Finding the Original Pays Off!

Yesterday I posted my transcription of Adam Wisner's Revolutionary War pension application. I had previously seen a transcription of this document in: The Wisners in America and their kindred: a genealogical and biographical history, by George Franklin Wisner, 1918. The book is now available online at Google Books. The following is a snip of a portion of the transcription found on page 131.



It says, " In the month of March, 1813, I removed to the town of Coshocton, in the County of Coshocton, in the State of Ohio, and resided there until 1819."

Here is a crop of the image found at Footnote.com:



And my transcription of the same section with the difference bolded:

In the month of March 1813 I removed to the town of Andrus (now Dewitt) in the County of Onondaga and State of New York at which place I resided until 1817. On the 15th day of September 1817 I left the County of Onondaga and Removed to the town of Coshocton in the County of Coshocton in the State of Ohio and resided there until 1819.

These few lines may be a huge find for me! I don't understand the reference to "Andrus," as Dewitt was called Orville. But the important thing is that Dewitt is mentioned. Dewitt was part of the town of Manlius until 1835.

My 3rd great-grandfather, William Wisner was born 27 March 1783. Some records list his place of birth as Pennsylvania and others as New York. The earliest record I have found for him is a land purchase on 29 Oct 1812 in Manlius, Onondaga, New York.

William Wisner was the only Wisner I could place in Manlius during this time period, until now. Was Adam his father, uncle or cousin? I'm not sure but I'm betting there was some relationship. Now I just need to dig deeper and find out what it was...........

Wisner 1850 and 1851 Deeds

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

I wish I could remember where and when I found these deeds. I have many such documents in my files without this detail. [Update: Both of the deeds are available online from the Bureau of Land Management]

There were two William Wisners. The father did not seem to use a middle initial. His son was William Abner Wisner. I believe that the first one was for William Abner and the second for his father. However, it is possible that William Wisner, Sr also had A as a middle initial and both deeds are his.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E 291

CERTIFICATE}
No. 28.080

To all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS William A. Wisner, of Lake County, Illinois,

has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the REGISTER OF THE
LAND OFFICE at Chicago whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
William A. Wisner,
according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands, " for
the North West Quarter of the North East fractional
Quarter of Section nine in Township forty five, of
Range Nine, in the District of Lands subject to sale
at Chicago Ilinois, containing twenty Acres, and Seven-
ty Eight hundrethes of an Acre,

acording to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR
GENERAL, which said tract has been pruchased by the said William A. Wisner,

NOW KNOW YE, That the
United States of America, in concideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress,
in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT,
unto the said William A. Wisner,

and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belongong, unto the said William A. Wisner,
and to his heirs and assigns forever.

IN TESTOMONY WHEREOF, I, Millard Fillmore
ORESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and
the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the second day of December
in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty and of the
Independence of the United States the Seventy fifth
BY THE PRESIDENT: Millard Fillmore
By M. P. Fillmore Sec'y
Jos. S. Wilson acting Recorder of the General Land Office,
ad interim

SEAL
063883
1504718



THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E 147

CERTIFICATE}
No. 28504

To all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS William Wisner, of Lake County, Illinois,
669
has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the REGISTER OF THE
LAND OFFICE at Chicago whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
William Wisner,
according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands, " for
the West fractional half of the South East fractional
quarter and the South West fractional quarter of the
North East fractional quarter of Section nine in
Township forty five of Range nine in the District of
Lands subject to same at Chicago Illinois, containing
Eighty five acres and forty nine hundredths of an
acre

acording to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR
GENERAL, which said tract has been pruchased by the said William Wisner,

NOW KNOW YE, That the
United States of America, in concideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress,
in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT,
unto the said William A. Wisner,

and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belongong, unto the said William Wisner,
and to his heirs and assigns forever.

IN TESTOMONY WHEREOF, I, Millard Fillmore
ORESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and
the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the first day of July
in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Fifty one and of the
Independence of the United States the Seventy fifth
BY THE PRESIDENT: Millard Fillmore
By Alex McCorrmick apt. Sec'y
E S Terry Recorder of the General Land Office.


SEAL
1504718

Syracuse and Salt

Several months ago, before I started working on the letters to the exclusion of much else, I was looking at my Wisner ancestors and their time in the Syracuse, NY area. This led me to start looking at the salt industry in Syracuse.

Today I ran across these great videos on the Post Standard website about the Tully Valley, south of Syracuse and the second one has some good basic information and great pictures about the history of the industry. I am sharing them here as I think you will find them interesting even if you don't have ties to Central New York. They are about 5 minutes each. Skip down to the second one if you are only interested in the salt industry.

Bill Kappel of the USGS on the Geology of Tully Valley (Part 1)

Bill Kappel of the USGS on the Geology of Tully Valley (Part 2)

Links:
Video 1
Video 2

Michael Camfield

Mikel Cumveldt was born March 15, 1822 in Alsace-Lorraine, an area on the border of France and Germany. He spoke German and immigrated to the US about 1833-1835. On his arrival he was separated from his family and bound out as an indentured servant to an upstate NY farmer to pay for his passage. We do not know the correct spelling of his surname. The farmer that took him changed his name to Michael Camfield to sound more American. The name was often recorded as Canfield. He was indentured for seven years. I do not believe that he was ever reunited with his family. I’ve been told that he came with his parents, a brother and a sister. His death certificate lists his father’s name as John.

