Alfred Nesemann, Bank manager and naturalist, was the son of Wilhelm Friedrich Nesemann* and his wife Francis Sophia, born Hadlow. In January 1899 he joined the staff of the Standard Bank in Steynsburg and at the age of sixteen became a lance corporal in the Town Guard following the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). He was transferred to the bank's Caledon branch in September 1903. In July 1905 he was sent to Bredasdorp where he became an accountant. Subsequently he was stationed at Tarkastad, Vrede, Robertson (February 1928) and Graaff-Reinet (January 1932). He retired as a result of ill health in July 1942.
Nesemann developed an interest in nature at an early age and collected plants and other natural history specimens. He often sent plants to the Botanic Gardens at Kirstenbosch, among them a new species that was named Euphorbia nesemanni by R.A. Dyer*. Dr Robert Broom* found a new species of fossil in his collection and named it Aulacephalodon nesemannii in his honour. Nesemann also donated three Lystrosaurus skulls to the Wellwood Fossil Museum, which was started near Graaff-Reinet by Sydney Rubidge.
He was an inveterate tease and practical joker, and a keen Freemason. He was married to Catherine Ann Georgina Taylor, with whom he had two sons and two daughters.
