John F. Essler was born in St. Peter, Minnesota on May 13, 1870. He had been in the clothing business for many years before coming to Bemidji in February, 1899, where he was employed in the Barney Berton clothing store. He later was employed by the Minneapolis Brewing company and in the later years he became a sign painter for the highway department. He was married on December 19, 1902 to Edna Dunham of St. Peter. He was a resident of Bemidji for many years and passed away on June 25, 1944 at his home, 419 Minnesota Avenue.
Exploring the Rich History of the Bemidji Area