Was born in Pella November 1, 1865. He received a common school education and after leaving school, clerked in Pella stores for a number of years. In 1888 removed to Beatrice, Neb., where he clerked for several years and then moved to Des Moines, where he clerked in a clothing store for about four years and later had charge of the Smith Premier Typewriter business. He came back to Pella in 1900 and made a home for his widowed mother, and entered the real estate business, which he has followed up to the present time. In 1909 he was elected mayor of Pella, and was re-elected in 1911. It was during that period that the water, light and sewer plants were installed and the preliminary steps taken to pave the streets. Mr. Gesman was elected representative from Marion county, on the democratic ticket, November, 1922.