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Herman |
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Herman |
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HERMAN F. NIESSNER was born March 8, 1891 in Pennsylvania, the son of German immigrants. His father, Frederick Niessner, a machinist for Baldwin Locomotive in Philadelphia, brought his family to the Cramer Hill section of Camden in 1894. Frederick Niessner purchased his lot from Alfred Cramer that year, and built twin houses at 1226 and 1228 DuPont Street. As a teenager and as a young man Herman Niessner was active in team sports in East Camden and Cramer Hill, playing baseball, football, and basketball as late as 1912. Herman Niessner married Mattie Schiller, the daughter of Camden political figure Jacob Schiller, around 1910. The young couple was living at 36 North 21st Street in East Camden when their first child was born in 1911. By 1914 Herman Niessner had brought his family back to Cramer Hill, where they lived at 927 North 27th Street, the City Directory shows his occupation as printer. When Herman Niessner registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 another child had been born. The family was still at 927 North 27th Street in Cramer Hill. When the 1920 Census was enumerated, he lived with his wife Mattie, son Herman W. and daughters Flora and Gladys at 907 North 32nd Street in Cramer Hill. Another son, Elmer, was born shortly after the 1920 census. Herman Niessner was the working as an engraver in a print shop. The family's next door neighbors at 917 North 32nd Street at the time was the Oliver Purnell family, their son Private Oliver R. Purnell, had died of combat related injuries overseas during World War I. Charles F. Sorg, who was active in Camden political circles, wasliving at 925 North 32nd Street by 1924, and by April of 1930 Camden police officer Marshall Thompson had moved in a few doors away at 943. The 1924 and 1929 City Directories show the family living at 907 North 32nd Street in Cramer Hill. The 1929 Directory also indicates that he was working in real estate at the time. The Niessner family remained at 907 North 32nd Street through at least April of 1930. Meanwhile, across the street, the Harry C. Sharp Elementary School had been built, opening its doors to students in October of 1922. At some point Herman Niessner became attracted to Socialism and was active politically as a Socialist. He ran as the Socialist Party candidate for U.S. Representative from New Jersey 1st District, 1920; was the candidate for Governor of New Jersey, and was the candidate for U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1932. In 1924 Herman Niessner attended the 1924 Convention of the Socialist Party of America which was held July 6 - 8, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio. His co-delegates from New Jersey were Alfred Altert, George Bauer, Charlotte Bohlin, James B. Furber, George H. Goebel, and Leo M. Harkins. With George Goebel, Henry Jager, Harry Nelson, Morris Stempa and Andrew Wittel, he was elected to represent New Jersey at the 17th National Convention of the Socialist Party of America Convention which was held May 20-24, 1932, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After World War II Herman F. Niessner moved to Washington DC. His son, Herman W. Neissner, was living at 2910 Adams Avenue in Cramer Hill when the 1947 City Directory was compiled. Herman F. Niessner was last a resident of Pennsauken NJ. He died of leukemia in April of 1966. |
1905-1906 BASEBALL |
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This picture was labeled "Herman F. Niessner - Baseball". My best guess as to the identity of this team is that the R A C stands for the R____ Athletic Club, possibly the Reliance Club. Herman Niessner was born in 1891 and appears to be in his mid-teens. This would date the photo at about 1905 or 1906. Front,
with baseballs and book: Unknown Click on Image to Enlarge |
1905-1906 BASEBALL |
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This picture was also labeled "Herman F. Niessner - Baseball", and is another pose pf the team pictured above. Front
row: Unknown, William Niessner Click on Image to Enlarge |
1910-1911 BASEBALL |
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This picture was taken a few years after the photos. This team belonged to St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, which then stood at North 25th and Howell Streets in East Camden. I estimate that this picture is from 1910 or 1911.
On the far left separated slightly
from the group is Joe Snyder.
