Edward A. Raymor

Edward A. Raymor

The biography below has been graciously submitted by Greg Maier, a descendant of Edward Raymor. It contains a bit more intimate personal information than is commonly found for Civil War Veterans. Parental discretion is advised.

04/06/99 A recent trip to the State Archives of Michigan has uncovered additional information. Perusing the Michigan Soldiers and Sailor's home scrapbooks revealed several clippings concerning E.A. Raymor.

Edward Aldrich Raymor was born on February 22, 1832 in Ontario, New York. The day and month of his birth are unknown, as there is no existing birth certificate or baptismal certificate.

On 13 February, 1853, he married Mary S.H. Spain in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The marriage was performed by the Rev. H.H. Moore. On 1 March, 1854, their first and only child, Edward S. Raymor was born in Philadelphia. Edward S. Raymor signed his name "Edward Raymor Jr.," and it is not known at this time what his middle name was.

On 9 August, 1862, Edward Aldrich Raymor enlisted in Company B, 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry at Detroit. At 30, he was older than most of the men. On his enlistment records he is described as being 5'7" tall, light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair. His civilian occupation is given as "moulder", and his residence as Dundee. During his entire service with the Union army he held the rank of Private.

The photograph above is belived to show Edward. According to family history, the original photograph showed EAR and two of his "pards" in their "Hardee" or "Slouch" hats; and based on on the description may have been an ambrotype. Around the turn of the century, EAR's son had a copy made (c. 1905), and cropped everything out but the image you see. Another copy was made at a later date (from which this image comes), and on the back is written "Virginia 1864". Unfortunately the orginal image is now lost

Edward's 1863-1864 diary has been passed down through his family, giving a real insight into his time with the 24th Michigan.

Edward was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on February 4, 1865. his transfer was recommended after a medical examination revealed "Loss of Teeth and Dyspepsia." He was honorably discharged from company K, 22nd Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps on 4 July, 1865 in Dennison, Ohio.

Sometime before 1890, Edward Aldrich Raymor deserted Mary S.H. Raymor (nee Spain), but was never divorced from her. Edward Raymor Jr. believed that Mary S.H. Raymor was still living as late as 14 December, 1905. This information was obtained through a government deposition filed by Edward Raymor Jr. on 14 December, 1905. Nothing more is known about Mary S.H. Raymor, her date or place of birth, or death.

Nothing is known of Edward Aldrich Raymor's activities of whereabouts between 5 July, 1865 and 21 July, 1890. On 22 July, 1890 Edward Aldrich Raymor "aged 58 years, a resident of the city of San Diego County of San Diego, State of California," applied for an Invalid Pension, citing "Kidney and bladder difficulty: Bronchial [problems], Rheumatism and non circulation of blood to extremities." Edward Aldrich Raymor's Bureau of Pensions certificate lists his pension as "being for: Rheumatism and disease of respiratory organs." This certificate, under the Act of June 27, 1890, was issued on 14 July, 1892, certificate number 793900: It states that "Edward A. Raymor...is entitled to a pension...at the rate of Twelve dollars per month to commence on the Twenty-ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and ninety..."

On 15 January, 1898, the "Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions" in Washington, D.C., asked Edward Aldrich Raymor to answer a series of questions to be be forwarded "to the pension agent...for your next quarterly payment..." On 4 August, 1898, Edward Aldrich Raymor answered as follows:

First. Are you married?...Answer. Widower.

Second. When, where, and by whom were you married? ... Answer. 0

Third. What record of marriage exists? ...Answer. 0

Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and place of death or divorce. Answer. No.

Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and dates of birth. ...Answer. Uncertain if so Edward S. Raymor March 1st 1854 Philadelphia

One can speculate from the above information that Edward Aldrich Raymor was estranged from his family and was known to be in relatively poor health.

After 1898, Edward Aldrich Raymor's life was complicated when he married his housekeeper cum mistress, who appears to have been a Civil War pensioner gold-digger. The marriage may have been illegal.

In 1905, possibly at the request of the Pensioners' Office, a copy of a marriage certificate filed in Knox County, Tennessee on 26 October, certifies that a "marriage License was issued to Aldrich Raymor [note the omission of his first name] and Sarah Donaldson on the 26 day of June 1903 by [Rev.] W.H. Bates..." Sarah Raymor (b. 9 May, 1861), then aged 44, appeared before a notary public in Knox County, Tennessee on 21 October, 1905, according to U.S. Pension Office records. Sarah Raymor appeared before a notary public on this date to file a "Declaration of Wife Under Act of March 3, 1899" in order to secure some or all of Edward Raymor's military pension because "her husband Edward A. Raymor...deserted applicant his wife about July 1st 1905 & has done nothing for her sufficient since..." This document was received by the U.S. Pension Office and filed on 30 October, 1905.

At this time, for reasons unknown, it appears that Edward Aldrich Raymor's son chose to refute Sarah Raymor's claim. Edward Raymor Jr. (Edward S. Raymor), a 32nd degree Mason, gave the following testimony on 14 December, 1905 in Fork County, Pennsylvania, addressed to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, D.C. It is abridged here:

"The undersigned...doth depose & say that Edward A. Raymor was married to Mary S.H. Spain on February 13th, 1853 at Philadelphia...by the Rev. H.H. Moore, that he the undersigned is the only living issue of said marriage, further that the said Edward A. Raymor [and] Mary S.H. Raymor (his wife) were never divorced and to the best of the Deponent's knowledge and belief his mother (the said wife of Edward A. Raymor) is alive. Such being the case, the claim of Sarah Donaldson, alias Minnie Donaldson & Sarah Raymor would be invalid.

