Daniel Wimer in Correspondence of Norman C. Miller, Jr.

From Norman C. Miller, Jr., Camden, AL, Aug. 1988
To Elizabeth Wilson Williams

Jonathan Wimer's first born son was Daniel, born circa 11836 (or 1832..or 1838) and middle initial was N (or it was M or W.) I know Myers does not list him as a son..but he was. My grandmother Miller said her Uncle Daniel was the blacksheep of the family. She would never explain this and I can only speculate there was something in his past that must have been of serious nature. Grandmother said he was one of her favorite uncles and she gave me a small pocket photo album that Daniel carried during the Civil War.

Inside the fly leaf Daniel wrote his name as Daniel N. along with his unit - Battery B 1st Pa. Artillery. Daniel enlisted in Bat'ry B in Aug. of 1864 serving until discharged in June '65. Among photos in Daniel's album is one of his brother William (as identified by my grandmother).

William Wimer enlisted in the 134th Pa. Vols - Co. G. 12 Aug. 1862...a nine months regiment. He was discharged by surgeons certificate in Feb. of '63 and died a month later at home. Also in the 134th Co. G, Daniel M. Wimer/Wymer. (there were 8 Wimers in the 134th - 4 in Co. G and of the 8, I can place 6 with known families in Butler Co. the other 2 were Jackson Wimer of Co. A which was mainly recruited in Lawrence Do. and Sgt. Francis M. Wimer Co. F, recruited in Butler Co.)

When Daniel enlisted in 1864 he gave his age as 38 (so born circa 1836)...Daniel M. Wimer of 134th gave age as 24 (born circa 1838). The Bat'y B. enlisted gives a physical description 5'11" - but none on the 134th roll.
Buried at Lower Zion Church - but not near the Jonathan Wimer plots...is Daniel W. Weimer died 16 Nov 1904 age 72...plus marker - Co. G. 134th Pa. Vols. (This made him born circa 1832 !)

Were there one or two Daniel Wimers? Was that Daniel age 14 in 1850 in Mary Wimer's home one or the other who served in Civil War? I feel they are one and same Daniel and Jonathon's son.

Jonathan's will does not name Daniel...he did identify a dau.-in-law Margaret Jane (widow of Jonathan H.) and a dau-in-law Margaret worded to indicate a different one. This could only be Daniel's wife (or ex-wife).
I know his parents held Daniel responsible for William's death - which could have been reason enough to have disinherited him - but always felt is was some deeper-darker reason. Grandmother would never say and I've never learned the cause.

Since we can't find but one Daniel on 1850 census, in this Mary Wimer home (hers was #111 on census - Jonathan's #109 so they were near neighbors) then seems most likely he was Jonathan's. Had he already been labeled a black sheep or was he just working and living in Mary's home?
Mary Wimer was too old to have been a widow or ex-wife of any of Christopher's sons (i.e. if Peter had married). She fits the age group of 1820 census for John A., John J. & Daniel (one John mar. Abigail)...In 1820 all three did have a son age 0-10...Mary's son Thomas was 30 in 1850.
It would seem there was a connection with this Mary Wimer family and our line other than neighbor to Jonathan. Since she named a son Adam - was it after Adam who was from Va... her father-in-law? If so..then there must have been some kinship with Christopher Wimer. Adam and Isaac, Sr. could have been brothers.

Note: Correspondence of Norman C. Miller, Jr. also included discussions of various Wimer/Wymer listings in early PA or VA census. Some of these are mentioned above (Adam, Isaac...). To see the text of this correspondence click here.