William F. Messmann, dairy farmer of St. Augusta, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 23, 1869, son of Fred and Mary (Rieman) Messmann. He lost his father when he was three years old and his mother when he was nine years old. In 1879 he was brought to St. Augusta by his uncle, George Messmann. When he was thirteen years old, he started out in life for himself. For five years he worked for farmers.

At the age of eighteen he went to St. Cloud, and learned his trade as an engineer in the old city pumping station. Then he returned to St. Augusta Township, and became engineer for the old "Neenah Mills." This also gave him an opportunity for learning the milling traded. At the end of seven years, he and his brother-in-law, Frank H. Beumer, purchased the mill. They conducted the mill together for five years. Then they traded the mill for farm property in Benton County, this state. Later Mr. Messmann sold out his interests to his partner.

He spent a vacation on six months in Denver and other Western points. Upon his return he entered the employ of Henry Hess, as an engineer, first for two years in the "Neenah Mills," and then for two seasons in the brick yards. Subsequently he again became engineer at the St. Cloud pumping station. But he was after fifteen months called to St. Augusta by the illness of his uncle. At the time of his uncle's death, May 17, 1910, he came into possession of this uncle's property, and there he now carries on general farming, in connection with dairying of which he makes a specialty. Mr. Messmann was married April 28, 1891, to Theresa Beumer, and they have three children, Mary, Frank and Clara. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

~ Excerpt taken from "History of Stearns County Minnesota" by William Bell Mitchell (Vol. 2, pg. 951)