Witwer, Franklin David Diary, 1864-1865

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Witwer, Franklin David

Title: Diary, 1864-1865

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 1 volume

Locator Number: Mss. A W832

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of a diary kept by Witwer from 1 January, 1864 to 18 January, 1865. During the first 4 months of 1864, he was a sergeant in Co. G, 7 th Rgt., Invalid Corps in Hospital No. 7 in Louisville, Ky. He records his daily duties and activities while serving as a guard and cook during this time. Following his discharge on 20 April, 1864, he records his return to civilian life in Ohio and his attempts at several trades, most of which he found unsatisfying.

Biographical Note

Franklin D. Witwer was born 2 January 1842 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Illinois when he was about 6 years old. After his mother died, he was raised by another family near Bluffton, Ohio. As a young man, he learned the harness and saddlery trade. He enlisted in Co. A., 11 th Ohio Infantry Regt., on 18 April 1861 and was promoted to corporal in 1862. Because of sickness, he was transferred to the 7 th Regt., Invalid Corps, and promoted to sergeant. After serving for several months in Hospital No. 7, Louisville, Ky., he was discharged from service on April 20, 1864. He returned to Ohio where he took up a variety of trades in the Dayton area, including a mercantile clerk, harness maker and bootmaker. On 30 March, 1865 he married Mary H. Miller of Osborn, Ohio. They had 8 children, 6 of whom survived childhood. He and Mary were divorced in the early 1890s over religious differences. He later married Elizabeth Boyl in 1892. After her death in 1900, he married Mary B. Stone. On 30 June, 1901, he was taken violently ill and died on 4 July, 1901. Although arsenic was later found in his stomach, charges against his wife were dismissed by a grand jury. He was buried in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.

Folder List

Folder 1: Diary, 1864-1865

Subject Headings

Cave Hill Cemetery (Louisville, Ky.)

Copperhead movement

Louisville (Ky.) – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Hospitals

Louisville (Ky.) – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Monuments

United States. Army – Medical care

United States. Army – Military life – History – 19th century

United States. Army. Invalid Regimental Corps., 7th

United States. Army. Invalid Regimental Corps., 7th

United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 11th. Co. A.

Witwer, Franklin David, 1842-1901 – Diary

Witwer, Franklin David, 1842-1901