Posted on: Tippecanoe Co. In Bios Forum
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Surname: Widmer, Christy, Kirchoff, Schwegler
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Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg.
489
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888
FREDERICK WIDMER, one of the progressive citizens of Wabash Township, engaged
in farming on section 23, is a native of
Switzerland, born in Canton Bern, in the year 1841, a son of JOHN and BARBARA
(CHRISTY) WIDMER, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. JOHN WIDMER
was a farmer and tobacconist in his native country. In the spring of 1851
he immigrated with his family to America, taking passage at Havre, France,
in a sailing vessel, and after an ocean voyage of forty-two days landed
at New York, and from there went direct to Cleveland, Ohio. The father
followed farming in Cayuga
County, Ohio, until 1859, when he came with his family to Tippecanoe County,
Indiana, and settled in Lafayette, where he made his home until his death.
His widow survived him, dying about 1863. They had a family of four children,
three of whom are yet living--ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN KIRCHOFF; JOHN, and
FREDERICK, the subject of this sketch.
FREDERICK WIDMER was a lad of ten years when brought to America, and since
1859 his home has been in Tippecanoe
County. He attended school for a time in his native country. He remained
with his parents until their deaths. In 1865 he enlisted in the war of
the Rebellion, and was assigned to Company K, One Hundred and Fiftieth
Indiana Infantry, and while in the service was at Winchester, Virginia.
He was mustered out at Stevenson's Station, Virginia, in the fall of 1865.
He was married in 1867 to MISS CATHERINE SCHWEGLER, a daughter of RUDOLPH
and ELIZABETH SCHWEGLER. Her parents were also natives of Switzerland,
who on coming to America, settled near New Haven, Connecticut, and in 1857
they came to Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
MR. and MRS. WIDMER have four children living--FRED R., CARRIE, JOHN and
WILLIAM. Two of their children are deceased, a daughter, LIZZIE, and one
who died in infancy unnamed. After his return from the war MR. WIDMER engaged
in the dairy business in the eastern part of Lafayette, which he followed
some six years. He then bought and removed to a farm in Shelby Township,
on which he lived until 1875, in which year the flood washed away almost
everything. He then sold his farm in Shelby Township and bought the farm
in Wabash Township, which he has since occupied. His farm consists of 165
acres of well-improved land, and his residence and farm buildings are comfortable
and commodious, and built in modern style. MR. WIDMER is a comrade of MARSH
B. TAYLOR POST, No. 475, G.A.R., and is member of the Wabash Protective
Society. Politically he is a Republican. Both he and his wife are members
of the German Reform Church.