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George E. Kessler was born in Frankenhausen,
Thueringen, Germany, July 16, 1862. His family moved to New York
City when he was in his infancy, and he secured his education in the
public schools of Gotham. He afterwards went to the University
of Jena, Germany, where he took a partial classical course, going from
there to Weimar and Potsdam colleges for a four years' course in
gardening, botany, and engineering, preparatory to taking up landscape
engineering. He returned to New York after graduating in 1882,
and took charge of some special work in Central Park, leaving after
several months' residence for this city. Soon after arriving he
was placed in charge of Merriam Park by the Ft. Scott & Gulf
Railroad.
As engineer of the Board of Public Works, he
planned Kansas City's magnificent park and boulevard system, having
been engineer of the board since its inception in 1892. He also
planned the park systems of Topeka, and Memphis, Tenn., and the
landscape work at Mt. Washington and originated and remodeled features
of Elmwood and Forest Hill cemeteries, besides doing a raft of local
and out-of-town lawn work.
At present he is superintendent of parks for
the Frisco System; landscape engineer of the World's Fair in St.
Louis, in charge of the work; and is taking care of the Frisco
System's forestry experiment at Farmington, Kas. Mr. Kessler is a Mason and an Elk. He
was married May 14, 1900, to Miss Ida G. Fields, of St. Louis, Mo.
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