Jonas Waldner - G.A.R., Bishop Post

An immigrant from Switzerland in 1852, Jonas Waldner was settled in Defiance County by the 1860 census.  He was a farm laborer living with Ernest and Louisa Jones and their one year old son.  Two other workers and a domestic servant finished the household.  


On April 28, 1861, Jonas enlisted in Company D, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Sidney Sprague.  His term of three months was quickly over, and he was discharged on August 18, 1861.  He listed his disability on the Veterans Census as chronic diarrhea.  

Jonas, born on April 20, 1834, found love in the United States.  He married Katharine Oster on September 12, 1861, in Defiance. Katharine was from Bavaria, Germany.
The couple would go on to have nine children: Anna E., Mary E., Andrew, Earnest, Berita, Harry, Henry, Adam, and Elmer.  From 1870 to near 1900, the family lived in the Defiance area where Jonas farmed.  In 1880, Katharine's father was enumerated with the family.  Jacob Oster, 64, and a widower, was a lock tender on the canal.  

Sadly, in July 1887, Katharine Oster Waldner died, leaving a host of small children for her husband to care for and support.  The Defiance Democrat reported on July 28, 1887:

"Mrs. Kate Waldner died last Saturday at an age of 47 years, 1 month, and 18 days after a protracted illness of jaundice.  Funeral services were held Monday at the Presbyterian church.  Rev. May officiating in the absence of Rev. Slagle."

 In 1891, Jonas was admitted into the U. S. Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio, when he was about 57 years old.  He was described as having dark hair, hazel eyes, gray hair and he was 5 foot, 7 inches tall.  He noted he was single.  At someone's request, he was discharged on July 18, 1892.

Anna Raubert married Jonas Waldner on September 14, 1894, in Defiance. The couple soon moved to Williams County where they were enumerated in 1900.  Jonas was 66 and Anna was 58.  Still at home with them were Alva (Adam?) Waldner, 17, and Elmer Waldner, 14.  They remained in Williams County - Pulaski, in 1910 - until Jonas died.   Elmer, 27, was still at home and working as an electrician at the time.

Jonas died on March 7, 1912, in Williams County.  No obituary could be found, but years after his death, E. B. Waldner (Elmer Waldner?) applied for a headstone for Jonas from the federal government. Jonas was buried in the older part of Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, along with his first wife, Katharine, and daughter, Bertha, who died when she was 12 and Andrew, who died at 18.  Four other names (Elizabeth, Nellie, Charles and Ferdinand) are on stones with no dates or other information in the Waldner area.

After Jonas died, his second wife, Anna, went to live with her brother in Ligonier, Indiana.  She died not long after Jonas, on October 17, 1912, and was buried in Ligonier.

Ligonier Leader, October 17, 1912

 

Death Certificate of Anna Raubert Waldner.  She had no children.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)