Click on Image to Enlarge |
1911 FOOTBALL |
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The 1911 Dudley football team. Click on Image to Enlarge |
1911-1912 BASKETBALL |
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The "S A" or "A S" 1911-12 Basketball team, champions of one of the many sports leagues that existed in Camden in those times. In
the center, in street clothes is Mr. King. Click on Image to Enlarge |
1911-1912 BASKETBALL |
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Another photo of the "S A" or "A S" 1911-12 Basketball team. In
the center, in street clothes is John
Hansen. Click on Image to Enlarge |
36 and 34 North 21st Street - Camden, New Jersey |
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This photo was captioned by Herman Niessner's wife, Mattie as "36 N. 21st St." Her first son was born here in 1911. Her father, Jacob Schiller, lived a few doors away at 44 North 21st Street. By 1914 Herman and Mattie Niessner had moved to 927 North 27th Street. Click on Image to Enlarge |
Swimming in the Delaware - July 25, 1915 |
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From the album of Herman Niessner, this photo was taken on the banks of the Delaware on July 25, 1915. It is worth noting that William "Bill" Niessner and Herman Niessner are wearing the "S A" shirts that were worn in the basketball team photo above.
Front row, from left:
Top row, from left: Click on Image to Enlarge |
| World War I Draft Card | |
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| Camden Courier-Post * June 16, 1933 |
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CARD PARTY PLANNED Members of the 'Camden" Branch of the Socialist Party will hold a card party at the headquarters, 312
Market
Street tonight. Mrs. Mattie
Niessner, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, is in charge |
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Camden Courier-Post * Mailbag * August 11, 1934 |
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Why Fear Socialism'? To the Editor: Sir:
Your editorial of August 7, "Unemployment or Exile," in which
you equate William Green, president .of the A.F. of L., as stating that if
the capitalists do not open the factories, it will be necessary far the
U.S. Government to step in and open these idle factories, to again make
the things the people need, raises quite a question. You infer that this
would be Socialism! On several occasions you have told the reading public that if the capitalist class will not change their methods, we will drift rapidly into Socialism. Far what reason are you afraid of this inevitable change in society? To what extent would the calamity reach in the event that we did suddenly embrace Socialism? You go further in stating that it is not difficult to visualize a form of prosperity with 10 million idle workers, with 30 million workers working. We would like you to make it clear just haw we could have any farm of prosperity, with 30 million at work and at the same time have 10 million waiting, ready to fly at the others throats in order to take their jobs and at lower wages. Now, Mr. Editor, up to the present, you have written at great length on the question .of monetary reform. So much in fact that it must surely have aroused the general curiosity of the readers of your editorials, to know more in detail of just what your ideas on monetary reform really are. We think and in fact we ask, that at this time an editorial should be printed in the columns of your paper, on the subject of monetary reform, the change from our present system and what you think we should expect after the change will have been made, And furthermore, if as you say, the alternative at hand is Socialism, why search far any other alternative; and above all else, monetary reform? Which in its best form would only prolong the agony of the profit system for a year or two at the most. You mention England and its long period of depression and the dole system over a term of years. You surely must admit that the English capitalists are fully as clever as are our own capitalists, yet they have failed to deliver the English people out of the depression. In fact the English have tried every other alternative except Socialism and each and every alternative has tended to drive them only deeper into the mire of poverty and starvation. And now that you have raised the question, or rather advanced the general idea that we are faced with several alternatives, i.e., economic exile, monetary reform or Socialism, we feel that the reading public are due to receive, in the columns of your paper a full explanation of your views all each of the above mentioned alternatives. Will you favor the public with this information? HERMAN F. NIESSNER, FRANK JEFFERIES, MAURICE MILASK, Socialist Party Editorial, Committee |
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Camden Courier-Post- June 28, 1933 |
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UNEMPLOYED
