John Widmer - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Born in Switzerland, John Widmer was the child of immigrants, Jacob and Anna Widmer who arrived in America in 1854.  John, born in October, 1845, was but a child. The family was settled in Defiance by the 1860 Federal Census that revealed Jacob's occupation as a stone mason.  On this census, the surname was spelled Whitmore (not an uncommon mistake) and young John was referred to as Jacob.  A little sister, Maria, aged 7, completed the motherless family.

On January 18, 1864, when he was 18 years old, John enlisted in the reorganized 38th O.V.I, Company D.  The regiment was just mustering out as a three year unit and they were resting on a furlough home. Then some men were reenlisting to fight as a veterans' group; this was the regiment for John.

The group was sent to Ringgold, Georgia, and they were eventually involved in fighting at Jonesboro.  They continued to follow General Sherman into the Carolinas until war's end.  The regiment participated in the Grand Review in Washington and then traveled back to Louisville, Kentucky. where they mustered out on July 12, 1865.

Strangely, John Widmer was also Whitmore on his pension card where that name was called an alias.  Sometimes if a clerk misunderstood a name and misspelled it upon enlistment, the mistake just repeated itself in all the paperwork along the way until corrected.  So the alias name is always mentioned just in case some paperwork missed correction.  John Widmer was also Whitmore on the roster for his regiment that was published at the end of the war.

Upon returning to Defiance, he married Caroline Houck on March 28, 1869.  Children followed, beginning in 1870: John Edward (1870), William Henry (1872), George Charles (1880), Bennie C. (1884), and Mary E. (1880).  Bennie died in 1896 of pneumonia.  His funeral was held at home and then at the St. Johannes Reform Church.

In the years after the war, John established himself in the saloon business.  On March 31, 1878, the Defiance Democrat printed the Defiance Fire Chief's Report for the first three months of that year, and included in that was mention of a catastrophic fire in Widmer's saloon.  It was located in a rented building from Elizabeth Kunz.

"The next fire was November 28h, at about 10 1/2 P.M.  The alarm was sounded when the fire was found to be in the one story frame building of Elizabeth Kunz, on the East side of Clinton street, adjoining the Russell House on the North.  The building was occupied by John Widmer as a saloon.

The Department was promptly on the ground, and although the entire building was in flames when the boys got to work, the adjoining buildings were saved with but slight damage.  The cause of the fire here was supposed to be a defective flue.

The total loss of this fire footed up $1,393 on which insurance was paid of $1,133, as follows: Elizabeth Kunz loss $400, Insurance paid full $400; John Widmer loss on stock &c. $470, insurance paid on same $352; George H. Brown loss on building $383, Insurance paid in full $383; loss on Russell House estimated at $100; and as yet unsettled, as the proprietor claims a heavy loss by the cracking of the north wall.  This building was insured.  For services at this fire the boys are entitled to very great credit."

 In the 1880 census, the Widmer family live on Ralston Road in Noble Township and John 33, worked in a beer bottling works.  He was around for the 1890 Veterans Census, reporting his alias as John Whitman.  No disability was reported for him after two years, five months and eighteen days in the war. 

Newspapers reported that from at least 1891 - 1897, John cut and hauled ice, possibly with several of his sons.  By January 15, 1891, for example, he had put up 125 tons of ice to sell.  According to city directories of the time, he was also running his saloon.
  
In 1892, the Defiance Daily Crescent of October 27, reported a big surprise party held for John Widmer:

"JOHN WAS SURPRISED

Last evening at the home of John Widmer on High Street, North Defiance, was the scene of a lively time.  The occasion being Mr. Widmer's forty seventh birthday.  About 75 of his friends called on him and gave him a very agreeable surprise.  The evening was spent in games and dancing, and an elegant supper was served.  Gessner's orchestra was present and rendered some elegant music for the jolly crowd.  Mr. Widmer was presented with a beautifully engraved cane and an elegant smoking set."

The Widmer family suffered from fire again in 1898 when their house caught fire.  The Defiance Express noted the event on September 15, 1898:

"BAD FIRE

Home of John Widmer Wrecked Tuesday

The fire department was called to the residence of John Widmer, in North Defiance, at 9 a.m. Tuesday and though the boys made a brilliant run and worked hard, the house was badly wrecked and is practically a total loss.  

The fire started from a gasoline stove which exploded.  The spread of the fire was so rapid and the flames so fierce that Mrs. Widmer, who was alone, had to run to the home of a neighbor to turn in the alarm.  Mrs. Widmer's clothing was saved and some of the house hold goods, but the latter were damaged.

The loss on the house is put at from $2,000 to $2,500.  There was $1,000 insurance on the house and $100 on the household goods.  Mr. Widmer's vest was hanging in the bath room.  The vest and $35 in one of the pockets was burned.

Mr. Widmer but recently completed an addition to the house at a cost of $500.  His lost will be quite heavy despite his insurance.  The fire boys did good work, but the run was too long and the fire too far advanced to have done more than they did do."

By 1900, the year of his death, the Widmer family lived at the corner of Van Buren and High Streets, and John, 54, worked as an ice hauler.  Sons William H, 28, worked as a cigar maker and George C., 19, was a day laborer. 
 

Defiance Crescent-News, October 5, 1900

 Many sources conflicted on birth and death dates.  Obituaries and tombstone dates clashed as did grave registration records. 

(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!)