Back: Alma, George, Ernest, Alfred, Minnie
Front: John (Jack), Johannes, Rose, Louise (Kruse), Charles
Johannes Nissen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on October 7, 1865, the son of Paul and Mary (Christiansen) Nissen. He was one of eight children. His parents died when he was 15 years old, leaving him an orphan. In 1881, at the age of 16, Johannes came to America with his brother, Christ, and settled in Iowa Township in Crawford County. Christ's family descendants live in the Denison/Wall Lake area.
Louise Fredericka Kruse was born June 26, 1866, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. She was the oldest daughter of Ernest & Wilhelmina Kruse and came to America with her parents in 1870 at the age of 4. The family settled in Clinton, Iowa. In 1881, at the age of 15, Louise came to Crawford County and worked on a farm two miles west of Manning.
Johannes Nissen and Louise Kruse were married on June 3, 1887, at Denison. They farmed south of Aspinwall for thirteen years and then moved near Irwin in Shelby County. They lived there 7 years. They returned to the Aspinwall area around 1907 and lived on a farm one mile south and 1/2 mile west of Aspinwall. Johannes lived there until his death on January 24, 1919 at the age of 53. Louise remained on the farm until 1929 and then moved to a home on Third Street in Manning. She remained there until her death at age 68 on January 18, 1935.
Johannes and Louise were the parents of nine children. The oldest child, Emma, died in infancy. All of the children, with the exception of two daughters, remained in the Manning area throughout their lifetimes and raised their families here.
Alma Pauline (Nissen) Schroeder was born on January 30, 1889, in Crawford County. She married Alfred Schroeder on May 21, 1913. Alfred was born in Iowa Township on August 14, 1882, the son of Jurgen and Katrina Schroeder. He lived all of his life in the Aspinwall vicinity. Alfred and Alma farmed in the Aspinwall and Manning area until they moved to Manning in 1943. They moved to Aspinwall in 1948. Alfred passed away June 18, 1956, at the age of 73. Alma continued to live at her home in Aspinwall until August of 1979 when she moved to the Manning Plaza. She passed away February 14, 1985, at the age of 96.
Alma and George had four sons: George, Alfred, Merle and Roy Schroeder.
It is interesting to note that Alma had a brother, and husband and a son all sharing the name of Alfred!
Ernest Christ Nissen was born November 23, 1891, on a farm in Iowa Township. On Christmas Day, 1912, he and Bertha Ohde were married. Bertha was born in Hayes Township on November 9, 1887, the daughter of Henry and Margaretha Ohde. She grew up near Aspinwall.
Ernest and Bertha farmed for several years near Manning and moved into Manning in 1918. Ernest was a member of the Manning police force for seven years and the Manning Fire Department for 10 years. He also operated a pool hall. In 1932, at the age of 45, Bertha passed away.
Ernest and Bertha had three children: Merlin, Gretchen Jane (Nissen) Cobb and Ernest, Jr. Ernest, Jr. was killed in WWII in 1944. He was married to Ruth (Lage) Nissen Schroeder of Manning.
After Bertha's death, Ernest, Sr. remarried around 1940. He and his second wife, Alice Steemke lived in Le Mars for four years, then moved to Storm Lake and owned and operated a motel there. Ernest passed away on December 21, 1953, at the age of 62.
George William Nissen, the fourth child, was born June 17, 1893, in Crawford County. He entered the Army in September, 1917, serving in WWI. He was very seriously wounded on November 13, 1918. He was hospitalized at a debarkation hospital in Staten Island at the time of his father's funeral on January 27, 1919. He was later awarded a purple heart.
After George's discharge, he returned home. On April 4, 1923, he and Hilda Opperman were united in marriage. Hilda, the daughter of John and Anna Opperman of Manilla, was born on October 28, 1896.
George and Hilda farmed three miles west of Manning until they retired in October of 1958 and moved to 423 Ann Street in Manning.
Two children were born to this marriage: Roger Nissen and Rita (Nissen) Saunders.
George died on February 12, 1977, at the age of 83. Hilda celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28, 1996, and passed away the following winter on February 25, 1997.
Alfred Johannes Nissen was born June 5, 1895, in Shelby County, Iowa.
On February 25, 1920, Alfred was united in marriage with Jessie Blanche Stribe, daughter of George and Alvina (Ohrt) Stribe of Manning. Jessie was born June 12, 1894.
Alfred and Jessie farmed at several locations around Manning, eventually purchasing their own farm north of Manning in 1933. (Edna Nissen currently lives on the home place). They lived on that farm for 23 years. Alfred passed away October 11, 1956, at the age of 61. Jessie then built a new home at 603 Fourth Street and moved into Manning in 1957. She lived there until she entered the Manning Plaza in mid-1979. Jessie passed away on December 20, 1983, at the age of 89.
Alfred and Jessie Nissen had three children: Orlo, Melvin and Norma (Nissen) Weems.
Minnie Nissen, the sixth child of Johannes and Louise Nissen, was born on August 23, 1897, near Irwin, Iowa. Minnie never married but spent her entire life taking care of others! She stayed in Aspinwall and took care of her mother until Louise died in 1935. Minnie moved to Fairmont, Minnesota in 1946 and lived with her sister, Rose, helping her raise her two children. Minnie remained in Fairmont until her death on October 10, 1993, at the age of 96.
John Jacob Nissen (known as Jack) was born June 3, 1900, in Crawford County. On December 23, 1925, Jack married Velma Bingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.C. Bingham of Manning.
Jack and Velma farmed near Manilla and Manning until moving to Manning in 1932. Jack worked for the Manning Creamery for 35 years and Dr. Robert Dappen for seven years. He retired three years prior to his death on March 31, 1978. He was 77 years old.
The Nissens had one daughter, Myna (Nissen) Roberts.
The 5th son, Charles Edward, was born June 12, 1903 near Botna. Charles married Viola Schwartz on September 11, 1929. Viola, the daughter of Carl and Hattie Schwartz of Manilla, was born May 25, 1906.
Charlie and Vi farmed south of Aspinwall for seven years and then moved to a farm north of Aspinwall where they lived for 45 years before retiring and moving to Manning in 1969. Charlie raised purebred spotted hogs for over 40 years.
Viola died November 8, 1982, at the age of 76. Charlie continued to live in their home in Manning until his death on July 7, 1998. He was 95.
Charlie and Vi had four children: Stanley, Lois (Nissen) Tegels, Allen and Ronald.
The youngest child, Rose Ella (Nissen) Gordon was born March 14, 1906. Rose was united in marriage to George Gordon of Winterset on June 3, 1931. They moved to Fairmont, Minnesota from the Manning area in 1942. Rose worked at the Fairmont Canning Factory for many years.
On June 12, 1953, George died in an accidental fishing accident at the age of 44.
Rose continued to live in Fairmont and with the help of her sister, Minnie,
raised the couple's two children Alicia (Gordon) Spencer and George Gordon, Jr.
Rose passed away September 19, 1995, at the age of 89.
Grandchildren of Johannes & Louise Nissen still living in the area are Roger Nissen of Carroll and Rita (Nissen) Saunders of Manning.
Great grandchildren in the area are Robert & Randy Nissen of Manning, David Nissen of Carroll and Myra (Weems) Luetje of Westside.