When he had earned his freedom he got a job driving horses on the towpath of the Erie Canal. His job took him by the farm of William Wisner in Orville (now Dewitt) William’s daughter, Sarah, liked to sit along the bank of the canal as the boats traveled by. In this way Michael and Sarah met. Even after seven years, Michael’s English was broken. William was not happy when Sarah announced that she planned to marry an illiterate immigrant. They married about 1846.

They had a son, Joseph, in 1847. In 1849 Sarah’s father and the rest of her family moved to Avon, IL. Michael and Sarah remained in Onondaga Co. It is not clear when they headed west or where they went first. They took in a foster daughter, Sarah Ann, who was born in 1855 in NY. The story is that her mother died and her father asked the couple to look after her for which he initially paid them. Eventually the payments stopped but by then she was a part of the family.

At some point they ended up in Waukegan, IL between Avon and Chicago. Here he drove an ox cart through the mud of the streets of Chicago. Eventually he moved his family to Berrien Co, MI and later to Branch Co, MI where he farmed 80 acres.

Michael’s great-grandson, Cecil Camfield, tells the following stories:

“I spent a lot of time with my uncles who told me stories of Mike: Once Mike had a pair of colts, one he showed at the Fair. The judge couldn't decide between Mike's colt and another for first place. They were showing, "under harness" which meant their heads were held up by a "check rein." Mike suggested that they uncheck them. When they did the other colt's head dropped to the ground while Mike's never quivered. Later Mike was offered $100 plus a team of old nags for the colts. Mike needed the money so made the deal. Later one of the Warner boys facetiously asked him how he liked his new team. "Me gotum, me gotta like um," was Mike's answer. (That reply has become my philosophy.) In the summer-time Mike's dog would lie in the stock-watering-trough to cool off. When Mike found him there he would haul him out by the scruff of his neck and kick him. One day Fred found the dog in the trough and administered the usual treatment. Mike saw it, got his gun and shot the dog. "Nobody kicks MY dog!" Mike was - - - shall we say, strong minded? The night before he married he went out with is friends on the Canal saying, "This will be my last drink." It was. When Mike and Sarah got on the "outs" they wouldn't talk to each other. Then he would say to Fred, "Tell the old woman so and so." And Sarah would reply, through Fred, " Such and such."

Michael died in 1899 in Batavia, Branch Co, MI.

[Originally published at The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree, January 30, 2006. I am reprinting it here because I will be transcribing some of the Camfield letters here in the near future.]

Dining Out

I have four dinners to plan and choosing who to dine with was very hard. I have so many brick walls and so many interesting folks in my tree. I’ll bend the rules a little and have four separate dinners so as to have time to focus on each individual and I’ll pick one cousin and three ancestors.


For my first dinner I will travel back to January 31, 1912 to crash a birthday party in Phelps, Ontario County, NY. On that day Milantha Hall Marsh (my 1st cousin, 4 times removed) celebrated her 100th birthday.

I’m certain I’ll wear her out with my questions. What does she remember about her grandparents, William and Ruhamah (Andrews) Hall? How did William come by the title Captain? Who were her three siblings besides Olney Hall? Was Olney’s marriage to Lucretia the cause of the rift between him and his children or was it something else?

Accidents seemed to besiege the family. What can she tell me about these tragedies and others. Her father, John Hall was killed by a kick from a horse; her nephew, Orson Hall, died from a fall from a horse; a cousin, James Hall died at the age of 3 when he fell into a bucket of hot water; her niece, Helen Elizabeth Hall lost her husband, David Brusie (Brazze, Brezee, Brasie) in a horrible threshing machine accident; and her own son, Henry Marsh, died in a fall from a tree while coon hunting.

Where did all of her aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins move to? Did she visit any of them in her travels? Did any of them return to visit her? I’d specifically like to know what she remembers about her aunt, Tamesin Hall who married David Glover (my 3rd great-grandparents.) When Milantha’s father died David Glover owed him money which was never paid. Did this cause hard feelings between the families? Did she ever meet the family of Daniel and Zipporah (Wheeler) Carlisle?

I would love to see her loom and would love to see how it worked. How did she receive her education? What inventions during her lifetime were most important to her? How did her daily activities change over the decades? How did the town change over time? How many of my other relatives that passed through or settled in the area near Phelps did she know?

Will she cut off my questions as she is old and tired or will she invite me to stay the night and chat some more in the morning? I’m certain that her lifetime of experiences could fill a book.


My next dinner will be with my great-great-grandfather, Michael Camfield. I’ll invite him to meet me at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, NY before we drive down Erie Blvd for a nice dinner at the steak house located directly across the street from the cemetery where the grandparent’s (Anthony and Mary Elizabeth (Bookhout) Badgley) of his wife, Sarah Ann Wisner, are resting.

As we tour the museum I’ll ask questions about his time working the tow path along the canal and about his courtship of Sarah. Where did he live? Did he drive horses, mules or both? What was it about Sarah that caught his eye? How did he propose and where and when were they married? Was he welcomed into the family by his in-laws?

During the drive to the restaurant I’ll ask him what his name was before it was Anglicized and who his parents and siblings were. I’ll ask questions about his memories of childhood in Alsace Lorraine and why the family came to America. When did they come? What ship did they travel on and what was the voyage like? Did he ever see any of them again? I’m certain that the answers to these questions will lead to many more.

