WITMER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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WITMER, Joseph - b: 1836 Switzerland
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 625
residence: Deepwater Twp

Joseph Witmer, farmer and carpenter, is a native of Switzerland, and was born 
December 25, 1836, being the son of Joseph and Mary (Hefner) Witmer, also of 
that country. The subject of this sketch spent his youth in the country of his 
birth, and was educated in the public schools, working on a farm and in a dairy 
until 1853, when he emigrated to the United States and located in Toledo, Ohio. 
There he lived about three years, and while in that city learned the carpenter's 
trade. From Toledo he went to Indiana and worked one year at his trade in 
Hundingdon county. In 1857 he went with some government troops to Salt Lake, 
where he passed about nine months, when he returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, and 
worked in that city until 1861. In July, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company 
A, Thirteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, serving until mustered out March 19, 
1865. After the battle of Lexington he was promoted to second lieutenant for 
meritorious conduct, and afterward, in November, 1863, to first lieutenant. He 
was made prisoner at the battle of Lexington, but was paroled in three days. His 
regiment, after this engagement, was reorganized, and was known as the twenty-
fifth. He participated in the battles of Shilo and New Madrid, and a number of 
other important engagements. In 1862 his regiment went on the plains and served 
on the frontier until 1864. After his discharge Mr. Witmer engaged as wagon 
master and went across the plains to Denver and Salt Lake. In the fall of 1866 he 
returned to Missouri and located in Clinton, where he followed his trade for three 
years. In the winter of 1870 he went to Indiana and was married January 11th of 
that year in Huntingdon County, to Miss Mary Lennartz, of that county, and a 
daughter of Peter Lennartz. Returning to Henry County he worked at his trade 
during that year, and in the spring of 1871 he came to Montrose and bought the 
farm where he now resides. Mr. Witmer has a fine farm of 106 acres in section 
24, just in the suburbs of the town, which is well improved. Since moving to this 
place, besides overseeing and attending to it, he has also been engaged in working 
at his trade, and is one of the best workmen in his line in Montrose. He and his 
wife are members of the Catholic Church. They have a family of two children, 
Mollie and Willie G.

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