Bio: Rensimer, Joseph (1830 - 1914)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rensimer, Ebinger, Stewart, McMiller, Romaine, Peterson, Snyder, Machmueller, Salter, Jungerbert

----Sources: Published Histories, Federal Census Reports, Family & Military Records.

Joseph and Barbara (Ebinger) Rensimer

Beaver Twp., Clark Co., Wisconsin

Joseph was born 28 Feb 1830 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA, the son of Jacob Sr. and Rebecca (Snyder) Rensimer.  He went to Ohio with his parents, and helped clear two farms. 21 Oct 1851, he married Miss Barbara Ebinger, of Worchester, Wayne Co., OH, who was born 7 Jul 1829, in Württemberg, Ger.  In 1852, they moved to a farm in MI, and Joseph worked as a hatter, a trade he'd learned in OH.  Because of failing health, Joseph and Barbara returned to OH.  In 1861, they went to Christian Co., IL, and then to Columbia Co., WI. 

There, Joseph enlisted in Co. A, 37th Wis. Inf., toward the end of the war, 8 Mar 1864 and served until 1865 at Pardeeville, WI.  He served 1 yr., 3 mo., 15 days.  Upon returning to civilian life, he made a business of making wagons. In 1876, he sold out and moved to Beaver Twp., Clark Co., WI, to homestead 80 acres, just outside Unity, WI.  The Rensimer children were: Mary (m. Geo. Peterson), John E. (m. first Lillie Stewart and then Hannah Stewart), Margaret "Maggie" C. (m. Emil McMiller), Corwin "Calvin" (m. Edith Romaine), Florence E. (m. Leonard Barber) and Carrie E. (m. Frank Salter).  Joseph was a member of the Town Board, held school offices, belonged to the I. O. O. F. and treasurer of the Encampment, and was also sergeant of the Unity Guards.  Jacob was admitted to the King, WI Veterans' Home 27 Mar 1903 from Prentice, WI.  Barbara also moved there from Prentice a few months later, 8 Jul 1903.  She was discharged 26 Jul 1908, but was readmitted 11 Aug 1912.  She lived there until her death, 27 Apr 1913.  Joseph died there 24 Feb 1914.  They are buried in Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King in Sec.2, Lot 37, Graves 51 & 52.

Published Historical Accounts

1881 HISTORY OF NORTHERN WI
Chicago: The Western Historical Company
A. T. Andreas, Proprietor (grammar as is)
Pg. 577

JOSEPH RENSIMER, farmer and jobber, Unity. Born in Lehigh Co., Penn., February, 1830. He went to Ohio with his parents, and helped clear two farms. In 1852, went to Michigan, having learned the trade of hatter in Ohio, but on going to Michigan, he bought a farm and his health failing, he returned to Ohio, where he remained till 1861. He went to Christian Co., Ill., and then to Columbia County from there he enlisted in Co. A, 37th Wis. V. I. served until 1865. Came back to Wisconsin, and went into the wagon-making business. In 1870, he took up a homestead and remained on it until 1876, when he sold out and came to Unity, where he owns a farm of eighty acres just out of the village, besides his house and lot, and ten acres adjoining. In 1851, he married Miss Barbara Ebinger, of Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio. They have six children Mary, now Mrs. Peterson, John E., Maggie C., Corwin, Florence E. and Carrie E. Mr. Rensimer has been a member of the Town Board, and held school offices belongs to the I. O. O. F. and treasurer of the Encampment, and is also sergeant of the Unity Guards.

[Property Record] contributed by Devon Kerr*

Family Notes

JOSEPH RENSIMER / RANSIMER--son of Jacob Rensimer and Rebecca Snyder

Born: 28 February 1830      Pennsylvania                       (Allen, Lehigh Co., PA)

Died: 24 February 1914      Farmington, Waupaca, Wisconsin; WI Veterans Home

Married: 1851 (per 1900 Census)             (September 30, 1851, Wayne, Ohio)

Spouse: Barbara Ebinger   b. 1829, Germany    (July 7, 1829, Wurttemberg??, Germany)

            Mother of 6 children (1900 Census: 5 of 6 children living)

            Immigration: 1831 (per 1910 Census)

            Died: 1934, age 105

Children:

   Mary                        b. 1853, Ohio                        (George W Peterson)

   John                        b. 1854, Ohio            (1. Lillie Stewart - 2. Hannah Stewart)

   Margaret                 b. 1857, Ohio                        (Emil McMiller)

