The Wittmeier House
Tucked along old Third Street, across the railroad tracks from Appelman Park, sits an historic brick home, a home with ties to the Civil War. The house, known as the Leonard (Leonhart) Wittmeier home, is purported to be on the first lot of land sold after Augusta’s organization, and might also be the first house built after the creation of the town. Third Street itself no longer exists for motorized vehicles to use, but sidewalks on both sides of the tracks allow access to the house, just two lots away from the bluish building that served for a time as Augusta’s jail and courthouse.
Who is Leonhart Wittmeier and where is the tie to the Civil War? Leonhart Wittmeier was born in Dahl in the Westphalian district of Hagen, on April 12., 1838 to Jakob and Margaretha Wittmeyer. The Wittmeyer’s were of the Lutheran faith. Sometime in either 1852 or 1853 Leonhart immigrated to the United States, most likely with his parents based on Leonhart’s age. I have not been able to locate Leonhart on the 1860 United States Census (German names are often creatively spelled and the variations of Wittmeyer/Wittmeier are many), but on April 22, 1861, just a few days after the firing on Fort Sumter, Leonhart enlisted as a private, mustering into the 10th Company of the Night Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on May 8th. Three weeks later the three month version of the Ninth re-enlisted as a three year regiment, and Leonhart (listed as Leonard Wissmeier on the regimental roster) would serve as a wagoner in the Ninth, a mostly German regiment, with most of the men coming from Cincinnati and surrounding Hamilton County.
The Ninth was an efficient and effective infantry regiment. Trained in Prussian tactics and using German when orders were given, the regiment would participate in its first serious action of the war at Mill Springs, Kentucky. Here, the Ninth launched the first of at least three successful bayonet charges during the war - contrary to what Hollywood would lead us to believe, bayonet charges during the war rarely resulted in actual contact with the enemy as either the enemy or the attacking force would often break and run before coming into close contact. The Ninth would also use the bayonet to good effect on both days in the woods near Chickamauga Creek in September 1863. The regiment would also attack up Missionary Ridge the following November, serve during the early phases of the Atlanta Campaign, before mustering out of service on June 7, 1864. As a wagoner it is not clear how much actual fighting Leonhart would have experienced, but at the very least he would have been a seasoned veteran by the time of his discharge.
Sometime between 1864 and 1866 Leonhart must have moved or at the very least had business dealings in Augusta. He started courting Eliza A. Schoolfield and the couple were married on October 18, 1866, the service being presided over by Vachel Weldon, Justice of the Peace. By 1870 the family had expaned to three (Leonhart, Eliza, and son James), with Leonhart making a living as a farmer. The couple would have three additional children, William C., Dr. Joseph Schoolfield, and Nell (Nellie) Mae. Nell would eventually marry Charles K. Bradford, with Nellie living until 1974. Charles Bradford was the son of Dr. Thomas Hord Bradford and the nephew of Laban J. and Joshua T. Bradford, names that should be familiar to those who know a little about the Battle of Augusta.
On the 1880 Census, Leonhart’s name had been corrupted to Len Whitmyer, and he was listed as a laborer. By 1900 Leonhart was a widower, Eliza having passed away in 1895. Nellie and Charles were living in Leonhart’s home, Charles was employed as a saleman, and his father-in-law as a meat dealer. Also living in the home were two servants and one boarder, so the Wittmeier income must have been sufficient to provide for the extra residents.
On the 1910 Census the seventy-two year old Leonhart was living off his “own income” and the Bradfords, now with their daughter Elizabeth, was supported by Charles’s grocery store. Only four people are listed as living in the home at this time. Ten years later Leonhart is shown as living alone. He would live until January 6th, 1926, and is buried, with many of his family, in Augusta’s Hillside Cemetery.
The house today is a bit “haggard",” but the original brick structure of the house appears to be in good shape. At one time there was a front porch present, but that was removed a number of years ago. I am not even clear if the house is currently occupied, but one can see what was once the Wittmeier home from along the sidewalks that parallel the railroad tracks or drive north on Park View Street from West 4th Street to the tracks. Might make a great headquarters for Civil War Augusta and a Battle of Augusta Civil War museum. Now where did I put my checkbook….