RESEARCH FINDINGS

Many of the descendants of Benjamin Wiser Senior have served their country in the military.  This newsletter summarizes the service of his direct descendants from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War.  There are a number of spouses of his descendants who also were in the military, however, their service is not included in this newsletter.

Revolutionary War

Benjamin Wiser Senior served as a private in Captain Luther Richardson’s Company raised for the defense of the frontiers on and adjacent to the Connecticut River in New Hampshire of which Timothy Bedel Esquire was Colonel.  Benjamin Wiser’s service pay began 6 Apr 1778 and he served for 11 months and 25 days.

                                                                        War of 1812

Son: Samuel Wiser (Benjamin Wiser) served in Captain Ezekial Smith's Company of the 2 Regiment (Ward’s) New York Militia.  Enlistment records also state that Samuel Wiser was a member of the 23^rd United States Infantry, was 5 feet 11 inches tall, had black eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion, age 30, a farmer, he was born at Haverhill, Coos County (now Grafton County), NH, enlisted on 8/13 Apr 1814 at Fort Oswego the company being under the command of Lieutenant Robert Goodell.

                                                                        Civil War

Descendants of Alithea Wiser Morse

Great Grandson: Simeon Dewitt Morse (Joseph C. Morse, Alithea Wiser Morse, Benjamin Wiser) was a private of Company A, 1^st New York Light Artillery.  Enlisted 1 Sep 1864 at Smithfield, NY, age 37, carpenter.  Had blue eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, 5 feet 10 inches. Discharged 28 Jun 1865 at Elmira, NY. 

Great Grandson:  Albert Morse (Joseph C. Morse, Alithea Wiser Morse, Benjamin Wiser). This may be the Albert Morse who enlisted as a private on 14 Aug 1862 at age 20, in Company G, 114th Infantry Regiment, New York. Died of disease on 1 Sep 1863 in Brashear City, LA.

Great Grandson: Joseph Albro (Sabra S. Morse, Alithea Wiser Morse, Benjamin Wiser) enrolled in 1862 at Cuyler, age 31.  No further military record is known.

Great Grandson: Albert Albro (Sabra S. Morse, Alithea Wiser Morse, Benjamin Wiser) enrolled in 1862 at Cuyler, age 28.  No further military record is known.

Descendants of Benjamin Wiser Jr.

Grandson: Thomas Jefferson Wiser (Benjamin Wiser Jr., Benjamin Wiser) enlisted 9 Apr 1847 in Lisbon, New Hampshire and was a member of Captain Daniel Batchelder's 9 Infantry Company H. In the U.S. Enlistment Records, the following information is given; Thomas J.Wiser, age 34, blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, 5'8", born Haverhill, NH, farmer, enlisted 9 Apr 1847, residence, Lisbon, NH.

Grandson: John R. Wiser (Benjamin Wiser Jr., Benjamin Wiser) at time of enlistment was 6 feet 1 ½ inches, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair and was a peg manufacturer.  John R. Wiser was a member of the Second Regiment NH Volunteer Infantry, Co. F, Born Haverhill, NH, age 44, resident Laconia, enlisted 20 Apr 1861, reenlisted 22 May 1861 for 3 years, mustered in 4 Jun 1861 as private, discharged for disability 23 Oct 1861, Washington, DC.

Great Grandson: Nathan S. Wiser  (John R. Wiser, Benjamin Wiser Jr., Benjamin) enlisted as private, 1 Jun 1863 in First NH Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Company H. Born Alexandria, NH, age 18, resident Laconia, mustered out 11 Sep 1865. Physical description; 18 years old, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches, blue eyes, dark hair, light complexion, teamster.

Descendants of Josiah Wiser

Grandson: Lorenzo Wiser (Josiah Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a private and member of Companies D, H and M, 5th NY Heavy Artillery, enlisted 15 Dec 1863 and was discharged 19 Jul 1865.

Great Grandson: Theodore Franklin Wiser (Lorenzo Wiser, Josiah Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) enrolled, 24 Sep 1864 in Company D 5^th New York Heavy Artillery, and was discharged at Harpers Ferry on 22 Jun 1865.  Disability due to gun shot wounds to his left shoulder and right leg.

Descendants of Samuel Wiser

Great Grandson: Isaac Cottle (Amanda Wiser Cottle, Samuel Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) enlisted 1 Oct 1861 in Company F 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, age 19, residence, Cascade, nativity, IL; Promoted 3rd Corporal; 3rd Sergeant 1 Mar 1863; 2nd Sergeant, 3 Sep

1863; reenlisted and remustered 5 Jan 1864.  Wounded in right thigh, 22 Jun 1864, White River, AR.  Died 15 Jul 1864, Memphis, TN.  Buried in Mississippi River National Cemetery, Memphis, TN, Section 2, Grave 320.

Great Grandson: Charles Cottle (Amanda Wiser Cottle, Samuel Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) enlisted in IA Company I 21st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, age 18, residence, Cascade, nativity, IL.  Enlisted 15 Aug 1862.  Mustered 23 Aug 1862.  Died of disease, 15 Nov 1862 at Salem, MO of consumption.

Great Grandson: Byron (Lewis) Sidney Adams  (Temperance M. Wiser Adams, Samuel Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) enlisted 5 Oct 1864 at Dubuque, IA into the Union forces. His description listed age 22; height 5 feet 9 inches; complexion, sandy; eyes, blue; hair, sandy; born, IL; occupation, farmer.  He served with Company K, 15 Regiment IA Infantry and was honorably discharged 24 Jul 1865, at Louisville, KY. 

Great Grandson: John Joseph Gregory (Matilda Ann Wiser Gregory, Samuel Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) by family tradition served as a drummer boy with his father, James Gregory.  He was born in 1850 and no military record has been found.

