Funeral services were held at two o'clock this afternoon for Oconto's last remaining Civil War Veteran, Frank Knisely, 92, who passed away at his home, 302 Fourth Street, Saturday afternoon. He suffered a stroke two weeks ago, which hastened his death.
Rev. Starr Lloyd officiated at services held in the Gallagher Funeral Home. Military services were performed by members of Company C, 127th infantry of the Wisconsin National Guard.
Mr. Knisely, born near Bucyrus, Ohio, on a farm, was one of six children of Sarah L. and John King. An orphan at the early age of 9, he was adopted by his great uncle, Judge Samuel Knisely, who's surname he accepted as his own. His ancestry on the Knisely side, consists of German nobles, but he also prided himself on the English heritage from his mother.
Until the past few years, My Knisely devoted a great share of his time to reading, his favorite; pastime. Recently his failing eye sight had denied him of his greatest delight. When he was able to work in his garden, that too was a pleasure for him.
Mrs. Knisely passed away on, February 4, 1930, but previous to that on May 4, 1922, Mr. and Mrs. Knisely celebrated their golden wedding. He was the father of two daughters, Mrs. Clark Weaver. Kenosha, and Mrs. Henry Menting, Kaukauna, and two sons, Robert, Green Bay, and William, of this city, who lived with him. Eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren also survive.
Mr. Knisely celebrated his 92nd birthday anniversary last September 10. Although he had been con fined to his home for the past few years and had been stricken with partial paralysis several times, he maintained a surprising vitality to shortly before his death.
In a review with the Reporter about a year ago, Mr. Knisely related many interesting experiences during his military service in the Civil War. He told of entering the service as a boy of 17, a year younger than the age at which those enlisting were accepted. Because officers in his home state, Ohio, refused to accept him, he went to Chicago where he was admitted into the army in 1862 as a high private in Company I Bouton's battery in the light artillery.
Although he saw action for three years of the war, the Battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing stood out as the most spectacular in his mind. It was in this battle that he was initiated into the horrors of war. During the conflict between the states, he was a member of the same company as were Peter James and Homer DonLevy, all old residents of this city, who preceded him in death.
At the close of the war Mr. Knisely remained in Illinois where he was employed by, farmers. In 1872 he came to Couillardville in this county and on May 4 of that Year was married to Ellen Davis. For 25 years they lived on a farm in that community. In 1897 they moved to Oconto where he had since made his home. For the past 40 years he lived in the house where he resided until his death.