   Calvin / Corwin     b. 1860, Ohio                        (Edith Romaine)

   Florence                 b. 1862, Wisconsin              (Leonard Barber)

   Carrie                      b. 1866, Wisconsin              (Frank Salter)

Military Records

Civil War Service:  Private-Corporal, Company A, 37^th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry

Enlisted: March 8, 1864      Residence: Pardeeville, WI

Mustered Out: July 27, 1865         

1890 Veterans Schedule: Length of Service: 1 yr 3 mo 15 days

Residence

   1860 Census - Lafayette, Medina, Ohio

   1862 - Daughter, Florence, born in Wisconsin

   1870 - Daughter, Mary, married, September 28, Clark Co.

   1880 Census - Brighton, Marathon, Wisconsin

   1882 Colby Phonograph: Unity news item, March 1, daughter Maggie

   1882 Colby Phonograph: Unity - daughter Florence married at the residence of her parents

   1883 Colby Phonograph: Unity news item, Dec. 26, daughter Carrie

   1885 Colby Phonograph: Unity - daughter Carrie married at the residence of her parents

   1885 Colby Phonograph: Unity - son John "of Unity" married in Unity

   1890 Veterans Schedule: Brighton, Marathon, Wisconsin

   1900 Census - Prentice, Price, Wisconsin

   1905 WI Census - Farmington, Waupaca, Wisconsin

   1910 Census - Farmington, Waupaca, Wisconsin

Children

1.  Mary  b. 1853 (1851?), Ohio, d.

            Married: George Washington Peterson, September 28, 1870, Clark Co., WI

            Died: 1934, age 83 (?)

2.  John E.  b. 1854, Ohio, d.

            Married: Lillie Stewart of Unity, October 5, 1885, Marathon Co., WI (dau of Dr. Wm. Stewart)

                        Born: October 30, 1862, Taycheedah, Fond du Lac, WI, to "Mr & Mrs Dr. Stewart" *

                        Occupation: Teacher (age 15 until marriage)

                        Died: October 6, 1887, Duluth, MN, buried Unity, WI *

            Married: Hannah M. Stewart, October 23, 1889, Milwaukee Co., WI

                Daughter: Ruby, b. October 2, 1893, Milwaukee Co., WI

3.  Margaret "Maggie" b. February 25, 1857, Medina, Ohio *

            1882: Unity WI, residence of her father

            Married: Emil McMiller (Machmueller), May 26, 1884, Marathon Co., WI

            Died: May 3, 1900, Carrington  << ??

4.  Corwin M / Calvin b. February 14, 1860, Ohio

            Married: Edith Deyette Romaine, 1890

                        Born: January 30, 1864, Auburn Twp., Fond du Lac, WI

            Died: December 24, 1942, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, California

5.  Florence  b. 1862, Wisconsin

            Married: Leonard S. Barber of Unity, April 30, 1882, Marathon Co., WI

                        "at the residence of her parents" of Unity

6.  Carrie   b. June 17, 1866, Pardeeville, Wisconsin *

            Married: Frank J. Salter of Colby, October 5, 1885, Marathon Co., WI

                        "at the residence of her parents" of Unity

            Died: July 10, 1941, "of Prentice", in West Hollywood, California *

            Buried: Prentice Cemetery, WI *

Research Notes

Old Soldiers' Home, Waupaca, Joseph & Barbara Rensimer--Our records show Joseph Rensimer was admitted to the Wis. Veterans Home from Prentice, WI on March 27, 1903. He listed his age as 73 with a date of birth of Feb. 1830 in Allentown, PA. He listed his date of marriage as Oct. 3, 1851. He served as a Corporal in Co. A of the 37th Wis. Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted March 8, 1864 and was discharged July 24 1865. Joseph passed away on Feb. 24, 1914 and is buried in Central Wis. Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King.  Barbara Rensimer was admitted to the Wis. Veterans Home on July 8, 1903 from Prentice, WI. She listed her age as 75 at the time of admission and her birth place as Germany. She listed their marriage date as Oct 21, 1851 in Worchester, OH. Barbara discharged from the Wis. Veterans Home on July 26, 1908. She was readmitted to the Wis. Veterans Home on August 11, 1912. She resided here until her death on April 27, 1913 and is buried in Central Wis. Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Gretchen Jungerbert, Administrator of Admittance

Joseph Rensimer is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

Contributors

Marsha Hosfeld, *Devon Kerr (family member) & Janet Schwarze.