Düssell, Hermann

Judge, local historian

born: 06.01.1849 in Dierdorf

died: 19.02.1899 in Falkenstein (Taunus)

Düssell studied law in Bonn, Heidelberg and Berlin, became an assistant judge at the district courts in Weilburg, Wiesbaden, Eltville and Neuwied in 1877 and was also a member of the administrative board of the Progymnasium. In 1891 he was transferred to the Wiesbaden district court and in 1894 to the Wiesbaden local court. He retired in 1897.

As a local historian, Düssell had joined the Association for Nassau Antiquities and Historical Research early on and was elected to the board soon after 1891. From 1897, he took over the office of director (chairman).

Düssell published numerous works on the antiquities and history of Nassau and the Rhineland. For example, he researched the particular rights in the district of the Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court and compiled a legal map. He also researched the history of Dierdorf. He collected Nassau folk costumes, which he donated to the Wiesbaden Museum.

Düssell died unmarried. He bequeathed his fortune to the municipality of Walsdorf. As his aunt Luise Ochs (1817-1901) had also bequeathed her fortune to the community, the "Ochs-Düssell Foundation" was established on 12.01.1903 to alleviate the plight of the local poor (the foundation was a victim of inflation).