WIRT KESSLER, a successful dealer in real estate and insurance at West Milton is postmaster of the village and has frequently in the past been called upon to serve in official capacity. He is a man of wide acquaintance and takes high rank among the foremost business men of the community.

Mr. Kessler was born in Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, in 1856, and is a son of William B. and Mary A. (Albaugh) Kessler, his father also being a native of Union Township. The family Originally came to the United States from Switzerland, and the grandfather of the subject of this record was among the pioneer settlers of Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, having come from the state of New York. William B. Kessler followed farming throughout his active career and died on the home farm at the age of eighty years and seven months. He was at one time a very extensive land owner. He and his wife were parents of eight children, of whom seven sons and a daughter are now living.

Wirt Kessler was educated in the public schools and in the normal school at Ada, Ohio, receiving a thorough educational training. He engaged in teaching and farming until 1890, when he came to West Milton and entered upon his duties as township clerk. He served in that capacity seven years, and was also mayor of the village for a period of six years, giving the public a good and efficient business administration. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business, representing many of the strongest fire, accident and sick benefit companies in existence, among them being The Home Insurance Company, New York Underwriters, the Royal Insurance Company, the North American, the National, the Springfield, the German American and the Etna. He has served as postmaster of West Milton continuously since 1898.

Mr. Kessler was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Corner and they are parents of the following children: Maud, wife of A.S. Swank, who is a civil engineer and is at present engaged in building an irrigation plant at Hamilton, Montana; Estella, wife of W. C. Keck, a rural mail carrier at West Milton; C. Raymond, who married Edna Cassel and is employed as telegrapher by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; and Morris, a railway mail clerk, who makes his home with his parents. In politics Mr. Kessler is a Republican. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian Church at West Milton.