UNION TO PLAN FOR FOURTH Plans for a Fourth of July demonstration, similar to labor demonstrations staged throughout the world each year on May 1, will be formulated tomorrow night at a mass meeting conducted by the Unemployed Union of New Jersey, according to an announcement yesterday by Frank J. Manning, president. Manning said the meeting in Convention Hall Annex would be addressed by Mark Starr, professor of economics, and Josephine Colby, instructor of English, of Brookwood Labor College, and by three students of the college. The Unemployed Union tomorrow night, will demand that the city commission hold a public hearing on housing conditions in Camden and the proposal of the union to establish municipally operated living quarters, Manning said. Dr. A. L. Stone, city health director and chairman of the Camden city emergency relief administration, will be asked for his conclusions on representation of the union on the city relief board, Manning said. The demonstration on July 4, according to Manning, will start with a parade at 10 a. m., to be followed by a mass meeting on the steps of the City Hall plaza, before the buses and automobiles leave for Kirkwood Lake, where a picnic will be held in the afternoon. The parade will assemble at Second and Cooper Streets, Manning said, and will march on Cooper Street to Fourth, to Newton Avenue, to Broadway, to Federal Street, to the City Hall. The Unemployed Union, according to Manning, will co-operate with the Socialist Party for the picnic. Norman Thomas has been invited to speak, he said. The three Socialist candidates for Assembly - Manning, Charles W. Sherlock and Herman F. Niessner- will present their platforms. In addition. numerous athletic events; including a baseball game, have been arranged, he said. "The Unemployed Union urges all workers and farmers in Camden county to assemble for a mighty labor demonstration on July 4," Manning said. "We shall make known our demands for action to relieve unemployment, to end inhuman wages and ruinously low prices for our products. We shall set forth the plans at the Continental Congress of Workers and Farmers, with which the union is affiliated, for wiping poverty from the face of the earth and for building a world with plenty and happiness for all. "We shall hold a short mass meeting on the steps of City Hall Plaza at which the New Declaration of Independence of the Continental Congress will be read. "July 4 must be made the occasion for building up, the solidarity and power of farmers and workers. A powerful well-rounded labor movement could drive corruption and graft out of our public life, abolish sweatshops and build a workers' world of peace, plenty and freedom." Regarding the platform of the three Socialistic candidates for Assembly, Manning said: "Our platform will be constructive and in the interests of the workers and farmers of the state. We shall go into every corner of this county with our platform and we shall also challenge our opponents to meet us in debate so that the voters may have a chance to know where all the candidates stand on important issues." |
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Camden Courier-Post * February 3, 1938 |
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Puts Capitalism on Defensive To the Editor: Sir-Mr. Meves thinks that because the Socialists want to usher in a new system in which we shall transplant the present (dog-eat-dog) competitive system with one of co-operation, that we should prove our point. The very opposite should be the rule. Socialism has never been in power, therefore has nothing to defend. Capitalism has been in power and therefore must prove that it can give life, liberty and happiness to all the people. Just now it is responsible for 16,000,000 people being totally or partially unemployed. It must answer to this terrible indictment. These people are not lazy, they simply can't get work. From your reasoning you would think that we, the Socialists, are responsible for this monstrosity. You and your system are responsible. With all the master minds of capitalism working on this problem there is more unemployment today than ever before and things are decidedly bad and getting worse. Just now they are arguing about a 40-hour week when a 20-hour week would just about give all the people work. Under capitalism it is generally agreed that you can't get a decent job if you are under 21 because you lack experience, and you are not wanted after you are 35; so you have about 14 years in which to acquire a home which they take from you a few years later. At this point I am not going to discuss the disease of war which is festering under capitalism, nor am I going to discuss gangsterism, lynching, graft, corruption, racketeering and the many other ills of this system. This
country, which is rich. and abundantly so, in natural resources could be a
paradise for all the people, but capitalism has made for many of us
nothing but misery, where we are actually starving in the midst of plenty. HERMAN F. NIESSNER |
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I always found my grandfather, Herman Niessner, to be a truly broad-minded person interested in almost everything. After the family moved from Cramer Hill, after the war, they lived for a while in Washington, D.C. and so did I. He would take me on walks and point out with great interest the various houses of worship, cemeteries, bowling alleys-----we once went together to a funeral in the Capitol building---I don't know whose. He seemed to view everyone and everything with equal interest; I never heard or sensed any prejudice or malice in him. He died of leukemia, a consequence of years of working with printer's ink. Leslie
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