna (Bushmann) Esselmann. Her parents were natives of Germany, where they were married in 1867. A few years later they came to the United States with two children, Sophia and Clement, settling in Washington County, Wis., where Mr. Esselmann cleared a farm. In 1887 he and his family came to Loyal Township, Clark County, and located on a partly cleared farm, which was the family home until 1909. Then he removed to Marshfield, where he died in the same year at the age of 74. His wife is still living, being now 74 years old. They had five children born in Washington County: Anna, Herman, Dean, Josephine and Mary, and three, Augusta, Amelia and Louie, born in Clark County.

Mr. McKimm the year of his marriage had secured a tract of land of forty acres in Section 19, York Township, which was a wild tract, without buildings, there being only a chopped road past the place. He resided on his father's place for five years, subsequently clearing his forty-acre tract. Since then he has acquired more land, his farm now consisting of 160 acres, and he also owns eighty-seven and one-half acres in Eaton Township, Clark County. He has built a basement barn 40 by 60 feet, and is conducting a profitable farming business. He has served as township supervisor for three years, and is a member of the Woodmen's lodge at Neillsville. He and his wife have five children: Isabella, Mary, Ernest, Della and Raymond, living, and Florence and James, deceased. Isabella was born March 13, 1895, married Otis Lee, lives at Neillsville, and has three children: Vivian, Merton and Della. Mary was born March 13, 1898, and is the wife of George Hetzel, of York Township. Ernest was born Aug. 8, 1905; Della, July 11, 1907, and Raymond, May 25, 1910.