Capt. William Nungessser, the present Sheriff of Manistee County. Whatever the
natural resources of a country, or its business facilities, its
history must nevertheless depend upon the men who reside there, and
who by their energy and ability have added to the wealth and
promoted the prosperity of that locality. The subject of this sketch figures
prominently among such men, the seat of his labors being the city
of Manistee, where he conducts a large business as a dealer in
general furniture, also as undertaker and funeral director, at No.
421 River Street. In addition to the management of this business, he is also
filling the responsible position of Sheriff of Manistee County.
In Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, the subject of this notice was born October 8,
1837, being the son of William and Margaret Nungesser. In childhood
he accompanied his parents to the United States and settled on a
farm in Washington County, Wis., where he grew to manhood. At
Madison, Wis., in 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company D, Twelfth
Wisconsin Infantry, Col. George E. Bryan commanding. He was assigned to the Seventeenth
Corps, Army of Tennessee, under General McPherson. Enlisting as a private,
he was promoted to be Sergeant, then became Orderly-Sergeant, later was made
First Lieutenant, and finally became Captain of Company D, being promoted to the last-named
position in December, 1863, as the successor of Captain Price, who was made
Major.
As Lieutenant, our subject had charge of the company around Atlanta
and at Rome, Ga. After he was promoted to be Captain, he led his
company until the close of the war, taking part in all the
engagements with Sherman's army in the march to the sea. While engaged at
Johnston in North Carolina, his command learned of Lee's surrender, and
immediately marched on to Washington, where they took part in the
Grand Review. Several times during his service the Captain was in
very close quarters, but never surrendered. He was uninjured, with
the exception of two slight wounds. At Vicksburg, and at Atlanta on the day that
General McPherson, the commander of the corps, was killed, Company D stood in the
thickest of the fight and was conspicuous for its valor. Two hundred and
sixty-five men had enlisted at the opening of the war as members of
the company, but only eighty were mustered out at its close.
On
the return of peace, the Captain resumed farm work in Wisconsin, and continued thus
engaged until 1869, when he came to Manistee. Here, in partnership with his
brother George, he opened a general mercantile store, which he
continued until a disastrous fire in 1871 caused the loss of store
and residence, together with the large stock carried in the former.
Obliged to again begin the battle of life at the bottom of the ladder, he began
as a laborer, working by the day in order that he might gain a
livelihood for his wife and three little children. For three years
he was occupied as a teamster, and, saving his earnings, was then
enabled to enter the furniture business as a member of the firm of Lucas & Nungesser.
His connection with Jacob Lucas continued for ten years, after which he sold out
to his partner and opened up another store. He has a large trade and has given
to his business the closest attention and most painstaking care.
Though interested in public affairs, Captain Nungesser has never sought office.
He is a case where the office sought the man. For two years he
served as Alderman, for one term as City Treasurer, and is now
filling the position of Supervisor of the Second Ward. In 1894 he
was elected Sheriff, which position he has since filled with marked efficiency
and to the satisfaction of the people, being the candidate of the
Republican party. For four years he was a member of the School
Board, and during that time was Chairman of the Building Committee
when the central, Union and other schoolhouses were built. Socially he
is identified with the Grand Army of the republic, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having been the Financial Secretary of
the latter organization for four years.
January 22, 1866, Captain Nungesser
married Miss Amelia Feldschneider, of Jefferson County, Wis. They
have four children, namely: J. George, of Chicago; Mary, wife of George
Austin, of Manistee; Minnie, who died February 22, 1893, aged twenty-two; and Charles,
who is assistant to his father. The family is identified with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which the Captain is a Trustee, and also
Treasurer of the Official Board.
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