WITMER, Christian Frick
1840 - 1939 (98 years)-
Name WITMER, Christian Frick Birth 11 Apr 1840 Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY 
Gender Male Death 23 Feb 1939 Williamsville, Erie County, NY Burial Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie County, NY Person ID I10230 Laur from Germany Last Modified 1 Oct 2016
Father WITMER, Tobias, b. 8 Oct 1816, Witmer Homestead, Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY d. 14 Aug 1897, Amherst, Erie County, NY (Age 80 years) Mother FRICK, Anna Long, b. 18 May 1819, Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY d. 14 Sep 1908, Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY (Age 89 years) Marriage 24 Nov 1837 Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY Family ID F4679 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 BRUNELL, Mary, b. 27 Dec 1846 d. Yes, date unknown Family ID F4700 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 20 Mar 2026
Family 2 COTTON, Mary Sophia, b. 27 Nov 1848, Binghamton, Broome County, NY d. 15 Sep 1939, Williamsville, Erie County, NY (Age 90 years) Marriage 4 Sep 1878 East Aurora, Erie County, NY Children 1. WITMER, Grace, b. 14 Jun 1879, Amherst, Erie County, NY d. 1 Sep 1916, Amherst, Erie County, NY (Age 37 years)2. WITMER, Ralph, b. 29 Oct 1880, Williamsville, Erie County, NY d. Jan 1967, Everett, Snohomish County, WA (Age 86 years)3. WITMER, Mary, b. 2 Dec 1882, Williamsville, Erie County, NY d. Yes, date unknown4. WITMER, Christian Cotton, b. 26 Oct 1884, Williamsville, Erie County, NY d. 12 Jul 1929, Williamsville, Erie County, NY (Age 44 years)5. WITMER, Anna Elizabeth, b. 30 Apr 1887, Williamsville, Erie County, NY d. 14 Dec 1962 (Age 75 years)Family ID F4701 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 20 Mar 2026
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Notes - (Amherst Bee - February 25, 1939 -
"The last Civil War Veteran in Williamsville,
Christian F. Witmer, 99, died Thursday night at his home in 179 Cayuga St.
after an illness of several weeks.
Mr.Witmer, a member of a pioneer Amherst family homesteaded in the area where the
Snyder section subsequently was developed. His father, Tobias Witmer, one of the first engineers
and surveyors in Amherst, went to war with his son when President Lincoln
called for volunteers. they served the 50th New York Engineering Division."
I was born April 11, 1840, Previous to reaching my majority I was engaged mostly on work on the farm and attending school, and assisting my father in making surveys. My first venture in the way of business for myself was teaching the public school in what was known as the "Good District" in the town of Clarence for the winter term of 1860 - 1861.
At the close of the school term I took a course in Bryant and Stratton Merchantile College in Buffalo, graduating in the spring of 1862.
Enlisted in the 50th N.Y. Volunteers Engineers, August 22, 1862 and was honorably dischardged from the army service at the close of the War. The next few years were devoted to teaching schools during the winter in Levanworth, KS, and Easton Missouri, and on government surveys in the western part of Kansas, during the summer.
Those were interesting times for me as you may judge from the fact that my flagman, John Roach, a Cavalryman was killed by Roman Noses' band of Cheyenne Indians while we were engaged in locating a township line on the plains.
In 1868, I returned to New York State and took over my fathers business of surveying and insurance. I married Mary S. COTTON of Elma, Sept. 04, 1878. Two sons and three daughters were born of this union. Daughter Grace, born June 24, 1879, and died Sept. 01, 1916. There survive, sons Ralph, with two grandchildren.
- (Amherst Bee - February 25, 1939 -