William Curtis "Will" Messner was born 2/15/1870 in Potomac, IL, the 3rd child of Dr. Lewis Curtis "Doc" Messner and his 1st wife, Mary Ann (Drummond) Messner. His older sister, Nellie Maude, was born in 1866 and his older sister, Alma, was born in 1868 but died as a baby in 1869. Will's father was the town doctor in Potomac and also had interests in the general store, the bank, and other businesses.
Will's mother died when he was 2 (1872) and his father remarried when he was 3 (1873). Fortunately, his father's new wife, Maria "Rie" Messner, was a kind and loving stepmother. She raised Will and Nellie to adulthood and they thought of her as their mother. After Rie died in 1898, Doc married a 3rd wife, Jennie Johnston, and in 1903 they had a son named Lewis Curtis Messner, Jr., who was Will's and Nellie's much younger 1/2 brother.
Will attended Potomac schools until about age 14 (1884) when he joined his father full-time in "L.C. Messner & Son" managing interests in the general store and other businesses in Potomac and surrounding towns. After his father retired in 1901, Will continued in the mercantile business for the rest of his career.
Will was married twice and had 3 children. He and his 1st wife, Ida F. Hedrick, were married in 1891 (in Champaign, IL) and had 1 child, Cleopatra Viola "Cleo" Messner, who was born 1/30/1892 and became a concert pianist. Ida died 4/11/1894 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery. On 10/5/1896 Will married Gertrude Barnes Hershberger in Monticello, IL and they had 2 sons: William Curtis "Curt" Messner born 1/2/1900 and Everett Mark Messner born 5/15/1907.
Gertrude died 9/12/1914 and was buried with her family in Monticello, IL. Then Everett died 10/20/1928 (age 21) of typhoid fever and was buried with his mother in Monticello. Will died 2/8/1930 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery next to his 1st wife, Ida, and near his parents. (Bio provided by K. Gregg Prillaman)
Will's mother died when he was 2 (1872) and his father remarried when he was 3 (1873). Fortunately, his father's new wife, Maria "Rie" Messner, was a kind and loving stepmother. She raised Will and Nellie to adulthood and they thought of her as their mother. After Rie died in 1898, Doc married a 3rd wife, Jennie Johnston, and in 1903 they had a son named Lewis Curtis Messner, Jr., who was Will's and Nellie's much younger 1/2 brother.
Will attended Potomac schools until about age 14 (1884) when he joined his father full-time in "L.C. Messner & Son" managing interests in the general store and other businesses in Potomac and surrounding towns. After his father retired in 1901, Will continued in the mercantile business for the rest of his career.
Will was married twice and had 3 children. He and his 1st wife, Ida F. Hedrick, were married in 1891 (in Champaign, IL) and had 1 child, Cleopatra Viola "Cleo" Messner, who was born 1/30/1892 and became a concert pianist. Ida died 4/11/1894 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery. On 10/5/1896 Will married Gertrude Barnes Hershberger in Monticello, IL and they had 2 sons: William Curtis "Curt" Messner born 1/2/1900 and Everett Mark Messner born 5/15/1907.
Gertrude died 9/12/1914 and was buried with her family in Monticello, IL. Then Everett died 10/20/1928 (age 21) of typhoid fever and was buried with his mother in Monticello. Will died 2/8/1930 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery next to his 1st wife, Ida, and near his parents. (Bio provided by K. Gregg Prillaman)
William Curtis "Will" Messner was born 2/15/1870 in Potomac, IL, the 3rd child of Dr. Lewis Curtis "Doc" Messner and his 1st wife, Mary Ann (Drummond) Messner. His older sister, Nellie Maude, was born in 1866 and his older sister, Alma, was born in 1868 but died as a baby in 1869. Will's father was the town doctor in Potomac and also had interests in the general store, the bank, and other businesses.
Will's mother died when he was 2 (1872) and his father remarried when he was 3 (1873). Fortunately, his father's new wife, Maria "Rie" Messner, was a kind and loving stepmother. She raised Will and Nellie to adulthood and they thought of her as their mother. After Rie died in 1898, Doc married a 3rd wife, Jennie Johnston, and in 1903 they had a son named Lewis Curtis Messner, Jr., who was Will's and Nellie's much younger 1/2 brother.
Will attended Potomac schools until about age 14 (1884) when he joined his father full-time in "L.C. Messner & Son" managing interests in the general store and other businesses in Potomac and surrounding towns. After his father retired in 1901, Will continued in the mercantile business for the rest of his career.
Will was married twice and had 3 children. He and his 1st wife, Ida F. Hedrick, were married in 1891 (in Champaign, IL) and had 1 child, Cleopatra Viola "Cleo" Messner, who was born 1/30/1892 and became a concert pianist. Ida died 4/11/1894 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery. On 10/5/1896 Will married Gertrude Barnes Hershberger in Monticello, IL and they had 2 sons: William Curtis "Curt" Messner born 1/2/1900 and Everett Mark Messner born 5/15/1907.
Gertrude died 9/12/1914 and was buried with her family in Monticello, IL. Then Everett died 10/20/1928 (age 21) of typhoid fever and was buried with his mother in Monticello. Will died 2/8/1930 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery next to his 1st wife, Ida, and near his parents. (Bio provided by K. Gregg Prillaman)
Will's mother died when he was 2 (1872) and his father remarried when he was 3 (1873). Fortunately, his father's new wife, Maria "Rie" Messner, was a kind and loving stepmother. She raised Will and Nellie to adulthood and they thought of her as their mother. After Rie died in 1898, Doc married a 3rd wife, Jennie Johnston, and in 1903 they had a son named Lewis Curtis Messner, Jr., who was Will's and Nellie's much younger 1/2 brother.
Will attended Potomac schools until about age 14 (1884) when he joined his father full-time in "L.C. Messner & Son" managing interests in the general store and other businesses in Potomac and surrounding towns. After his father retired in 1901, Will continued in the mercantile business for the rest of his career.
Will was married twice and had 3 children. He and his 1st wife, Ida F. Hedrick, were married in 1891 (in Champaign, IL) and had 1 child, Cleopatra Viola "Cleo" Messner, who was born 1/30/1892 and became a concert pianist. Ida died 4/11/1894 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery. On 10/5/1896 Will married Gertrude Barnes Hershberger in Monticello, IL and they had 2 sons: William Curtis "Curt" Messner born 1/2/1900 and Everett Mark Messner born 5/15/1907.
Gertrude died 9/12/1914 and was buried with her family in Monticello, IL. Then Everett died 10/20/1928 (age 21) of typhoid fever and was buried with his mother in Monticello. Will died 2/8/1930 and was buried in the Potomac cemetery next to his 1st wife, Ida, and near his parents. (Bio provided by K. Gregg Prillaman)
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