The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
John Kessel was born in Baden Germany in 1832.
He and his parents immigrated to the United States in 1854 first locating in Bur-lington, Iowa, where John learned the barber trade.
In 1861 He opened a barber shop in Oquawka adding the sale of tobacco and cigars. In 1868 he also manufactured cigars.
He was united in marriage in 1862 to Miss Rotana Frazell; they had three children. She died in 1878. And he next married Miss Louisa Grass in 1880. He was a member of the masonic and odd-fellows fraternities.
1882 History of Henderson County