Over dinner we’ll talk about how he and Sarah came to take in a little girl and raise her as their own. Who were Sarah Ann’s biological parents? Did they name her Sarah or was she renamed for her foster mother? Was she ever formally adopted?

I’ll next ask about the move to Illinois and later Michigan. Did he really have gold sewn into his pockets? What work did he do in Chicago? Why did he leave Illinois for Michigan? What were his children like? Did they have other children that died young? Did he see much of his grandchildren? Maybe he’ll remember the names of his daughter-in-law’s parents, the Graham’s. I’ll want him to describe his farm and share any other memories he may have.

After our dinner is done we’ll retire to the bar where I’m certain our talk will continue until last call.


My next dinner will take place in a public house in Westmoreland, Cheshire Co, NH, we’ll shoot for the summer of 1790. The place is run by my 4th great-grandfather, Capt. Daniel Carlisle and his 2nd wife Lydia Pierce. Will I be fed some wild game or perhaps fresh fish from the Connecticut River?

I’ll try to wait for a time when Lydia is busy to ask about my ancestor and Captain Dan’s first wife, Lydia Conant. I think she was the daughter of Ebenezer and Ruth (Pierce) Conant, making his wives cousins (1st, once removed) and I’d really like to lock that down. I’d also like to know how she died.

I'm hoping he’ll volunteer the tales of some of his adventures. Did he really break Samuel King out of jail in Keene in 1782? What other civil disobedience did he get up to? I want to hear about his military career, from serving as a private at Bunker Hill to receiving a commission as Captain of the second Company in Col. Timothy Bedell’s regiment. I want to hear all about Quebec and the battles of Lake Champlain. Will he be willing to talk about being cashiered? Did he draw his gun on General Sullivan or was it a sword on Col. Waite?

Maybe before getting him reminiscing about the war I should ask about his parents and where they were from! I have no idea what his mother’s maiden name was and some say they were from Ireland but others say Scotland.


My last dinner will be with William Wisner but where and when? Since I hope to learn much about his ancestry I think it would be best to have dinner with him in the late summer of 1834 in Manlius. All of his children were born by then but being only in his early 50’s his memory should still be sound and perhaps Adam Wisner would be visiting then. Hmm. If I visit that early I won’t be able to ask about his grandchildren that I have questions about. So maybe 1870 when he is 83 would be better. His grandchildren George and Julia were living with him then and may be able to help out if he gets stuck. So Avon, Lake Co, IL it will be. If there is not restaurant there we’ll head into Waukegan.

My first question will be WHO WERE YOUR PARENTS!!!! I’ll apologize for shouting but they have been frustrating my every attempt to locate them for years. Will he answer Anannias, Adam or someone else? His mother I haven’t begun to look for since I can’t pin down a father. Next I’d like to know who his grandparents were and continue backwards. Do I descend from Johannes Weesner or some other Wisner!? Depending on his answers I’ll come up with more questions.

I have questions about where and when he met Betsey Badgley. Did they know each other in eastern NY or did they meet in Onondaga County? When and where did they marry? Why did he move to Onondaga Co? Did his father have a claim in the Military Tract? Did he have any connection to the salt industry? Why did he decide to leave for Lake County, Illinois and how far did they travel by water? What was the trip like? Did one or more of his children go first? Again the answers to these questions will lead to many others.

How did he really feel about his son-in-law, Michael Camfield? His son William Abner Wisner had two or three wives? And how did his grandchildren come to be living with him. Why did none of his sons stay in Lake County?

If we have time I’d love to hear stories of his time in Onondaga County and more about the Badgely’s. Did he help Betsy’s uncle, Henry Bogardus, and brother-in-law, David Merrill with the tavern at Bogardus Corners? Why did the tavern fail and what did Henry and David do after that? (Bogardus Corners eventually became the city of Syracuse. The tavern stood where the Post Standard Building is today.)


This was written for the 41st edition of the Carnival of Genealogy:

If you could have dinner with four of your ancestors who would they be and why? Here's a chance to exercise your imagination... Would you have dinner in the present day or in one of their eras? Would you dine out or opt for a home cooked meal? What would you discuss at the dinner table? What would you most like to share with them about your life? This topic was suggested by footnoteMaven who I'm sure you've heard is feeling poorly. Let's cheer her up with some interesting reading while she's convalescing!

Thank-you fM for suggesting this topic! I hope you are on the mend. To date this has been the most fun edition of the COG for me. I focused only on my maternal side here and may to do this again for my paternal side.

The Murder of Mr Wisner

I tracked down a couple of accounts of the murder of a Mr. Wisner in St. Joseph County, Michigan in 1839. I believe that this is probably the murder to which Ethel Wisner referred.

My great grandfather, Daniel D. Wisner was killed by the Indians about 100 years ago in Michigan, near Kalamazoo. This has always seemed an important event in the family history. We have been able to trace the relationship to several Wisners from this Calamity.

and

“I have just been able to gather a little more data regarding our branch of the Wisner family. My great-great-grandfather installed the first salt works in the United States at Syracuse, NY.

“His son, James Wisner, killed a drunken Indian in a dispute over a horse in St. Joe county, Mich.

Her two accounts appear to be garbled. In the first she states that her great-grandfather was killed. In the second she states that it was his son who did the killing.

Based on what I've found Mr. Wisner is most likely Daniel Dekay Wisner. There was a son named James age 12 to 15 who ran for help. If this is correct he most likely is not the James, age 15, living with William Wisner in 1850. So this lead didn't pan out but it made for an interesting afternoon. Below are the three slightly different accounts that I found. Other posts in this series may be found here.



