Peter Clymer was born in Ohio August 15, 1820, and died at his home in Benton county, Iowa, May 15, 1907, at the age of 86 years and 9 months.
On the 4th day of July 1862, he enlisted in the service of his country under Capt. R.S. Lamott, 1st battalion 13th regiment Co. D, and served faithfully three years. He was discharged with honor at Nashville, Tenn., July 4, 1865.
Some time after the war he came to Iowa and settled in Benton county where he made his home till the time of his death. In the year 1881 he was Married to Mrs. Sarah Fisher, who still lives to mourn her loss. Several years ago he confessed Christ as his Savior and united with the church of God, since which time he has kept the faith and died with a firm hope of a blessed immortality.
The funeral was conducted by Elder M.S. Boyer at the Christian church in Urbana, May 21, 1907, at 10:30 a.m., and the remains were laid to rest in the Urbana cemetery. In this good man Benton county lost a loyal citizen, the community a good neighbor, and the wife a devoted husband. The family has the sympathy of a host of friends in this sad hour.
May the richest blessings of God be the heritage of the bereaved wife till they are reunited in the Eternal City never to say farewell.
********************************************
Peter was married three times, although none of the marriage records have been found. He is counted in the 1860 census in DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa with his wife Nancy Melissa Canaday, and sons John (age 9), William (age 4), and James (age 1). According to oral family history, as published in “The Clymer Clan of Maryland, Delaware and Points West” by Anita L. Ockert, 1987, upon returning from his service in the war he discovered his wife had been unfaithful during his absence; they couple separated with Peter making plans for a divorce. Nancy, however, fearing he would take their children, disappeared, it is believed, into Missouri. Nancy’s brother, in an effort to cover her tracks, informed Peter that she and all their children had drowned in the Missouri River. Peter searched but never found them. She hid very very well, because even today we are unable to located Nancy or her children in public records.
By the 1870 census Peter is located in Iowa Township, Dubuque County, Iowa with his second wife, Martha Foreman, and their one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. By the 1880 census Peter is recorded as a widower.
Peter’s third wife was his cousin, Sarah ‘Sallie’ Clymer, the daughter of Charles Clymer and Mary Fisher, and the widow of John B. Fisher. According to family records this late-life marriage took place on October 30, 1882 in Jones County, Iowa. There were no children from this marriage. They are counted together in the 1900 census in Sugar Creek Township, Benton County, Iowa.
Following Peter’s death, Sarah made a Widow’s Application for a pension based upon his military service. It was discovered at that time that her marriage to Peter was not legal, given that Peter’s first wife was still living! Evidently Nancy had never remarried. Although Sarah’s application was eventually approved, based on common-law marital rights, this was the first news that any member of the Clymer family had received regarding Peter’s first wife since her disappearance in 1865. So far, the graves have not been found for any of Peter’s wives, including Sarah, who died on April 9, 1929 in Shellsburg, Benton, Iowa.
On the 4th day of July 1862, he enlisted in the service of his country under Capt. R.S. Lamott, 1st battalion 13th regiment Co. D, and served faithfully three years. He was discharged with honor at Nashville, Tenn., July 4, 1865.
Some time after the war he came to Iowa and settled in Benton county where he made his home till the time of his death. In the year 1881 he was Married to Mrs. Sarah Fisher, who still lives to mourn her loss. Several years ago he confessed Christ as his Savior and united with the church of God, since which time he has kept the faith and died with a firm hope of a blessed immortality.
The funeral was conducted by Elder M.S. Boyer at the Christian church in Urbana, May 21, 1907, at 10:30 a.m., and the remains were laid to rest in the Urbana cemetery. In this good man Benton county lost a loyal citizen, the community a good neighbor, and the wife a devoted husband. The family has the sympathy of a host of friends in this sad hour.
May the richest blessings of God be the heritage of the bereaved wife till they are reunited in the Eternal City never to say farewell.
********************************************
Peter was married three times, although none of the marriage records have been found. He is counted in the 1860 census in DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa with his wife Nancy Melissa Canaday, and sons John (age 9), William (age 4), and James (age 1). According to oral family history, as published in “The Clymer Clan of Maryland, Delaware and Points West” by Anita L. Ockert, 1987, upon returning from his service in the war he discovered his wife had been unfaithful during his absence; they couple separated with Peter making plans for a divorce. Nancy, however, fearing he would take their children, disappeared, it is believed, into Missouri. Nancy’s brother, in an effort to cover her tracks, informed Peter that she and all their children had drowned in the Missouri River. Peter searched but never found them. She hid very very well, because even today we are unable to located Nancy or her children in public records.
By the 1870 census Peter is located in Iowa Township, Dubuque County, Iowa with his second wife, Martha Foreman, and their one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. By the 1880 census Peter is recorded as a widower.
Peter’s third wife was his cousin, Sarah ‘Sallie’ Clymer, the daughter of Charles Clymer and Mary Fisher, and the widow of John B. Fisher. According to family records this late-life marriage took place on October 30, 1882 in Jones County, Iowa. There were no children from this marriage. They are counted together in the 1900 census in Sugar Creek Township, Benton County, Iowa.
Following Peter’s death, Sarah made a Widow’s Application for a pension based upon his military service. It was discovered at that time that her marriage to Peter was not legal, given that Peter’s first wife was still living! Evidently Nancy had never remarried. Although Sarah’s application was eventually approved, based on common-law marital rights, this was the first news that any member of the Clymer family had received regarding Peter’s first wife since her disappearance in 1865. So far, the graves have not been found for any of Peter’s wives, including Sarah, who died on April 9, 1929 in Shellsburg, Benton, Iowa.
