Essex County NJ Archives Biographies.....Peter Franz NENNINGER, 1818 - 1872
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 11:51 pm

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

NENNINGER, Peter Franz,
Bminess Man, Enterprising Citizen.

  Inventive genius and great constructive imagination have been freely given to
the American people, and have been responsible for the phenomenal progress which
has made the United States the leader of the world in the fields of industry.
But conspicuously absent in this breathless rush onward is the stability and
reliability of the mature civilization of the Old World. It would seem, that the
power to deliberate has been withheld from the American in payment for his other
great gifts, much as one finds a man who is a genius in one line to be a dullard
in another. The willingness in America to adopt anything new for the reason that
it is new has been a factor of prime importance in the industrial world. But the
value of this has been grossly exaggerated; it has also been responsible for
much time wasted over things that are useless. The ideal condition will be the
outcome of this progressive American spirit tempered by its contact with the
conservatism and deliberate thoughtfulness of the Old World peoples. Right
within her own borders, and coming to her in constant streams, America has this
element. And among the hundreds of different peoples that come to our shore, the
Germans will beyond a doubt have the greatest influence toward this end. They
have furnished us with a most valuable type of citizenship, loyal, successful,
progressive, thoughtful men. An example of this type of citizen, to which
America owes much, was the late Peter Franz Nenninger.

  The Nenninger arms are: Arms—Per pale argent and or. Dexter side, a lion
rampant gules. Sinister side, a demi-vol conjoined to an eagle's claw azure.
Crest—A vase argent circled by two bar-rulets gules, with leaves vert sprouting
therefrom.

  Peter Franz Nenninger was born at Neckers Ulm, Wuertemberg, Germany, on June
28, 1818, the son of Franz and Maeia (Masthof) Nenninger, prosperous landowners
of that place. During the political troubles into which Germany was plunged in
the middle of the nineteenth century, he emigrated to America, with his wife and
infant son. His wife was Anna Babbette Miltz, daughter of Florent and Anna
(Roederer) Miltz, of Strassburg, Flsass. They resided in New York for two years
after their arrival there in 1848, and in 1850 removed to Newark, New Jersey.
According to the standards of the times they were comparatively wealthy, and
Peter F. Nenninger established himself in the oil-cloth business on Market
street, on the lower Passaic. This was a new industry in America, oil-cloth and
like products having been theretofore imported from Europe. Mr. Nenninger was
very successful in this enterprise, and for many years his business had a
reputation throughout the country. The business was first established with Peter
F. Nenninger and Charles Hoh, his brother-in-law, as partners. This partnership
was soon dissolved, however, and Ferdinand Sautermaster became a partner in the
firm, and remained such until his death in 1864. After this time Mr. Nenninger
managed the business himself. He was extremely successful and became
substantially wealthy.

  Mr. Nenninger was a Republican, and a great admirer of American institutions
and standards. At the time of the Civil War there was in existence a battalion
named the Steuben Battalion, of which Mr. Nenninger was a member. At the
outbreak of the war, however, he was compelled to send a substitute in his
place, on account of the constant demands of his business.

  The children of Peter Franz and Anna Babbette (Miltz) Nenninger were: 1.
Robert Franz, married Matilda Dieffenback. 2. Alfred Albert, died in infancy. 3.
Julia Anna, married Edward Balbach, Jr. 4. Florentine Eugenia, married Henry M.
Dieffenbach, Jr. 5. Oscar Alfred. 6. Gustave Alfred, died in infancy.

  Mr. Nenninger was generous to a fault, and open-handed to all who needed
assistance. He was intensely fond of fine horses. This love of animals,
unfortunately, was his undoing, for, while being run away with by one of his
beautiful creatures called "Swanneck," he was thrown from the carriage,
sustaining severe injuries about the head, from which he suffered greatly long
after the fall. From that time he suffered business reverses, being no longer as
keen in judgment as he had been prior to his fall. The splendid business which
he had built up gradually dwindled and slipped from him, and he died a complete
wreck on January 25, 1872.

  A grand, generous character, a loving father, a true friend, a sincere
patriot, he is still remembered at this date by those who knew him best. His
bravery was at one time shown in a return voyage from Europe. He was crossing
the Atlantic on the steamship "Hammonia," with Captain Zucker; the powder
magazine of the ship exploded, and he alone had the presence of mind, courage
and great physical strength to put out the fire which ensued. A cup and a saucer
with the picture of the "Hammonia" painted upon it was presented to him in
memory of this incident, and it is still extant in the family and greatly
prized. As a sharpshooter he was unexcelled, and had won many trophies.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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