Title: History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings , fine blocks, and important manufacturies.
Publication Info: Philadelphia,: L. H. Everts & co., 1877.

Pg 14

The Death of Wisner was the last Indian murder in St. Joseph County, and occurred in the winter of 1839.
Joseph Sin-ben-uim, known by the name of Joseph Muskrat, with his squaw and two children, came to the house of Mr. Wisner, and asked to stay all night; consent was freely given, and a good fire built up in the huge fireplace, in order that all might get warm, they being thoroughly chilled. The Indian was intoxicated, and wanted to wrestle with Wisner, but the latter declined. The Indian held a low conversation, in his own language, with his squaw, after which she seemed much excited, and took the gun and hatchet of her husband, and set them out of doors. The Indians laid down before the fire to sleep. Wisner and his wife did not undress themselves, as though apprehensive of danger. The Indian and the squaw were both restless, and rose several times, and at last the former seized Wisner, who threw him on the bed, and stepped back to the fire. The Indian then rose up from the bed, and before Wisner was aware of his intention, stabbed him (Wisner) in the temple, and he fell dead upon the hearth, with one hand in the fire. Mrs. Wisner pulled her husband out of the fire, but the wretch that had murdered him, interfered and cut one of her hands severely, crippling it for life. Mrs. Wisner called to her son, a boy of twelve years, to run and alarm the neighbors. He immediately darted out of doors, and around the house, pursued by the Indian, but escaped him, and gave the alarm. While the Indian was out, Mrs. Wisner closed the door and barred it against him, whereupon he started with his family for the settlement, stopping at the house of John DeYannond, in the extreme northwest corner of the town of Mendon, where they got refreshments, and stayed about two hours, and then went east on the town line, and were overtaken between Bear Creek and the Portage, by Thomas P. Nolan, who was in advance of his comrades. On discovering Nolan, the Indian tried o shoot him, but his gun missed fire, by reason of the priming being covered to keep it dry. Nolan fired, but missed the Indian, and they then clenched each other, and a severe struggle ensued; but the Indian fell, and was held fast by Nolan until his comrades came up, who tied his legs and hands, and placed him in a “pung” that they had brought along with them, covered him with a blanket, and started for Schoolcraft. Meeting a party of other pursuers, they went back to look at the ground where the struggle had occurred, leaving DeYannond and O. Clark, who were driving the horse and walking behind the sleigh. The latter had proceeded but a short distance, when the Indian, who had succeeded in biting off the rope with which he was bound, sprang from the cutter, and raised the war-hoop, but DeYannond caught him by the wrists, and held him fast. The Indian seized DeYannond’s arm with his teeth, and it through the coat and shirts, wounding the arm severely. He was trown upon his face, his arms tied behind him, and so conveyed to Schoolcraft, where he was tried and sentenced to be hung; but his sentence was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life. He died about two years afterwards.



Title: Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 38]
Author: Michigan Historical Commission.
Publication Info: Lansing [etc.]: Michigan Historical Commission [etc.],
Collection: Making of America Books
Pg 410
Personal Recollections of Pioneer Days
By Ruth Hoppin
…….. I say terror, for not a month before a neighbor, Mr. Wisner, had been killed at his own fireside by an Indian. Had Mr. Wisner, like my father, been a temperate man, the tragedy would not have occurred. The Indian owed Mr. Wisner a grudge, but only manifested the spirit of revenge when under the influence of liquor. This time he got his victim “to drink too much” and the result was death to the white man. I shall never forget the outcry of voices, when that brave, fifteen-year-old lad, James Wisner, roused us with the cry, “Help! Help!! The Indian has killed my father and I left him trying to kill the rest of the family.” Then there was the hurry of dressing, harnessing and driving rapidly away to save the wife and little ones. How relieved we felt at daylight when a horseman returned, with the word that no others had been killed, although some had been badly hurt. My father and brother did the last duties in dressing the murdered man for the grave. A day later the remains were brought to our house and the funeral was held. ………



CLEWS The Historic True Crime Blog

In 1839 would come news of another white settler murdered by an Indian. In Kalamazoo County, a white family by the name of Wisner allowed an Indian named Joseph Muskrat (or Sin-ben-nim), his wife and two children to take shelter from the harsh winter in their cabin. But one day Joseph Muskrat got drunk, began wrestling with Mr. Wisner, and, when bested, stabbed him in the temple in a fit of pique. Wisner's neighbors arrested Muskrat.
Joseph Muskrat was certain that the white men would burn him to death for his crime, and he was desperate to avoid such suffering. To one white woman who showed him sympathy he said, "Good squaw, good squaw, you tell white man to kill me quick; no burn me, but kill me quick." He also tried to anger the white woman so she would strike him down, so he told her that he murdered one of his own children. "Me very bad Indian," he told her. "You kill me quick, me very bad, me kill papoose, put him under ice in swamp."
Joseph Muskrat was tried in Kalamazoo, found guilty of murder, and condemned to be hanged. But at that exact moment, the newly formed territorial legislature in Detroit abolished capital punishment. Muskrat was the very first beneficiary and was resentenced to a term of life in the newly constructed state prison in Jackson. He served two years before he died and was said to have ended his days heartbroken, docile, and a sincere Christian.

So who was James Wisner?

