Minerd.com Biography of Daniel and Amelia (Wiscaver) Gaumer Jr. of Vinland, KS

Daniel married Amelia Wiscaver (1816- ? ) on July 7, 1842, in Muskingum County, when he was 27 years old and she 26.

They produced at least three children -- Eleanor Ann Werts, Jerome Gaumer and Hannah Iliff.

In 1856, Daniel and Amelia, along with his brother and sister in law Jesse and Belilla (Wagoner) Gaumer, and cousins Solomon and Malinda (Gaumer) Werts, were charter members of the St. Paul Church of Cochocton County. This church was said to have been "virtually a child" of Daniel's home congregation, New Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Adamsville, Muskingum County. All of the charter members except one were raised and members of New Hope, and Rev. Samuel Kaemmerer was pastor of both. Daniel (or his father) is believed to have donated land for the building, as it was known locally as the "Gaumer Church." They are recognized for this in the 1913 book History of the New Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Adamsville, Ohio.

The 1860 federal census enumeration shows the family living on a farm in Franklin Township. Coshocton County.

With his brother Charles, Daniel was an early settler of Douglas County, KS. They made their move in December 1866, taking the train with their daughter and son in law, Eleanor and Solomon Werts. Amelia is believed to have made the trip, but she did not live long and was dead by 1870. They made their settlement four and a half miles east and ha half mile north of Vinland, Douglas County. Said the 1928 book History of Kansas, State and People: Kansas at the First Quarter Post of the Twentieth Century, Vol. 4: "It was on the prairie, and several years were required in breaking up the tough sod and making the soil available for crops."

When the census again was taken in 1870, the widowed Daniel and his children Jerome and Hannah lived together on a farm in Eudora, Douglas County.

By 1880, Daniel had moved into the household of his married son Jerome and wife Fannie. In 1886, Daniel testified in writing on behalf of his brother Jesse Gaumer in Salina, KS who was attempting to obtain a federal government pension for his Civil War service.

He is named in Myrtle Knepper Weniger's work, The Gaumer Family and Allied Lines.

Daughter Eleanor Ann Gaumer (1846- ? ) was born on Oct. 2, 1846 near Adamsville, Muskingum County.

On April 22, 1866, when she was age 20, Eleanor married 23-year-old Civil War veteran Solomon "Sol" Werts (Sept. 35, 1843-1928), son of G.P. Werts. Rev. A.N. Bartholomew performed the nuptials in Coshocton County. The family name sometimes was spelled "Wertz."

Solomon was a native of Coshocton County, OH, and they spent 60 together in wedded union. Solomon stood 5 feet, 7¾ inches tall and weighed 142 lbs., with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.

The couple had nine children, among them Cora Idella "Ida" Joy, Flora Luella Werts, Herbert Allen Werts, Jesse Arthur Werts, Nelly Agnes Werts, Raymond Emerson Werts, Walter Milo Werts, Bessie Pearl Werts and Harry Howard Werts.

Heartache blanketed this family when three of the children died young -- Jesse, Nelly and Walter. Solomon and Eleanor are profiled in the 1928 book History of Kansas, by William Elsey Connelley.

During the Civil War, Solomon left his father's farm at Bacon Run and on Aug. 22, 1862 went to Coshocton to enlist in the Union Army. He was placed into the 122nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D. The unit was part of the Third Brigade, third Division of the Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac. He is reputed to have seen action in as many battles as any surviving veteran of the war. He and the 122nd Ohio took part in battles at Union Mills, Second Winchester, Stevenson's Depot, Brandy Station, Mine Run, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Tolopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Ream's Station, Monocacy, Fort Stevens, Snicker's Gap, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Appomattox. Said the History of Kansas, "Mr. Werts was once struck in the leg by a bullet but did not leave his company. He could not witness the surrender negotiations at Appomattox, but observed the tattered remnant of the Confederate army."

He was discharged on June 19, 1865 at Columbus, OH. After the war, they made their home on a farm in Linton Township, Coshocton County, OH, but in late 1866 made the decision to migrate to Kansas. In December 1866, traveling by train with Eleanor's parents and uncle, they arrived in Douglas County and made their settlement four and a half miles east and one half mile north of Vinland, Douglas County. Said the 1928 book History of Kansas: "It was on the prairie, and several years were required in breaking up the tough sod and making the soil available for crops."

They apparently maintained their home farm in Ohio, as they are shown there in the 1880 federal census. Sometime between 1879 and 1882, they moved for good to Kansas, and remained in Vinland for the remainder of their lives. The History of Kansas stated that they "are one of the oldest married couples in Kansas." Together, they helped establish the Stony Point Lutheran Church. Mr. Werts was a staunch Republican and cast his first vote in the 1864 election, marking his ballot for Abraham Lincoln.

In March 1891, claiming heart problems, Solomon was awarded a military pension for his wartime service. [Invalid App. #1.008.858 - Cert. #796.643]. He stated that he was completely unable to perform farm labor, and neighbors Steven Jay and Robert Anton testified to this in writing. The 1900 census shows them living in Eudora, Douglas County. Their postal address in 1920 was at 1235 New York Street in Lawrence, and at Thanksgiving that year they held a large dinner for their children and families. In retirement, the Wertses made their residence at 1109 Pennsylvania Street in Lawrence. In his final years, Solomon received $65 per month in pension payments. His mind began to slip and he became violent, and so on Oct. 10, 1928 was admitted to the Western Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Leavenworth, KS. During his stay there, a federal inspector visited him and found the old soldier confined in the insane ward. The inspector wrote: "The war attendant told me that claimant was not capable of talking intelligently, and I found he had stated the truth. Claimant was not able to understand what I said to him, nor to answer question I asked him. He talked, but disconnectedly, or rambling, I realized he is in fact insane. He was lying in his bed, and the ward attendant informed me carries claimant's food to his bed, he then sits up and feeds himself -- 'after a fashion'."