"The undersigned knows, and has known Minnie or Sarah Donaldson, who claims to be the wife of Edward A. Raymor for some nine (9) years she being his Father's Housekeeper & occupying his Father's Bed, and during the absence of Edward A. Raymor from his home (which occurred at intervals) she received male company at the residence of his Father, Edward A. Raymor during the summer of 1896, and the said Edward A. Raymor being absent from home, the said Minnie or Sarah Donaldson came to his bedside and asked him [Edward Raymor Jr.] to have sexual intercourse with her, and because deponent refused she sit [sic] on a chair and masturbated in his presence.

"The undersigned made affidavit to the above facts at a hearing in the City of Knoxville, State of Tenn. in the spring of 1897 when and where the said Minnie or Sarah Donaldson was accused of immorality... The said Minnie or Sarah Donaldson was arrested on the above charge by Wm. A. Chanabury (Constable) whom the deponent is informed is one of those who testifies to her good character. The said Minnie or Sarah Donaldson became insane solely by the overuse of Intoxicants & other failings. "...The said Edward A. Raymor is now broken in health bodily and mentaly [sic] his mind being almost a complete blank and for that reason, and that alone the deponent has taken him home so that he may be comfortable in his old age..."

Edward Aldrich Raymor, died 28 December, 1906 at the age of 74, and was buried at the Michigan Soldiers' Home in Grand Rapids in December 1906. Edward's death certificate shows that he entered the Michigan Soldiers' Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 26 September, 1906 and that he died on 28 December, 1906 "...of senility. His...nearest of kin is Helen Raymor, Niece, Saranac, Michigan."

Recently uncovered newspaper clippings indicate that at the time of his death, much of E. A. Raymor's accumulated fortune was missing. The clippings also shed light on Raymor's latter days.

On 12 January, 1907, "Sarah Raymor" filed an "Application for Accrued Pension (Widows)" in Knox County, Tennessee, still claiming to be Edward Aldrich Raymor's lawful widow. The document was received by the U.S. Pension Office on 16 January, 1907 and was stamped "Validity Accepted..." In 1916, for reasons unknown, a "Declaration For Widow's Pension" was filed by [note new surname] "Sarah George" in Knoxville, Tennessee. On this document, aside from the fact that she lists the wrong date of marriage to Edward A. Raymor (28 June, 1903 rather than the correct 26 June, 1903), she lists her marital history as follows:"...Previously married to Philip Daniels from whom she was divorced in Knoxville, Tenn. about 1892." After that, she married Edward Aldrich Raymor in 1903; he "abandoned" her in July 1905 and died on 28 December, 1906. "She afterward married J.L. Wrinkle who died April 27, 1913.

Houston George her last husband died May 19, 1915... Houston George belonged to Co. "G" 7th Regt., Mtd., Inf., Vols. and claimant filed claim no. 1049,663 which was rejected. ...claimant states that her correct name is Sarah George but she is often called Sally and she has often written that wrong..." This form was filed on 2 October, 1916.

On 16 October, 1928, Sarah George, now aged 67, filed, in Knox County, Tennessee, a "Declaration for Widow's Pension Act July 3, 1926," claiming that she was married to Edward A. Raymor on "June 26, 1902" rather than June 26, 1903: This is the second time she has stated the incorrect date of her marriage. On this form, Sarah George also claims that "...she was divorced from Phillip Daniel [not Philip Daniels as stated in 1916] in February, 1902, in Knoxville, Tennessee [rather than in 1892 as stated in 1916]. ...she heretofore applied for pension, the number of her former claim being rejected; that said soldier (or sailor) was a pensioner, the number of his pension certificate being 1078937." This document was received by the U.S. Pension Office on 2 November, 1928 and was stamped "Validity Accepted."

One can draw the conclusion that perhaps Sarah George continued to collect Edward Aldrich Raymor's pension, despite a questionable martial past which included an apparent penchant for aged Civil War pensioners, and a tendency to confuse names and dates. On the final document cited above, Edward A. Raymor is listed as having served honorably with "Co. B. 24 Mich. Inf. Civil War," and as being buried at the Soldiers' Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan following his death. No further documentation has come to light on "Sarah George," who, presumably, lived the rest of her days on at least Edward Aldrich Raymor's pension, and perhaps the pensions of other Civil War veterans. It is unknown at this time when or where "Sarah George" died.

The Raymor men, Edward Aldrich Raymor, Edward Raymor Jr., Elmer Karl Raymor (born Liditz, Pennsylvania, 1885 died in Cleveland, Ohio in 1957), were terrible philanderers, and had several illegitimate children. Today, there are Raymors living in Saranac Michigan, in the cities around Grand Rapids and Cleveland, and even in Ontario, N.Y. It would be great if anyone knowing of a common ancestor could help me fill in the gaps on our family tree. Edward Raymor Jr. seduced and married an Amish woman from Lancaster county named Mary Kopp (vital dates unknown) and Elmer Karl Raymor was first married to Mary Pakinkas (alternately Pakincus or Pacincus) who was from Schlesswig-Holstein (b.1878 d.1960 in Cleveland). Elmer Karl Raymor and Mary had four sons: Willard Raymor of Cleveland b.20 August, 1905, Paul Anthony Raymor (b.20 September, 1907 d.4 December, 1997), Elmer "Gus" August Raymor (b. circa 1908 d. circa 1981), and Joseph Raymor of Willoughby, Ohio (b. circa 1910 d.1990). Elmer Karl Raymor divorced Mary about 1909 and married Helen Coppock, with whom he had additional children -Daniel Raymor, and a a daughter, Elmerdean Martin (nee Raymor).

Compiled by his descendant:

Gregory Raymor Maier, grmaier@pop.mindspring.com 1980-1998. Research and examination of period documents, letters, etc., still continuing.

Photographs courtesy of Greg Maier, used with permission