Lewis C. Gessaman. Ever since its establishment in Miami county about the time of the War of 1812-14, the Gessaman family has contributed to the development of the agricultural resources of this region and has furnished to various communities men of ability and industry who have played a part in advancing the interests of civic affairs, religion and education. Representing the third generation of this family to till the soil of this county is Lewis C. Gessaman, a leading and substantial farmer of Bethel township, who was born in this township in 1856, a son of George and Malinda (Flook) Gessaman. The founder of the family in Miami county was John G. Gessaman, the grandfather of Lewis C., who migrated to this region during early pioneer days and took up a homestead in 1811 or 18l2, at a time when wild game was still to be found in abundance and the Indians were still here in large numbers. His was the work of early clearing and development and when he passed away the labor was taken up by his son, George Gessaman, also a man of sturdy industry and reliable traits of character, who followed farming throughout his life. With this ancestry, it was but natural that Lewis C. Gessaman should be inclined toward agriculture. After he had attended the rural district schools of Bethel township he started assisting his father on the home place and his entire career has been connected with farming and stock raising in Bethel township. Of recent years, having accumulated a competence, he has turned over much of the heavy work to younger hands and shoulders, but still manifests a keen interest in affairs of the farm and superintends the operations thereon. Civic affairs also find him an interested spectator and co-operator, and during the recent World war, as captain of the Poplar Grove school district in soliciting funds for the Miami County War Chest, he bettered his quota 0f $1,400 by the sum of $900. He was likewise an active worker in behalf of the sale of Liberty Bonds. Mr. Gcssaman's first wife was Mary, daughter of Amos Warner, of Miami county, and they had one son, Ernest L., a farmer on the home place, who married Bessie May Weaver and has one child, Helen May. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Gessaman married Luella, daughter of Silas Perry, of this county.