MICHAEL UNGER.-A man of enterprise and ability, Michael Unger is intimately identified with the agricultural interests of Sullivan county, his farm being pleasantly located in Haddon township, near Bethlehem. A son of Michael Unger, Sr., he was born, October 5, 1834, in Canada, not far from Buffalo, New York. Michael Unger, Sr., a native of Alsace, France, spent a number of years in Canada, but in 1837 returned with his family to his native country, and subsequently lived in Alsace until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Raches, was born in France, lived in Canada, and went back to France with her husband, living there a number of years after his death, then returning to America and spending her last days in Indianapolis, Indiana.


But three years old when he accompanied his parents to France, Michael Unger was there bred and educated, attending school in France for fourteen years, being a pupil in both French and German schools, and being now able to converse fluently in the French, German and English languages, an accomplishment of decided value to a business man. Returning to America in 1851, Mr. Unger was for five years employed in a whalebone factory in New Jersey. The following five years he resided in Walworth county, Wisconsin, near Racine, and there had his first experience as an agriculturist. Going then to Topeka, Kansas, he worked for a year at the stone mason's trade, after which he spent another year in Walworth county, Wisconsin. Going then to Indianapolis to meet his mother, who had just returned from France, he was there employed as a firing engineer in the railroad shops for ten years. Desiring a change of occupation, Mr. Unger farmed for a year in Knox county, Indiana, and then worked for another eighteen months in the Indianapolis car shops. Taking up his residence in Sullivan county in 1878, Mr. Unger bought his present farm of eighty-two and one-half acres, in Haddon township, and has since been here industriously and prosperously employed in agricultural pursuits, his farm lying about four miles south of Carlisle. He carries on general farming, including both stock and grain raising, and is meeting with deserved success, his well tilled fields yielding abundant harvests each year.


On December 17, 1861, Mr. Unger married Carrie Deiss, who was born, November 12, 1843, in Germany, a daughter of John Frederick and Wilhelmina (Heifner) Deiss. Mr. and Mrs. Deiss came to the United States with their family in 1851, and for a number of years lived in Ohio, being in Georgetown until 1853, and in Salem from that time until 1859. Coming then to Indiana, they resided in Noble county, near Kendallville, for fifteen years, after which they spent a year in Indianapolis. They then came to Haddon township, where they bought a farm, on which both spent their remaining years. Eleven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Unger, namely: William, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, born August 1, 1864, married William Pruesner, of Haddon township, and died November 27, 1904, leaving one child, Wilhelmina; Minnie, born October 17, 1866, married Rollie Collins, and died November 12, 1900; George Henry, born January 28, 1869, resides on a farm adjoining his father's; Edgar, born December 1, 1871, married Flora Roach, and lives in Knox county; Emma, born January 9, 1875, married, August 23, 1908, Mordecai Cox, a teacher in Vincennes; Della, deceased; Carrie, born July 14, 1878, lives with her parents; Nellie, deceased; Lillian, born September 7, 1882; and Harry, who was born October 31, 1886, died in 1891. Politically, Mr. Unger is identified with the Republican party, and religiously, he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bethlehem, which is near their home.