Previously I posted a clip of the 1850 census image for William Wisner and asked what others thought the first name of the last person listed might be. I thought maybe James. Some agreed and I also was given some other names and ideas to think about. Since then I have done a series of posts on the information that I have found on this family. James, or who ever he was, does not appear to be a child of William as he does not turn up in any other records. Both Lori and Miriam thought he could be a child of Fanny Reed Wisner from a previous marriage which had not occurred to me. He may not have been a Wisner at all. He could have been a hired hand or a nephew of William's wife, Elizabeth Badgley but I have nothing that points to that.

I've looked at The Wisners in America and their kindred : a genealogical and biographical history. Baltimore, Md.: unknown, c1918. by G. Franklin Wisner a number of times looking for clues as to the father of William Wisner. In looking again recently I found the following and I have highlighted the text that most interested me.

Pg 252

Miss Ethel Wisner, of San Diego, Cal., on Feb. 11, 1917, says:

My great grandfather, Daniel D. Wisner was killed by the Indians about 100 years ago in Michigan, near Kalamazoo. This has always seemed an important event in the family history. We have been able to trace the relationship to several Wisners from this Calamity.

My own grandfather, Daniel Clinton Wisner, crossed the plains in 1871 from Michigan. He settled in Kansas, where he died.

My own father, John Stewart Wisner, came west from Michigan to New Mexico in 1879, and followed railroad contracting all over the west for many years.

_______

Under date of January 11, 1918, Ethel Wisner wrote:

“I have just been able to gather a little more data regarding our branch of the Wisner family. My great-great-grandfather installed the first salt works in the United States at Syracuse, NY.

“His son, James Wisner, killed a drunken Indian in a dispute over a horse in St. Joe county, Mich.

“My grandfather, Clinton Wisner, married Phoebe Protzman in Indiana. He died October 28, 1873, in Riley county, Kan. He had five sons – Frank, Daniel, Wales, John Stewart and Willard Bonaparte Wisner

“Frank Wisner married Anna Thorpe. Daniel Wisner married Mary Mapp. And they had four children – Frank, Phoebe, Oscar and Lee Wisner.

“Wales Wisner married P. Eaton and they had five children – Robert, Ester, Ada, Emma and George.

“John Stewart Wisner married Rosa Hitchcock. They had one child – Lillian Ethel Wisner.

“Willard Wisner married Showalters.”

These entries are interesting because of the name James combined with the locations mentioned. My Wisner line has connections to most of the places listed.

A quick check at rootsweb and I found several trees that appear to be Ethel Wisner's line. They contain conflicting information so I have some research of my own ahead of me to verify her line. It appears that she descends from the Lt. Thomas Wisner line through his son David.


The salt works in Syracuse were started in the very late 1700's. I have found nothing to place Lt. Thomas or any of his known sons in Syracuse at any time. The only Wisner's I have found in Syracuse or Onondaga County are my great-great grandfather, William, and James Wisner born between 1761 and 1764, son of Captain John Wisner and Mary Thompson. James lived in the western portion of the county in the towns of Elbridge and Camillus and moved on further west early. He may have have been closer to Syracuse at some point or traveled to work on the salt works but I have not found anything to support that. On the other hand, William owned land in Dewitt along the Erie Canal and later in the Town of Salina, not too distant from some of the later salt works. I have found nothing to indicate that he had anything to do with the salt works but his location makes it quite possible.

St. Joseph County, Michigan. My Carlisle and Glover ancestors came through St. Joseph County in 1849. William Wisner's daughter, Sarah Ann, married Michael Camfield and they lived in Berrien Co, MI in 1870 and Branch Co, MI in 1880. I have not located them on the 1860 census yet. So I do not see a direct connection here but I will try to see what I can find for St. Joseph Co.
One of William Wisner's sons, William Abner, settled in Washington Co, Kansas which is just north of Riley Co, Kansas. Is this a clue? Again, I have much more follow up work to do.


James Wisner, previously mentioned as having been in Onondaga County, NY, had a grandson, Addison Morell Wisner (born 1827) who is also on the 1850 census for Lake County, IL in Libertyville.


So what do I have? So far everything I have found could easily be caulked up to coincidence and maybe that is all it will ever be. I could spend many more hours tracking down these families only to find out that they do not in fact connect to mine. But I can't help thinking that there is a clue in there some place.

So is the James that was living with my family in 1850 a relative or just a stray? If he was related will he tie into one of the other two lines mentioned or be from another line altogether?

Family of William Wisner

Family of William Wisner

1. WILLIAM⁵ WISNER (ANANIAS⁴, JOHN GEORGE³, ADAM², JOHANNES¹ WEESNER)¹ was born 27 Mar 1783 in PA or NY^2,3, and died 25 Aug 1877 in Lake Co, IL^4,5. He married ELIZABETH BADGLEY^6,7 Abt. 1813 in Onondaga Co, NY⁸, daughter of ANTHONY BADGLEY and MARY BOOKHOUT. She was born 03 Jul 1791 in Albany Co, NY⁹, and died 22 Jul 1877 in Lake Co, IL^10,11.

