Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 1025. LOUIS HESSIG is a well known merchant at Fort Klamath where he has a fine business establishment and is favored by a good trade. He was born on June 27, 1843, in Galena, Illinois. His father, Jacob Hessig, a native of Switzerland, came to Illinois in early days and was a pioneer miner at Galena. He was also one of the first copper miners of the copper district and in 1849, crossed the plains with ox teams. He met with much opposition from the Indians and had a hard trip, twelve of the party being killed by the savages. Being one of the earliest pioneers to the Golden State, he assisted to hew many of the first trails through the country. His trade was carpentering and he followed that in various mining mills and erected a quartz mill at French Gulch, where he was interested. He was in most of the leading camps of the state and continued in the business until his death in 1862, which occurred in Shasta county. He was buried by the Royal Arch Masons. He had been a good and upright man and had many friends, during his life. He had married Miss Rosa Versell, a native of Switzerland. After his death she married Mr. Francis and is now living with one of her grandchildren in Edgewood, California, aged eighty-four. She has one brother, Joseph Versell, who is a pioneer of Rock Island county, Illinois, and served as assessor of his county for twenty-two years. He is now ninety-five years of age, hale and hearty. Our subject is the oldest of three children. His brother Jolin, who was a promising young man, was slain by the Indians in 1864 while mining at Hay Fork, Trinity county, California. He was then aged nineteen years. Mary, the sister of our subject, is now deceased. She was the wife of Dave Gibson, who was one of the forty-niners of California and the first man in the Humboldt country. He got there about 1850 and remained until 1885, the time of his death. He was there when the Laura Virginia came into port, the first ship that ever entered Humboldt bay. Mr. Gibson was conducting the first pack train into that country and one day when out of camp was shot by the Indians, one ball entering his body and an arrow his groin. As he came staggering back to the camp, he was mistaken for an Indian and his friends shot him with a charge of buckshot. However, he survived it all and lived until 1885. It is interesting to note that while handling this pack train, one of the hands, an old sailor, expressed himself as not understanding why they unshipped their cargo every night. Our subject came via the Panama route in 1854 to San Francisco, arriving there on April 2.They immediately went to French Gulch to join his father, but later went to Weaversville, where he attended school. After that, he followed packing for years in Humboldt county, then was engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother-in-law, David Gibson, for fourteen years. After that period, he went to Siskiyou county and took up stock raising. During all these years, Mr. Hessig was well acquainted with pioneer life, being oat in the camps in snow and storm and enduring all sorts of hardships while he performed his arduous labor. He also showed the true frontiersman spirit and overcame many obstacles that seemed unsurmountable. Finally, in 1900, he came to Fort Klamath and opened a merchandise establishment. He now has a nice store, a good residence, and enjoys a liberal patronage. He still owns a stock ranch in Siskiyou county, California besides other property. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., having joined in 1876. On May I, 1872; Mr. Hessig married Miss Charlotte Keer, a native of Denmark. After seventeen years of happy life, Mrs. Hessig was called to the world beyond, leaving a devoted husband, three sons and a daughter. She was a member of the Eastern Star and was a lady beloved by all. The children are Harry, Herbert, John Humboldt, Joseph and Mrs. Salmona Josephine Farewell, of San Francisco. The two youngest boys are graduates of Heald's business college, of San Francisco, In 1895, Mr. Hessig contracted a second marriage. Mrs. Mary Bridget Francis Butler becoming his wife at that time. They are both highly respected people and have won the confidence of all. Mr. Hessig is the daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (McCormic) Sullivan, natives of Ireland. They migrated to the United States in 1844 and made settlement in Vermont, where this daughter was born. Later they removed to Burnham, Maine, where they reside at this time. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.