Sheriff Leonard Tressel
Sheriff Tressel is known the county over and his home has been in various parts of this county. He was born Oct. 5, 1846, in New Jersey where his father, Nicholas Tressel, a weaver, resided. Leonard was but two years old when his parents removed to Ohio and his father worked several years in the old woolen mill on the Painter farm east of the city on the Ashland road. Nicholas Tressel moved his family to town and lived for awhile in the fourth ward and from there moved to Springfield township near Ontario, where he resided for a number of years. At the early age of 16 Leonard enlisted for nine months in company E, 102d O. V. I. in October 1862. On account of his youthful age he was transferred to the 120th regiment. At Vicksburg he was attacked by measles on the battlefield and he was sent to St. Louis where he was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He returned home and about three months later enlisted in the 12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company D, was transferred to the 6th Ohio, and served until the close of the war. The principal engagements in which he participated were at the Wilderness and Chickasaw Bluffs. About 12 years ago Mr. Tressel located at Lucas and engaged in the hotel business and stock dealing. Nine years ago he built the Tressel House, which is yet the popular hostelry of that village. At the Democratic primaries in May, 1889, Leonard was nominated for sheriff over four competitors, Lewis Faust, Squire Kohler, J. R. Bristor and John Noggle, and he was elected to the office the following November. This year he is a candidate for re-election. Mrs. Tressel is a daughter of George Conn, who resides near Petersburg, Ashland county, and as matron of a county jail she has no superior among the wives of any of the sheriffs in Ohio.
From The Mansfield Weekly News, August 6, 1891