From the Booklet the "Zessin Nine":
Henry was short, round and jolly, sometimes forcefully outspoken. He smoked a pipe which his wife nagged him about as he left matches everywhere. He liked to tease, joke and tell stories about his trip to Florida. Due to his excess weight, for he liked to eat a lot, he always used a cane when he walked.
*Mary, his wife was a terrific cook, a neat housekeeper and worked very hard, always raised a huge garden.
She was small, blond and has some freckles.
Listed on the United States Federal Census of 1880 as Step Daughter at the home of Daniel Kalmar.

Madison Star Mail - Madison, Nebraska - 1949:
Services Held Today for Mrs. M. M. Zessin At Trinity Lutheran:
Last rites were held this afternoon for Mrs. Mary Zessin, 85, who died in a Norfolk hospital on Sunday evening. A short services was held at the Resseguie Funeral Home at 1:30 preceding the services at the Trinity Lutheran church. Rev. W. J. Oetting, pastor officiated and burial was in the Crownhill cemetery.
Mrs. Zessin, who had been making her home with a daughter, Mrs. George Maurer broke her hip in a fall at her home on Friday.
Mary Margaret Carson was born in Joliet, Illinois, on February 4, 1864, the daughter of Barnard and Anna Carson. She was baptised soon after birth. At the age of ten years, she came with her parents to Madison county where they made their home on a farm. She attended the St. John's Lutheran school and was confirmed on April 16, 1879.
On October 18, 1881 she was united in marriage to Henry Zessin and to this union ten children were born, six of whom survivie her.
They lived on a farm during their entire married life with the exception of eight years when they lived in Madison. Mr. Zessin died in 1935.
Surviving her are three sons and three daughters, Edward of Huntsville, Missouri; Victor of Tilden; George of Madison; Mrs. George (Anna) Maurer of Madison; Mrs. Charles (Dorothy) Filsinger of Newman Grove and Mrs. August (Elsie) Pittack of Newman Grove.

Cause of Death: Old Age