Descendants of James Wiser

Great Grandson: Thomas Steele (Mary (Polly) Wiser Steele, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a member of 38th Regiment Infantry, Company B Indiana Volunteers.  Enrolled, 18 Sep 1861 at New Albany, by Capt. Nunemacher, mustered in, 18 Sep 1861 at New Albany, by Capt. Gilman, age 23, grey eyes, black hair, height 5 feet 8 inches, complexion, dark, born Harrison County, IN, farmer, discharged at New York City, 20 Jul 1865, sick at David's Island, NY.

Great Grandson: James M. Steele  (Mary (Polly) Wiser Steele, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a member of Co. H, 38th Regiment, who was from Harrison County, IN, who died at Corona, Tipton, TN on 11 Dec 1882 from pneumonia. 

Great Grandson: Fielding Steele (Mary (Polly) Wiser Steele, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a member of Company K, 38^th Regiment Infantry.  Private. Regt.  Enlisted 1 Sep 1861, at New Albany, IN by Capt. Sexton, mustered, 18 Sep 1861, at New Albany, IN by Capt. Gilman, age 20 years, black eyes, brown hair, height 5 feet 8 inches, complexion, dark, nativity, Harrison County, IN, occupation, farmer, discharged, mustered out at Louisville, KY, 13 Jun 1865.

Great Grandson: Aaron Jones Benton  (Mariam Elis Wiser Benton, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) enlisted as a private 31 May 1861 in Company C, 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry , “Wilder’s  Bridage” under Captain Wilder at Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Great Grandson: Aaron C. Claspill (Lucy Ann Wiser Claspill, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a member of the 38th Regiment Infantry, Indiana Volunteers, Private, Company B, died at Nashville, 13 Dec 1862, not reported where buried. Mustered 18 Sep 1861 at Mauckport, Harrison, IN.  Died of typhoid fever at General Hospital "7".  Mustered 11 May 1861, part of the Heth Rifles.

Great Grandson: Nathan Thornburg  (Cloe S. Wiser Thornburg, James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a member of Company K, 59th Regiment Infantry. Applied for pension, under the alias pf Miles B. White, widow Laura Thornburg, also widow Addie V. White.  Residence at time of enlistment was Mauckport, Harrison, IN. 

Grandson: Levi Wiser  (James Wiser, Benjamin Wiser). Enlisted as a private in Company K 157th NY Vol. and was discharged 10 Jul 1865 at Charleston, SC by reason of close of the war.

Descendants of Theodore Wiser

Great Grandson: Theodore L. Wiser (Samuel Henry Wiser, Theodore Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a private of the 39^th Illinois Infantry.  Died in Wilmington, IL, September 3, 1868, age 24 years and 6 months.

Great Grandson: Alonzo A. Wiser (Samuel Henry Wiser, Theodore Wiser, Benjamin Wiser) was a private of the 65^th Illinois Infantry. Wilmington, IL Independent, 26 Aug 1863; Accident-We regret to learn that Mr. Alonzo A. Wiser, son of Mr. S.H. Wiser, of the town of Wesley, and a member of Co. A, 65th Regt. IL Volunteers, met with a serious accident in Chicago on Tuesday of last week.  He had been down to Camp Douglas on a bathing excursion, and while returning stepped upon the platform of a slowly passing train of cars.  When he attempted to get off, he fell upon the track, and one of his legs most horribly crushed.  It was amputated and he is recovering.

OBITUARIES

Please accept our condolences to the families who recently lost family members.

Kevin Lyman Wiser

Ogden, UT Standard Examiner; May 9, 2003, Grass Valley, CA-It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kevin Lyman Wiser, our loving son, brother, uncle and nephew, Kevin, 41, formerly of Ogden, drowned Sunday, May 4, 2003, while vacationing on the Hawaiian island of Maui.  Born in Ogden on June 16, 1961, the oldest son of Lyman S. and Ramona P. Wiser. He grew up in the Ogden area, graduated from Ogden High School and Weber State University, majoring in English and Communications. Following graduation he worked as a reporter for Idaho Mountain Express, and was awarded with an Idaho-Press Club award in 1999. He was the recipient of an award from the Society of Professional Journalists for a story, "The Real Thing: An Addict Inside Utah’s Criminal Justice System." He also received a writing award as part of a team at The Union, a Grass Valley, California newspaper he joined in 2000 where he covered county politics, the Board of Supervisors, mental health and education. Kevin was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an Eagle Scout and an avid outdoorsman. He loved the mountains, was a competitive skier, and enjoyed hiking, climbing, and riding his motorcycle. Kevin had a great zest for life, and lived it to the fullest. He is remembered as a quiet, compassionate man and a dedicated reporter and journalist. Kevin is survived by his parents of Ogden; brother, Hal Clair (Kim) Wiser, of Bartlett, IL; six nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Myron C. and Zelma Wiser, and David Clair and Sevella M. Palmer. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may call at the mortuary on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pet Adoption League, P.O. Box 3303, Grass Valley, CA. 95945, (530) 273-7958 or to Primary Children’s Medical Center, 100 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113.  Kailua-Kona, HI, West Hawaii News, 7 May 2003; Kevin Wiser; Wailuku - Kevin Lyman Wiser, a former Ogden, Utah, resident and newspaper reporter in Idaho and California, drowned off West Maui over the weekend. Wiser, 41, was at the Nakalele Point blowhole Sunday with his girlfriend when he was knocked into the blowhole by a large wave and swept out to sea, police said. Firefighters used a helicopter to recover Wiser's body about 100 yards off the shoreline.

POSTSCRIPT

Once again, thanks for any suggestions in regards to our family newsletter.  Please contact me at or at 6 Baton Rouge, Roswell, NM  88201, or at (505) 623-2534.