to Jerauld County, South Dakota

BIOGRAPHIES VESSEY, Frank Frank G. Vessey, president of the Wessington Springs State Bank of Wessington Springs and a member of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Jerauld county, was born in Oshkosh Wisconsin June 26, 1864. His father, the Rev. Charles Vessey, was a native of ENgland and came to America in 1840, settling in Ashland, Wisc. where he served as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1883 he removed with his family to Jerauld county, Dakota Territory, where he entered a homestead and in addition to developing his property served for many years as lay preacher, his influence being a potent force in the moral progress of the community. His death occurred on the homestead farm in 1894, when he had reached teh age of 69 years. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Margaret Barker, was a native of England and of Scotch-Irish partenage. In her girlhood she went to Wisconsin, where she was married. In the public schools of Oshkosh, Frank G. Vessey was educated and when 20 years of age became a resident of Jerauld county, where for two years he assisted in the development of the home farm. In 1886 he left home to engage int he farm-machinery business at Wessington Springs, operating successfully along that line until 1892, when he entered the banking business as bookkeeper for the Bank fo Wessington Springs. He was promoted to the position of cashier and in 1913 was elected president, so that as the chief executive head of the institution is carefully directing its interests. He is also vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Lane, SD, and is largely interested in real estate, his holdings including fifteen hundred acres of valuable farm lands. His home life had its inception September 7, 1892, when he married Susie J. Neff, a daughter of George and Mary (Ekas) Neff, of Guthrie County IA. The N eff family came from Freeport, PA and were descended from early colonial Swiss settlers in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Vessey have become parents of four children; Leland N., who was educated in the Dakota Wesleyan University; F. Vernon, duputy county treasurer of Jerauld county and also a graduate of the Dakota Wesleyan University; and Aleta N. and Mary M. both attending high school. Mr. Vessey turns for recreation to motoring an dgreatly enjoys touring in this car. He is a republican, giving unswerving loyalty to the party and has served on several occassions as a delegate to state conventions. While not in any sense a politician, he has for many years been a member of the town council and is a member and the treasurer of the Wessington Springs school board. He affiliates with the Odd Fellows and with the Woodmen of America an dhis religious faith is evidenced in hismembership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is serving on its board of trustees and was a member of the building committee during the construction of the new church, which is one of the finest church edifices in the state. He contributes most liberally to the support of the church and to its allied charactable activities. He takes a progressive stand on all matters of public improvements and advancement, has always been a strong supporter of the temperance movement and has been one of the pioneer advocates of good roads. For many years he has been interested in the improvement o the livestock industry of the state and has himself bred many prize-winning cattle. He is indeed self-made in the highest and best sense of the term, looking not to outside aid or influence for his advancement but recognizing the fact that progress depends upon the individual. He has been willing to pay the price of success, which is concentrated effort that never permits the sacrifice of interests intrusted to him and which seeks to make of business not only a source of individual profit but an element in public progress as well. History found at History of Dakota Territory by George Kingsbury 1915 Transcribed by Christine Walters

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