Philemon Wismer
ID # 9249, (1836-1883)
| Father | David Wismer (1807-1890) |
| Mother | Mary Tohman (1810-1883) |
| Birth | Philemon Wismer was born on 31 May 1836 at Markham Township, Home District, Upper Canada. |
| Marriage | He married Mary Ann Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller and Hannah Collins, on 7 July 1857. Rev. Fretz, in his 1895 Wismer book, states on page 302 that Philemon Wismer and Mary Ann Miller were married on July 7, 1857. This is probably correct. Not provided is a location of the marriage, but since 1851 census places both the Wismer and Miller families in Markham Township, this is probably the place of marriage. |
| Death | He died on 5 February 1883 at Gordon Township, Algoma District, at age 46. |
| Burial | He was buried at Gordon Cemetery, Gordon Twp., Manitoulin Island. |
| Note | See Fretz page 302. Death reg. 001002-83 Gordon Twp., Algoma District Philemon Wismer died Feby. 5, 1883. Age 47. Farmer. Cause of death mortification. Physician W. Johnston, M.D. Informant wife. The return was filed with the Gordon Township registrar on March 17th, 1883. A family story has it that Philemon was first buried on the family farm. His remains were later buried in the Gordon Township Cemetery. Note the date of Philemon's death as it appears on his death registration - February 5, 1883. The entry in Gordon Township's records appears to be consistent with other deaths in the township and there was no apparent undue delay in filing. Which brings us to something of the travels of the Wismer family. The 1851 census in Markham Township has Philemon, age 16, with his parents and many siblings. Yes, the Wismers were a large family. The 1861 census shows Philemon, age 25 and married. His wife is Mary Ann, age 25. Philemon is shown as being born in Markham and Mary Ann is shown as being born in Pickering. With them are two children, Henrietta L., born Markham, age 3, and Lewis, born Markham, age 1. Also present in the household is Phoebe Miller, age 23, born Pickering, and a Baptist. Philemon and Mary Ann are shown as Christians (Bible Christians?) The 1861 census has Philemon and Mary Ann living but one household away from his parents. The parents are living in a frame dwelling and Philemon and Mary Ann are in a brick dwelling. Phoebe Miller is Mary Ann's sister. (See notes for Mary Ann.) The 1871 census shows Philemon and Mary Ann with five childlren in Osprey Township of Grey County. The children are: Henrietta L., 13 Joseph L., 11 Jacob David, 7 Ida Jane, 3 and Mary H., one month - born March. In later records, Henrietta and Joseph place their births in Markham Township; the remainder of the children tell that they wre born in Osprey Township of Grey County. Past that, it is difficult to nail down just where in Osprey the family was located. Such Ontario land records as are available online record Philemon in Osprey transacting land records in 1869 and 1870. He is in brief possession of small portions of lots 10 and 11 on concession 8. The record does not, however, suggest that they lived there, or at least not more than briefly. This story will be very incomplete. In all probability, only a visit to the Archives of Ontario would sort it out. What we may say is that when daughter Martha Helena married, she showed her place of birth as being in Osprey. This was in approximately 1873. Daughter Ethelda Alberta has a birth registration and this places her birth in Osprey in 1877. Their presence in the township was of at least some duration. The family was in Gordon Township of Manitoulin Island as of the 1881 census. Again, there is an online land record for the Wismers in Gordon on lot 15, concession 6, but it does not mention Philemon. Mary Ann is shown as being there in 1881 and she receives the deed. She appears to have held this until 1898 when it was transferred to Jacob David Wismer. There may more to the Manitoulin Island story as well. As mentioned above. Philemon died in 1883 and is presently buried in Gordon Cemetery. This cemetery is due south of the town of Gore Bay. A followup note here to do with the brief presence of Philemon Wismer on parts of lots 10 and 11, concession 8, of Osprey Township of Grey County: The original patent for the two properties went to Augustus Von Buseck on 24 December, 1868. He sold his interest in lot 10 to Philemon Wismer, his brother-in-law, on 23 June, 1869, and ditto for a portion of lot 11 on the same day. A further note: Bill Martin of Thunder Bay has a website and this includes information to be found in the Grey County Gazetteer for the years 1865-1866. This includes a list of names of residents of Osprey Township and this shows Philemon Wismer as being located on Concession 8, Lot 11. Son Joseph Lewis Wismer's death registration places his birth in Markham Township as of 1860. Given that the family is in Markham in the 1861 census, this will be correct. Son Jacob David Wismer's marriage registration places his birth in Osprey Township of Grey County. Given his age as it appears on various documents, we may say that he was born in 1864. Since the family appears in the above mentioned Grey County Gazetteer the following year, this is almost certainly correct, making it fair to say that the family moved from Markham Township to Osprey Township between the years of 1861 and 1864. |
Children of Philemon Wismer and Mary Ann Miller |
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| Last Edited | 9 Mar 2023 |