Eleanor then became eligible to receive his pension. [Widow App. #1.627.082 - Cert. #A-1-11-29].

Solomon is named in the book Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio, Vol. 1, by William J. Bahmer.

Daughter Cora Idella "Ida" Werts (1867-1920) was born on June 11, 1867, presumably in Coshocton County. She married Nelson Joy (1868- ? ), a Kansas native. Their known children were John V. Joy, Sadie Parson, Flossie M. Joy, Amy Agnes Joy, Raymond Joy, Homer Joy and Robert Joy. In 1900, the family was enumerated in the federal census, living in Eudora Township, Douglas County, KS. Just a few houses away dwelled Ida's parents. Their daughter Sadie married Walter Parson and in 1912 lived in eastern Colorado but by 1918 had returned to Lawrence. Sadly, Cora died at Lawrence in March 1920. Among those who traveled to attend the funeral was Ida's cousin, Tillie Werts. In a card of thanks printed in the Lawrence Daily World, the family expressed its appreciation "to our neighbors, friends and Local Unino No. 458 for the help, sympathy and flowers extended us during the sickness and death of our wife and mother." .

Daughter Flora Luella Werts (1868- ? ) was born was born on Sept. 20, 1868, presumably in Coshocton County. She married Robert Davis ( ? - ? ). They produced at least six offspring -- Annette Davis, Nora Davis, Jesse Davis, Blanche Davis, Bernice Davis and Pearl Davis. Their home in 1920 was in Milton Junction, WI.

Son Herbert Allen "Bert" Werts (1871- ? ) was born on (?) 11, 1871, presumably in Coshocton County. He lived in Vinland in 1899. He was interested in his father's Civil War service and in September 1899, along with his brother in law Nelson Joy, attended a reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic in Topeka. By 1903, he had migrated to Oklahoma, and wrote a letter home, saying that the "country beats this all to pieces, they were picking cotton and planting corn in the same field...." In 1920-1928, he lived in Lakin, KS.

Son Raymond Emerson "Ray" Werts (1876- ? ) was born on Nov. 9, 1876, presumably in Coshocton County. Raymond married Mabel Barnes ( ? - ? ) and had two daughters, Bessie Werts and Eleanor Werts. In 1909, Ray resided in Fort Cobb, OK and visited his parents in Lawrence before heading to Canada to look for a new home. Circa 1928, this family was back in Oklahoma when named in the History of Kansas book.

Son Walter Milo Werts (1879- ? ) was born on Aug. 28, 1879, presumably in Coshocton County. At the age of about 24, in November 1903, Walter obtained a marriage license to wed Edith Weeks ( ? - ? ) of Lawrence. The History of Kansas states that by 1928, he was "deceased, was married but left no children."

Daughter Bessie Pearl Werts (1882-1964) was born on March 19, 1882 in Eudora, KS. On Jan. 22, 1902, when she was 19 uears of age, Bessie was united in matrimony with Harry "Clay" Stonebraker ( ? - ? ), son of S.A. and Susan D. (Strunk) Stonebraker. Their nuptials were held in Lawrence. They were members of the First Friends Church. Circa 1905, their home was in Allen, KS. In 1928, when named in the History of Kansas book, they dwelled in Emporia, KS. Their four known children were Eugene E. Stonebraker, Harold M. Stonebraker, Vernon L. Stonebraker and Rosemary Riggs. The family home in 1964 was at 1002 East South Avenue in Emporia. Sadly, Bessie died in Newman Memorial County Hospital on April 20, 1964. Rev. Ray Fitch, of the First Friends Church, officiated at the funeral, following by interment in Haworth Cemetery southwest of Emporia. An obituary in the Emporia Gazette reported that at the time, son Eugene lived at 208 State Street, son Harold at 418 South Market Street, son Vernon at home and daughter Mrs. Glenn Riggs of Derby, KS.

Son Harry Howard Werts (1884- ? ) was born on Sept. 20, 1884 in Kansas. He grew up as a farmer and labored with his brother Bert doing odd jobs. He was wedded to Minnie Felker ( ? - ? ). The Stonebraker book stated that they were farmers of Vinland, KS and had two children, Howard Werts and Evelyn Werts. Circa 1918, they lived in Lawrence, KS.

Son Jerome Gaumer (1849- ? ) was born in April 1849 in Coshocton County, OH. As a teenager, he migrated with his father and sister to Kansas, settling in Eudora, Douglas County.

In about 1875, when he was age 26, Jerome married 16-year-old Fannie (?) (1859- ? ), a Kentucky native who was a decade younger.

The Gaumers produced three children, of whom two are known -- Clyde H. Gaumer and Ruth E. Gaumer.

They dwelled in Liberty Township, Saline County, KS and were there in 1880 when the census was taken. That year, Jerome labored as a farmer and provided a home for his aging widowed father.

The census of 1900 shows the Gaumers making their residence in Liberty Township, Saline County.

Daughter Hannah Gaumer (1853- ? ) was born in about 1853 in Coshocton County, OH. As a youth, she migrated with her father and brother to Kansas, settling in Eudora, Douglas County.

She was united in wedlock with Benjamin Iliff (1851- ? ), a native of New Jersey.

They lived in Lawrence, Douglas County and are named in the 1928 book History of Kansas, by William Elsey Connelley.

Benjamin was a house carpenter in the growing community. In 1910, the census shows that they lived in Ward 2 in Lawrence.

We are grateful for records provided by Gilbert R. Gaumer, Paul K. Gaumer, Mary L. Shirer and the National Archives in the preparation of the Daniel Gaumer Sr. family biographies.