160 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Anna who was at one time his pastor at Murray, Nebr., and conducted 

 the funeral services for his beloved wife who died April 1, 1900. 



Rev. John B. Hillis sang two beautiful songs, "Lead Kindly 

 Light" and "Pace to Face." 



Three of the pall bearers were old Plattsmouth friends and two 

 from Red Key, Ind. All the children were at home for the funeral 

 except Mrs. Gapen. 



When Wm. J. Hesser was four years of age he moved with his 

 parents from Ohio to a farm in Jay County, Ind., on what is now 

 part of Red Key. He grew to manhood here and December 24, 1853 

 was united in marriage to Miss Matilda A. Current of New Castle. 

 From this union there are now living seven children: Mrs. Emma 

 Van Cleave (who kept house for him for the past seven years), S. C. 

 Hesser, Elwood, Neb.; Mrs. J. S. Gapen, Hyettville, Wyo.; E. L. 

 Hesser, Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. A. P. Churchill, Strathmore, Cal.; 

 Wm. Hesser, Lamanda, Cal., Mrs. R. R. Davis, Fullerton, Cal. 



On November 1, 18 63, he landed with his family at Nebraska 

 City. From there he went to Mt. Pleasant, Cass County, and lived 

 on his brother-in-law's (S. B. Hobson) farm for one year. He the-^ 

 bought a sixty-five acre farm, then known as the Bonner Homestead 

 six miles Southwest of Plattsmouth. He at once started into the 

 market gardening business and the next year built a little green house. 

 People for twenty miles around would come to see and buy his plants. 

 He enlarged his green houses each year. As his business grew larger 

 he finally went into the wholesale and retail Palm business. He had, 

 when he closed out his business, six green houses 135 feet long. 



In 187 2 he planted 35 acres to fruit trees getting most of the 

 trees from his good friend, R W. Furnas, of Brownville. A severe 

 hail storm on July 13, 188 3 damaged the trees so badly that he 

 never received but one good crop of fruit from them. 



In 19 04 he closed out his business at Plattsmouth and moved 

 to Pasedena, Cal., to spend the rest of his days among the beautiful 

 flowers and Palms he loved so well. During the last few years he 

 has been in business, having a small greennouse and some nursery 

 stock. He was making a specialty of the Burbank Spinelass Cactus for 

 which there is a great demand. 



He never forgot his old Nebraska friends especially his Horti- 

 cultural Brothers. It was his one desire that he might see them all 

 at the Nebraska State Fair once more. He had planned to attend 

 during the fall of 1913, but his health would not permit such a long 

 journey. Many of his old time friends had the pleasure of visiting 

 him here in his beautiful little home and none will forget their cordial 

 welcome and his happy face. He made hundreds of friends here and 

 was known as the "happy old man." 



He celebrated his 79th birthday just three weeks before his 

 death. Twenty-three took dinner with him. His face was radiant 



