History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, 
from U. S. Gov't Survey to Present Time, with Biographical Sketches
Dessureau. Antigo, WI: Berner Brothers, 1922, pp 269 - 270
Submitted by Cathy Kubly

W. R. KASSON, prominent business man, was born in Ludington [Mason County], Michigan, 08 October 1869, son of Robert and Augusta KASSON.  At the age of two he moved to Yankton [Yankton County], South Dakota, then the capital of South Dakota.  [W. R. KASSON would have been two years old in the years 1871 and 1872, when the State of South Dakota, created in 1889, was still part of Dakota Territory, which was established in 1861.]  When fourteen years of age [1883 or 1884] he went to Sioux City [Woodbury County], Iowa, where he began as an apprentice in the printing trade.  He then was employed on the Sioux City Journal, Minneapolis Tribune, Cincinnati Enquirer and Chicago Herald in succession.

In 1888 he [W. R. KASSON] went to Ashland [Ashland County], Wisconsin, from Chicago and for seven years was in a saloon and restaurant business, went to Neenah [Winnebago County, Wisconsin], where for eighteen years he engaged in the same business, being proprietor of the Russell and Union House there.  On 18 November 1915 he opened the Hanousek Hotel in Antigo [Langlade County, Wisconsin].  A year later he sold to Arthur J. KOCH and purchased the [p 270] George OTTMAN property in Antigo Township, known since as Kasson cabaret.  In April 1918 he took over Pickerel Lake property from the Kenosha [Kenosha County, Wisconsin] Hunting & Fishing Club, James A. FATHERS of Janesville [Rock County], Wisconsin, principal stockholder.  He still owns this property, running a first class tourist resort.

He [W. R. KASSON] was married at Libertyville [Lake County], Illinois, in 1908 to Matilda KEMPF [a maiden name?].  The KASSON family, Mr. and Mrs. [W. R.] KASSON and four boys and two girls, resides on South Superior Street in Antigo Township [Langlade County, Wisconsin].  Mr. KASSON is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.  He is a stockholder and part owner of the Antigo Herald, a Langlade Printing Company publication.