More About WILLIAM WISNER and ELIZABETH BADGLEY:

Children of WILLIAM WISNER and ELIZABETH BADGLEY are:

i. PRENTIS M⁶ WISNER, ESQ¹³, b. 26 Oct 1815, Onondaga Co, NY^14,15; d. 30 Apr 1879, Fox Lake, Lake Co, IL^16,17,18; m. FANNY REED¹⁹; b. Abt. 1819, NY¹⁹; d. 29 Jun 1886, Lake Co, IL¹⁹.

ii. SARAH ANN WISNER^19,20, b. 09 Oct 1817, Onondaga Co, NY^21,22; d. 1912, Buchanan, Berrien Co, MI²³; m. MICHAEL CAMFIELD²³, Bet. 1840 - 1846, Onondaga Co, NY; b. 15 Mar 1822, Germany²⁴; d. 18 Feb 1899, Batavia, Branch Co, MI^25,26.

iii. ANTHONY B WISNER^27,28, b. 28 Nov 1819, Onondaga Co, NY^29,30; d. 17 Apr 1865, Nashville, TN^31,32; m. CYNTHIA CASLER^33,34,35, Abt. 1847, Probably Onondaga Co, NY; b. Bet. 1829 - 1831, NY, probably Onondaga Co.^36,37; d. 05 May 1906, Liverpool, Onondaga Co, NY.

iv. MARYETTA WISNER^38,39,40, b. 14 Oct 1821, Onondaga Co, NY^41,42; d. 1888, Monaville, Lake Co, IL^42,43; m. WILLIAM HAMLIN HALL⁴⁴, 19 Jan 1845, Lake Co, IL⁴⁵; b. 23 Oct 1817, PA^45,46,47; d. Aft. 1880, Lake Co, IL.

v. WILLIAM ABNER WISNER^49,50,51,52, b. 02 Apr 1824, Onondaga Co, NY^53,54,55; d. 31 Dec 1905, Washington, Washington Co, KS⁵⁶; m. (1) UNKNOWN; d. Bef. 1850; m. (2) MURIAM HAMMOND⁵⁷, 27 Jun 1852, Lake Co, IL^58,59; b. Bet. 1829 - 1830, NY⁶⁰; d. Abt. 1856⁶⁰; m. (3) SUSAN ELLEN BARTO, 1856, Antioch, Lake Co, IL^61,62; b. 05 Jun 1838, Columbus, Franklin Co, OH⁶²; d. 26 Jan 1917, Washington, Washington Co, KS⁶²

vi. HENRY S WISNER^68,69, b. 21 Jun 1826, Onondaga Co, NY^70,71; d. 26 May 1907, Seymour, Eau Claire Co, WI^72,73.

vii. GEORGE A WISNER^74,75, b. 24 May 1829, Onondaga Co, NY^76,77,78; d. Bet. 1900 - 1910; m. JULIA ANN BARTO⁷⁹, 16 Oct 1859, Kenosha Co, WI⁸⁰; b. Bet. 1842 - 1843, OH⁸¹; d. Bet. 1920 - 1930, CA

viii. MARGARET E WISNER^84,85, b. 16 Sep 1831, Onondaga Co, NY^86,87; d. Aug 1844⁸⁸.

ix. MARSHALL WIRT WISNER^89,90,91, b. 29 Dec 1833, Salina, Onondaga Co, NY^92,93,94; d. 05 Feb 1923, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co, WI^95,96; m. ANNA LAURA AKIN⁹⁷, 03 Oct 1875, Spring Brook Twp, Dunn Co, WI^98,99; b. 25 Oct 1842, Carroll, Cattaraugus Co, NY¹⁰⁰; d. 02 Feb 1901, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co, WI^101,102.

Endnotes

1. William Wisner's Bible Records.

2. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

3. William Wisner's Bible Records.

4. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

5. William Wisner's Bible Records.

6. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

7. Toni Newsome Plain; Transcription of Family Bible of Egbert and Elizabeth (Ryder) Badgley; http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~ptruckin/badgleyryderbible.html

8. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

9. Toni Newsome Plain; Transcription of Family Bible of Egbert and Elizabeth (Ryder) Badgley; http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~ptruckin/badgleyryderbible.html

10. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

11. William Wisner's Bible Records.

12. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

13. Indiana | Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne Times, The | 1849-04-26.

14. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

15. William Wisner's Bible Records.

16. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

17. George H Wisner vs. Sarah A Camfield etal Lake Co, IL Circuit Court record 1881.

18. http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/DeathSearchServlet.

19. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

20. William Wisner's Bible Records.

21. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

22. William Wisner's Bible Records.

23. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

24. Death Certificate for Mikel Canfield.

25. Ellen Berry

26. www.co.branch.mi.us.

27. Warren Wisner.

28. William Wisner's Bible Records.

29. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

30. William Wisner's Bible Records.

31. George H Wisner vs. Sarah A Camfield etal Lake Co, IL Circuit Court record 1881.

32. Record of Service of Michigan Vol. 1861-65, Pub 1903 at Ancestry.com.

33. Warren Wisner.

34. George H Wisner vs. Sarah A Camfield etal Lake Co, IL Circuit Court record 1881.

35. Record of Service of Michigan Vol. 1861-65, Pub 1903 at Ancestry.com.

36. 1880 Census New York CD #6.

37. 1850 Census.

38. Warren Wisner.

39. Stanley H Cummings.

40. William Wisner's Bible Records.

41. Warren Wisner.

42. William Wisner's Bible Records.

43. Stanley H Cummings.

44. Richard Wisner.

45. Warren Wisner.

46. 1880 Census Illinois, CD #29.