Peter Clymer was born in Ohio August 15, 1820, and died at his home in Benton county, Iowa, May 15, 1907, at the age of 86 years and 9 months.
On the 4th day of July 1862, he enlisted in the service of his country under Capt. R.S. Lamott, 1st battalion 13th regiment Co. D, and served faithfully three years. He was discharged with honor at Nashville, Tenn., July 4, 1865.
Some time after the war he came to Iowa and settled in Benton county where he made his home till the time of his death. In the year 1881 he was Married to Mrs. Sarah Fisher, who still lives to mourn her loss. Several years ago he confessed Christ as his Savior and united with the church of God, since which time he has kept the faith and died with a firm hope of a blessed immortality.
The funeral was conducted by Elder M.S. Boyer at the Christian church in Urbana, May 21, 1907, at 10:30 a.m., and the remains were laid to rest in the Urbana cemetery. In this good man Benton county lost a loyal citizen, the community a good neighbor, and the wife a devoted husband. The family has the sympathy of a host of friends in this sad hour.
May the richest blessings of God be the heritage of the bereaved wife till they are reunited in the Eternal City never to say farewell.
********************************************
Peter was married three times, although none of the marriage records have been found. He is counted in the 1860 census in DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa with his wife Nancy Melissa Canaday, and sons John (age 9), William (age 4), and James (age 1). According to oral family history, as published in “The Clymer Clan of Maryland, Delaware and Points West” by Anita L. Ockert, 1987, upon returning from his service in the war he discovered his wife had been unfaithful during his absence; they couple separated with Peter making plans for a divorce. Nancy, however, fearing he would take their children, disappeared, it is believed, into Missouri. Nancy’s brother, in an effort to cover her tracks, informed Peter that she and all their children had drowned in the Missouri River. Peter searched but never found them. She hid very very well, because even today we are unable to located Nancy or her children in public records.
By the 1870 census Peter is located in Iowa Township, Dubuque County, Iowa with his second wife, Martha Foreman, and their one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. By the 1880 census Peter is recorded as a widower.
Peter’s third wife was his cousin, Sarah ‘Sallie’ Clymer, the daughter of Charles Clymer and Mary Fisher, and the widow of John B. Fisher. According to family records this late-life marriage took place on October 30, 1882 in Jones County, Iowa. There were no children from this marriage. They are counted together in the 1900 census in Sugar Creek Township, Benton County, Iowa.
Following Peter’s death, Sarah made a Widow’s Application for a pension based upon his military service. It was discovered at that time that her marriage to Peter was not legal, given that Peter’s first wife was still living! Evidently Nancy had never remarried. Although Sarah’s application was eventually approved, based on common-law marital rights, this was the first news that any member of the Clymer family had received regarding Peter’s first wife since her disappearance in 1865. So far, the graves have not been found for any of Peter’s wives, including Sarah, who died on April 9, 1929 in Shellsburg, Benton, Iowa.
On the 4th day of July 1862, he enlisted in the service of his country under Capt. R.S. Lamott, 1st battalion 13th regiment Co. D, and served faithfully three years. He was discharged with honor at Nashville, Tenn., July 4, 1865.
Some time after the war he came to Iowa and settled in Benton county where he made his home till the time of his death. In the year 1881 he was Married to Mrs. Sarah Fisher, who still lives to mourn her loss. Several years ago he confessed Christ as his Savior and united with the church of God, since which time he has kept the faith and died with a firm hope of a blessed immortality.
The funeral was conducted by Elder M.S. Boyer at the Christian church in Urbana, May 21, 1907, at 10:30 a.m., and the remains were laid to rest in the Urbana cemetery. In this good man Benton county lost a loyal citizen, the community a good neighbor, and the wife a devoted husband. The family has the sympathy of a host of friends in this sad hour.
May the richest blessings of God be the heritage of the bereaved wife till they are reunited in the Eternal City never to say farewell.
********************************************
Peter was married three times, although none of the marriage records have been found. He is counted in the 1860 census in DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa with his wife Nancy Melissa Canaday, and sons John (age 9), William (age 4), and James (age 1). According to oral family history, as published in “The Clymer Clan of Maryland, Delaware and Points West” by Anita L. Ockert, 1987, upon returning from his service in the war he discovered his wife had been unfaithful during his absence; they couple separated with Peter making plans for a divorce. Nancy, however, fearing he would take their children, disappeared, it is believed, into Missouri. Nancy’s brother, in an effort to cover her tracks, informed Peter that she and all their children had drowned in the Missouri River. Peter searched but never found them. She hid very very well, because even today we are unable to located Nancy or her children in public records.
By the 1870 census Peter is located in Iowa Township, Dubuque County, Iowa with his second wife, Martha Foreman, and their one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. By the 1880 census Peter is recorded as a widower.
Peter’s third wife was his cousin, Sarah ‘Sallie’ Clymer, the daughter of Charles Clymer and Mary Fisher, and the widow of John B. Fisher. According to family records this late-life marriage took place on October 30, 1882 in Jones County, Iowa. There were no children from this marriage. They are counted together in the 1900 census in Sugar Creek Township, Benton County, Iowa.
Following Peter’s death, Sarah made a Widow’s Application for a pension based upon his military service. It was discovered at that time that her marriage to Peter was not legal, given that Peter’s first wife was still living! Evidently Nancy had never remarried. Although Sarah’s application was eventually approved, based on common-law marital rights, this was the first news that any member of the Clymer family had received regarding Peter’s first wife since her disappearance in 1865. So far, the graves have not been found for any of Peter’s wives, including Sarah, who died on April 9, 1929 in Shellsburg, Benton, Iowa.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
