lumberman, b. Maskinonge, Quebec, Canada. He came to Wisconsin in 1840 to work for the American Fur Co. at La Pointe (1840-1844), and in 1844 began his lumbering career as a laborer at Little Bull Falls (now Mosinee) on the Wisconsin River. With two partners he rented a sawmill in 1849, and by 1859 had become sole owner. His business prospered, and in 1880 he made his nephew, Louis Dessert, a partner. In 1890 the firm was incorporated as the Joseph Dessert Lumber Co. He participated in Mosinee politics, operated a large farm, and for some time owned a tannery and gristmill. In 1905 he moved to Milwaukee after the depletion of his timber supply. He had amassed a large fortune, and lived in retirement until his death. E. B. Usher, Wis. (8 vols., Chicago, 1914); L. Marchetti, Hist. of Marathon Co. . . . (Chicago, 1913); Wausau Pilot, Jan. 3, 1911; WPA MS.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Dessert Family Business Records for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]