47. Karows of Wisconsin @ancestry.com eldon.wiedinc@tds.net.

48. Warren Wisner.

49. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

50. Illinois State Marriage Index 1763-1900 www.cyberdriveillinois.com/cgi-bin/archives/marriage.s.

51. William Wisner's Bible Records.

52. notes of Velda Wisner Klozenbucher.

53. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

54. William Wisner's Bible Records.

55. notes of Velda Wisner Klozenbucher.

56. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

57. 1850 Census.

58. Warren Wisner.

59. Illinois State Marriage Index 1763-1900 www.cyberdriveillinois.com/cgi-bin/archives/marriage.s.

60. Warren Wisner.

61. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

62. notes of Velda Wisner Klozenbucher.

63. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

64. Warren Wisner.

65. Illinois State Marriage Index 1763-1900 www.cyberdriveillinois.com/cgi-bin/archives/marriage.s.

66. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

67. notes of Velda Wisner Klozenbucher.

68. Warren Wisner.

69. William Wisner's Bible Records.

70. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

71. William Wisner's Bible Records.

72. Warren Wisner.

73. Pre 1907 Death Records for Eau Claire Co, WI - Eau Claire Co, WI genweb.

74. Warren Wisner.

75. William Wisner's Bible Records.

76. Warren Wisner.

77. William Wisner's Bible Records.

78. 1900 Census.

79. son Guy's death record.

80. Wisconsin Marriage records pre 1907.

81. 1870 Census.

82. Wisconsin Marriage records pre 1907.

83. Warren Wisner.

84. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

85. William Wisner's Bible Records.

86. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

87. William Wisner's Bible Records.

88. Evelyn LeBaron Camfield, wife of Elmer Eugene Camfield 4/2001.

89. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

90. William Wisner's Bible Records.

91. Leslie L Carvalho.

92. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

93. William Wisner's Bible Records.

94. Leslie L Carvalho.

95. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

96. Leslie L Carvalho.

97. Warren Wisner.

98. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

99. Wisconsin Marriage records pre 1907.

100. Descendants of David Akin of Newport, RI Contact: Robert Larry Akin robert_akin@yahoo.com.

101. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

102. Pre 1907 Death Records for Eau Claire Co, WI - Eau Claire Co, WI genweb.

103. LDS ancestral tree of Richard E Wisner.

104. Wisconsin Marriage records pre 1907.

105. 1850 Census.

George H Wisner vs, Sarah Camfield, etal - Part 2

For me this portion of the document was pure gold. I previously had no information on the children and grandchildren of Anthony Wisner.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that the said William Wisner at his death left surviving him the following named children all of whom are now living. Sarah A Camfield the wife of Michael Camfield. Mary E Hall wife of William H Hall. Henry S Wisner. George A Wisner. William A Wisner and Marshall W Wisner who are six of his heirs at law.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that the said William Wisner at his death left surviving him one other child who was his heir at law named Prentice M Wisner who died intestate on or about the 30th day of April A. D. 1879 leaving him surviving no children or child or descendants of children or child but leaving him surviving a widow Fanny Wisner who is now living.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that said William Wisner at his death left surviving him two grandchildren named Mary Lyke and Alice M Madden who were his heirs at law they being the children of his son Anthony Wisner who died intestate on or about the 17th of April A.D. 1865 leaving him surviving said children and a widow the mother of said children now named Cynthia Carner the wife of George Carner.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that the said Alice M Madden died on or about the 15th day of September A.D. 1881 intestate leaving neither husband or children or child or descendants of children or child. The said Mary Lyke her sister and the said Cynthia Carner and the said George A. Valentine and Eva Valentine herein after named being her and her only heirs at law.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that the said William Wisner at his death left him surviving two great grandchildren who are now living named George A Valentine and Eva Valentine they being the children of his granddaughter Sophia Valentine who died intestate on or about the the 30th day of January A.D. 1875 and his heirs at law said Sophia Valentine being the daughter of Anthony Wisner aforesaid.

Your orator further showeth unto your Honor that the said Sarah A Camfield, May E Hall, Henry S Wisner, George A Wisner, William A Wisner, Marshall W Wisner, Prentice Wisner, Mary Lyke, Alice M Madden, George A Valentine and Eva Valentine are the only heirs at law whom the said William Wisner left him surviving and that said Alice M Madden died intestate.

And your orator further showeth unto tour Honor that George A Valentine and Eva Valentine are infants.

The document goes on asking for the deed to be granted to George H Wisner. All the names are listed several times. On March 12, 1882 the court ordered William H Hall to deed over the property to George H Wisner.

George H Wisner vs. Sarah A Camfield, etal - Part 1

From Lake Co, IL Circuit Court, 12/12/1881, Case# A1390, George H Wisner vs
Sarah A Canfield etal, (the etal being all the heirs of his grandfather William
Wisner).

George H Wisner is asking for the deed to his grandfather’s property. Nowhere is George H Wisner’s relationship to William Wisner stated. The first several pages of the file are summons documents. The following is the basis for George's case. I would be happy to share the entire file with any other interested descendants.

