The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-04

CONFERENCE OF GnG metnOris" JlDlScODal
Church, and left three children; Susan
Eliza beth. who married Lampson Farrow
merchant of Baltimore, and lett one c0ild;
VIM Carmichael, vino died in iI..ALCy.
Col. Edwin Wilmer was the only member
of the direct line of his family for six
generations preceding him, who was not
born in Kent county, Md,
Col. Winners father died when he was
an infant, and tie care of the family de-
volved on his widowed mother. His
earlier education was obtained at Smyrna,
and he afterwards entered Dickinson Col
lege, Carlisle, Pa. His mother dying
when he was fifteen years old, he left col
legs and engaged with his brother n-lav
in Baltimore as clerk in the dry goods
business. He afterwards prosecuted thst
business fer short time on his own &C.
count. On April II, 1899, he married
Hannah Elisabeth, only daughter of
Daniel and Mary (Reynolds) Megredy, Of
Port Deposit. Her father was the son of
John Megredy, a Scotchman, and Elizs-
beth job, dssoendent of the family of
Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Cru
soe." Mary (Reynolds) Megredy was
the daughter of John and Hannah
(Knisht> Reynolds of Cecil county. He
was a brother of Judge David Reynolds,
of Lewistown, Pa. and of Reuben Rey-
nolds of Cecil county.
Col. Wilmer removed to Port Deposit
in 1910 and formed co partnership with
his father-in law iD the business of quar-
rying granite. and for fifteen yarrs was
an extensive contractor, furnishing ma
terial for Government works az far south
as St. Augustine, Florida. He WAS at
the same time member of the firm of
Wilmer & DAVIS at Port Deposit of
Wilmer & Gollibert at Georg town, and
Of Wilmer & Ford at Wilmer Point on
the Sassafras river, at all of which places
he did large business in lumber, guano,
grain, and was bold and honorable
operator He contributed much to the
improvement of Port Deposit during his
residence there, erecting stores and ware
houses, dwellings aud wharves. Col
Wilmer was always active in church,
benevolent and educational enterprises,
and was for many years trustee of
Wesleyan Female College, Dickinson
College aud other academic institutions.
In 1857 he purchased ''Holly Hail."
the estate OF the late General James
Sewell near Elkton, and resided there
until 1860 when he sold the estate to
James Z. Blreoll. He again engaged in
active pursuits, buying out the business
interest of George w. Cummings & Com
pany at Smyrna, Del. Mr.. Wilmer was
a strong Unionist from Tire outbreak of
the war and from his house foated the
first Union fla hat was unfurled in Del
aware south Of New Castle county. Not.
withstsndiu the fact that he was edu-
Gated il pro slavery sentim ents, and him
self = slave owner, he made the first
public speech made by q slave holder OF
that S'atH in favor of emancipation as
throughout the State. He raised the
Six Il Regiment Of Delaware Infantry in
1853 at che time OF Lees ..iH into Penn
sylvania, and in two days lie had the regi-
ment armed, equipped aud on duty on
tho line of the p. W. B. Railroad.
subsequently Col. Wilmer, as Provost
Marshall for the District of Delaware,
was ordered to make the draft under the
discharge Of that difficult and arduoua
Office, to thu ruin of his mercantile bust
ness and great detriment of his private
Interests, until The close of the war, dur
ing which perhaps 30 man was more
active and efficient in raising men and
money for the Government. Wills in
discharge of the Provost Marshall's duties
with headquarters at Wilmington. at the
time of Harry GiImore's raid into Mary
land, Col. Wilmer, with train of cars
furnished by the Delaware Railroad
Company, traversed the State OF Della
ware for TWO continuous days and nights,
biC bO"bs, Stbh-
ering together the people by the ringing
OF the town and church bells, and, when
assembled, addressing them on the emer-
gency, and returned with over five hun.
dred mon, who with other volunteers
from the upper part of the State formed
the Eighth Regiment of Delaware In
fantry.
In the spring of 1855 Col. Winners
only son, boy of fifteen years who had
accompanied his father when on duty
with his regiment (having previously
been cadst at Col. Hyatt's Military
Academy went into the field a volunteer
aide-de-camp, without pay, on the staff
of General Thomas n. Smith, Third Bri-
gade, Second Corps, Army of the Poto-
mac, and was in the engagements of the
storming of Fort Stedman, Hatcher's
Run, Danville; Petersburg, BurKville,
| and the last battle at Farmville.
After the war Col. Wilmer was elected
president of ''The Manhattan Brick Com
| pany of New York" of which he after
wards became principal stockhoder. The
company was forced into involuntary
bankruptcy by the depression in business
so disastrous in the fall of 1869, and Col.
| Wilmer returned to Baltimore, in which
vicinity rs resided until the time of his
death.
| He had born to him seven children, five
of whom survive. VIZ, Mary Rachael,
who married Henry Il. Torbert of The
CECIL VINO; Laura Freeman who mar
ried Chas. Fl. Hepburn, of Baltimore
city, Edwin MegredY Wilmer,
Ellen Moore Reynolds, aud Florence
Zeiin Wilmer, who resided with their
parents.
! The funeral was held on Sunday after
/ noon from the residence Of his son, No.
/ 1900 Madison avenue. a number OF rcia-
tveS aud friends were present. Rev. j..
J. G. Webster, pastor OF the Madison
Avenue ". E. Church, otficiated. The
hymn Rock of Ages" was sung and