David Loy Tressler was a son of Col. John and Elizabeth (Loy) Tressler, born February 15, 1839, at Loysville. Educated in the local schools, he prepared for college at the Loysville Academy, an institution founded by his father. In 1857 he was admitted to the sophomore class of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, where he was graduated with first honors in 1860. The same year he became principal of the Loysville Academy. During the summer of 1862 he organized a company which later became part of the 133d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and among those enrolled were most of the students of the little institution. He was made its captain, participating in the Battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, receiving two severe wounds in the latter engagement, but being again with his company in the Chancellorsville engagement. He was tendered a colonel’s commission, at the expiration of his term of service, but declined. In 1864 he was admitted to the bar and practiced five years. His preceptor was the late Benj. McIntire, of New Bloomfield, to whose daughter, Ada Josephine, he was united in marriage in 1865. In 1870 he located in Mendota, Illinois, and in the autumn, entered the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lena, Illinois. He filled that position until 1872, when he accepted a professorship in Latin, Greek, and Belles Lettres at Carthage College.  A year later Carthage elected him as President and in addition to his new administrative duties as head of Carthage College, President Tressler continued to act in the capacity of treasurer while also serving as professor of mental and moral philosophy. Carthage did not have a Lutheran church, and into the project of building a church there he put his entire energy, with the result that the Lutheran church then built was the largest and best church edifice in the county. To it he was a most liberal contributor, and at the time of his death also its beloved pastor. President Tressler's death occurred on February 20, 1880.  President and Mrs. Tressler were the parents of five children. All of Dr. Tressler’s children were graduates of Carthage College. The death of Mrs. Ada J Tressler occurred on May 2, 1909.

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