My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH NISONGER is almost a life-long resident of Greene County and for many years bore his part with the farmers of Xenia Township, winning from the soil a competence and from his neighbors the respect due to honest, industrious and Christian manhood. He has now retired from the arduous labors of life and is enjoying the fruits of his early toils and the pleasures of a life in the city of Xenia, where he can enter into the intellectual and religious work of his fellow-men without undue exertion. His pleasant home is located at No. 110, Cincinnati Avenue.

Jacob Nisonger, the father of our subject was born in Virginia and came hence in 1808, accompanied by his wife, formerly Miss Rebecca Reed, and three children. He made his settlement two miles west of Xenia, on what is now the Upper Bellbrook Pike, and in the thick woods where there was not even a place to camp. A pole pen was the first shelter, if shelter it could be called, and after camping in it fora time, the family took possession of the new log house that was considered quite a palace. The parents saw the usual hardships of pioneer life but outlived them, witnessing the gradual development of the country and bearing their share in its progress toward improvement and civilization. They reared a family of fifteen children. Mr. Nisonger was not a politician except to the extent of casting his vote, and that was given to the Democratic party. He was one of the first members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this county. His death took place in 1834.

The subject of this sketch was born on the farm in Xenia Township, June 23, 1820, having a twin sister, Mary. He grew to maturity in the home of his infancy, obtaining his education in the district schools and remaining with his mother on the farm after the death of his father. His mother lived to be seventy-seven years old, dying in 1857, and her son, of whom we write, was on the home farm at the time of her death. In 1853 he removed to Indiana, but after a sojourn of three years returned to this county, taking up his abode in Beaver Creek Township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 1885. At that time his sight failed him, and for three months he was totally blind, the trouble being occasioned by cataracts; his eyes were operated upon, and his sight is now quite good. In 1886 he moved into the city, occupying the pleasant property belonging to his son, who is occupying the farm. Mr. Nisonger is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. He exercises the elective franchise in behalf of the candidates of the Republican party.

The estimable and highly respected companion of Mr. Nisonger bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Manor. She is a native of Virginia, but accompanied her father, George Manor, to this county when but a child, and here obtained her education and the training which fitted her for a worthy womanhood. To her and our subject has come but one son, George, who was born April 14, 1843, on the farm that was his father’s birthplace.

The lad completed his studies in Xenia and afterwards assisted his father until he became of age, when he entered the Union army to bear a part in the defence of the old flag. He was enrolled in Company D, Seventy-fourth Chip Infantry, in 1864, and made one of the valiant band who accompanied Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to the sea and northward after the first wonderful campaign was concluded by the surrender of Savannah. He was at Raleigh, N. C., at the time of the general surrender, and with his comrades marched through Richmond and to Washington, taking part in the Grand Review, after which he was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service at Camp Denison.

On his return to his home young Nisonger engaged in farming, and since that time has made his home in Xenia and Beaver Creek Townships. He now occupies the farm of his father in the latter Township, and owns other lands in Spring Valley Township, all being well-improved and finely cultivated, and making up the sum of two hundred and twenty-seven acres. On December 2, 1868, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between himself and Miss Virginia Barnett, an estimable and intelligent young lady of this county. He is a sturdy Republican, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a worthy scion of the families from which he derives his origin.