From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1433-1435
 
AUGUST WILMER.  It is signally consonant that in this work be incorporated at 
least a brief resume of the life and labors of August WILMER, who has long 
been one of the influential citizens of Walworth county, in fact has spent his 
life here, being a connecting link with the pioneer period in which he spent 
his childhood and of which he has many interesting reminiscences.  Through his 
loyal efforts the town of East Troy and surrounding locality have reaped 
lasting benefits for his public-spirit and exceptional business capacity have 
been directed along lines calculated to be for the general good.  A man of 
forceful individuality and marked initiative power, he has been well equipped 
for the larger duties of life and for leadership in his community, while his 
probity of character and his genial personality, obliging nature and everyday 
common charitableness have gained for him universal esteem and friendship in 
the town and county where he has made his home for a period of sixty nine 
years.
 
Mr. WILMER was born in East Troy township, Walworth county, Wisconsin on March 
10, 1843.  He is the son of Bernard and Elizabeth (WALTRING) WILMER, both 
natives of Germany, the father born in Hanover in 1809 and she in Prussia in 
1813.  There they spent their earlier years, he emigrating to the Untied 
States in 1835 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, and there he was 
married.  In 1840 he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, with the pioneer 
element, then setting in strongly from the Eastern states to the Northwest.  
He located in East Troy township, three miles east of East Troy, securing one 
hundred and twenty acres, to which he added until he had one hundred and sixty 
acres, and here he developed a large, fine farm and became one of the 
influential men of his community. His death occurred in the village of East 
Troy in 1892, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1887.  They were 
the parents of four sons and four daughters, all still living but one son and 
one daughter.  
 
Bernard WILMER was a Democrat and he and wife belonged to the Catholic 
church.  His father, William WILMER, was a native of Germany and there he 
spent his early life, finally emigrating to New Orleans, Louisiana, about 
1843.  He ascended the Mississippi river in a steamboat to Quincy, Illinois, 
then came on to Walworth county, Wisconsin, purchasing a farm in East Troy 
township, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1860.  His wife, 
Adelaide WILMER, died in Quincy, Illinois, the same year in which his death 
occurred, 1860.
 
August WILMER, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm where he worked 
when he became of proper age, and he received his education in the public 
schools and the German schools, also a commercial college in Milwaukee.  He 
farmed in the summertime and taught school in the winter months for seven 
terms, and in 1868 he engaged in merchandising with Theodore HALLER, and in 
1871 the well known firm of WILMER brothers was organized, and in 1895 the son 
of the subject, Charles B., became a member of the firm, the name then being 
changed to WILMER Brothers & Company, and they have continued successfully to 
the present time, enjoying a large trade with the surrounding country, 
carrying at all seasons a complete and carefully selected stock of general 
merchandise.
 
The subject and his brother, Bernard, owns a farm of one hundred and twenty 
acres one mile north of East Troy, and the subject is now living practically 
retired from the active duties of life, having, by his thrift and industry, 
accumulated a competency. 
 
Politically, Mr. WILMER is a Democrat and he has been more or less active in 
party affairs.  He was chairman of the town board for six years and president 
of the village for four years, and he was treasurer of the school district for 
nineteen years.  He always gave eminent satisfaction as a public servant, and 
has done much for the permanent good of East Troy.  He is a member of the 
Catholic church.
 
Mr. WILMER was married in 1868 to Mary Ann BOYLE, who was born in Scotland in 
May 1842, the daughter of John and Mary BOYLE, who emigrated to America when 
Mrs. WILMER was a child and settled in the state of New York, where they 
remained until 1860 when they came to East Troy, Walworth county, Wisconsin, 
where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm.  They were the parents of 
two daughter, Mary Ann, wife of the subject, and Eliza B., both living.
 
To the subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Charles Boyle 
WILMER, a member of the firm of WILMER Brothers & Company, and Mary, who 
married Dr. T. J. O'LEARY, of East Troy, and her death occurred on June 17, 
1910, leaving two children, Mary and Genevieve.
 
Submitted by Carol