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