This indenture made and entered into this twenty fifth day of November in the year one thousand eight-hundred and seventy one between William Wisner of the town of Avon, County of Lake, in the state of Illinois party of the first part and George H Wisner of the town of Avon, County of Lake, state of Illinois party of the second part Witnesseth

That the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand paid by said party of the second part and in consideration of the covenants and ???? -hereinafter contained to be kept done and performed by said second party and in consideration of the agreements contained in one certain promissory note ????? even dates herewith made executed and delivered by said party of the second part to the said party of the first part payable as follows, together with other covenants herein mentioned. Said note payable ten (10) years from date for three thousand dollars without interest and the party of the second part agrees to keep and provide for the said party of the first part and his wife Elizabeth Wisner during their natural lives in sickness and in health in a suitable manner and give them a decent burial and put to their graves suitable grave stones after their deaths as part of the consideration these covenants and the party of the second part agrees ??? he will not sell or convey the herein after described premises during the lifetime of the parties mentioned above. The party of the first part agrees to sell to said party of the second part all that certain piece or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Lake and the state of Illinois."

A legal description of the property follows excluding parcel previously deeded to William H Hall and a cart path deeded to Samuel Edwards and William Moore. Then continues:

",said party of the first part further covenants and agrees for himself his heirs executors and administrators that upon full and complete payment of the same money and covenants in said promissory note specified for the payment of the same, and upon full and complete performance of all the covenants and agreements hereinafter contained on the part of the party of the second part to be kept and performed in all things and at the time thenin stipulated that he will convey to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns by good and sufficient warranty deed free from all incumbrance the premises above described.
And the said party of the second part for himself his heirs executors administrators and assigns covenants and ??? that he will well ?????? pay before sale all taxes and assements which shall or may be made levied or assessed upon said premises, or any part thereof during the continuance of this agreement, and one dollar for the expenses of making a deed. And it is further hereby agreed and covenanted by and between the parties hereto, that time is and shall be deemed and taken to be of the essence of this agreement: and in case default shall be made in the payment of said before described promissory note or any or either of these or any
???? ???? of ??? ??? the same shall become due and payable by the terms ??? or no case the said party of the second part shall fail to observe perform and keep any and all the covenants herein before mentioned and set forth on the part of said second party to be kept done and performed therein, ????, and in this case this agreement shall be absolutely null and void and of no force and effect whatsoever, and all payments of due sum or sums of money which may or shall have been paid heron by the said second party or his assigns, said party of the first part and his legal representatives may have and retain as damages force breech of this contract and said party of the first part may take full and immediate possession of the said above described premises as his first and former estate, using all the force which may be necessary to obtain the actual possession of said premises or any portion of and such entry by force (if necessary) shall not be held or ???? as a trespass nor shall forces such nor in any wise unlawful."

It was signed by both parties and witnessed by William H Hall.
The agreement was recorded in Lake County book 37 of Mortgages on pages 305-306.

The record goes on to state the following:
On June 27, 1881 William H Hall was appointed administrator of the Estate of William Wisner.
On November 25, 1881 George H Wisner paid his note in full to William H Hall.
On December 12, 1881 George H Wisner sued William H Hall and the descendants of William Wisner to have the deed for the property made out to him.

William Wisner Census Transcriptions

William Wisner Census Transcriptions

1820
Cicero, Onondaga Co, NY pg 96
listed just after his brother-in-law, Egbert Badgley
200010-100010-0-1-00

2m >10, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 26-45, William Wisner b 1783
1f >10, Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 26-45, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1820; Census Place: Cicero, Onondaga, New York; Roll: M33_67; Page: 183; Image: 195.


1830
Manlius, Onondaga Co, NY pg 386;
1210001000000- 0110010000

2m >5, Henry S Wisner, b 1826 & George A Wisner b 1829
1m 5-10, William Abner Wisner b 1824
2m 10-15, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 40-50, William Wisner b 1783
1f 5-10, Maryetta Wisner B 1821
1f 10-15, Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 30-40, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1830; Census Place: Manlius, Onondaga, New York; Roll: 100; Page: 386.


1840
Salina, Onondaga Co, NY pg 48;
1m 5-10, Marshall Wirt Wisner, b 1833
2m 10-15, Henry S Wisner, b 1826 & George A Wisner b 1829
1m 15-20, William Abner Wisner b 1824
2m 20-30, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 50-60, William Wisner b 1783
1f 5-10, Margaret E Wisner b 1831
1f 15-20, Maryetta Wisner B 1821
1f 20-30 , Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 40-50, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: Onondaga, New York; Roll: 316; Page: 48.


1850
Avon, Lake Co, IL
Family # 70

William Wisnener 67 m Farmer PA
Betsey 60 f NY
Prentice 33 m NY
William 30 m NY
Henry 45 m NY (s/b 25)
Wirt 17 m NY
Fanny 31 f (Fanny Reed, wife of Prentice)
James (?) 15 m (was not with family in 1840!)

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M432_114; Page: 156; Image: 313.

George H 2 m NY (s/o William A per 1860 census)

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M432_114; Page: 156; Image: 314.


1860
Avon, Lake Co, IL, pg 428
Dwelling # 3176, Family # 3146

W Wisner 77 m PA farmer 2000/1000
Elizabeth “ 69 f NY
Henry “ 32 m NY
George “ 30 m NY
Ann “ 18 f Ohio (Julia Ann Barto, wife of George)

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M653_193; Page: 823; Image: 429.


1870
Avon, Lake Co, IL, pg 6
Listed just after son-in-law, William H Hall
Dwelling # 39, House # 39

Wisner William 87 m w NY farmer 5500/400
“ Elizabeth 79 f w NY keeps house
“ George 22 m w NY farmer (son of William A Wisner & unk.)
“ Julia 16 f w Ills at home (daughter of William A Wisner & Muriam Hammond)
“ Henry 44 m w NY farmer

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M593_242; Page: 529; Image: 49.