Charles Whitmer was born Feb. 2, 1847, in Jacksontown, Licking County, Ohio, the son of John and Sarah Salome (Overmier) Whitmer. His father was the son of Revolutionary War veteran Peter Whitmer and Mary Magdalene Overmire, the daughter of the immigrant Capt. John George Overmire. His mother was the daughter of George (IV) Overmire, the grandson of Capt. Overmire.

Sometime before 1850, the family migrated to Illinois and settled in Crawford County. By 1860, they had moved farther west to Missouri, but conditions being unsatisfactory, they moved back to Illinois, this time settling in South Fork Township of Christian County.

On May 31, 1864, at the age of 17, Charles enlisted in Co. A of the 33rd Illinois Infantry in Springfield, Illinois. Enlistment records show he was 5' 8" tall with light hair, gray eyes and a light complexion. The regiment was trained at Camp Butler and assigned to guard prisoners of war at Rock Island Barracks. Charles was honorably discharged in Sept. 1864.

On Apr. 28, 1870, in the Bethany Methodist Church in Southfork, Charles married Triphenia Adelaide Greenwood, the daughter of Dr. Basil and Eliza (Townsend) Greenwood. They had five children: Carroll D., Minnie Florence, Nellie May, Frederick Elmer, and Merton Ray. Both Frederick and Merton later distinguished themselves as sharpshooters in the Spanish American War.

Charles had a distinguished career in public service. In 1868, at the age of 21, he became Deputy Sheriff. He spent many years as County Clerk for Christian County and eventually served Illinois Gov. John P. Altgeld as Chief Clerk in the office of the State Auditor. He was known as a kindly genteman with impeccable character. The Taylorville Democrat said of him in 1886:

"To the Voter of Christian County - Besides honesty and moral character, nothing is more pleasing to the patrons of a public office than to be treated with kindness and courtesy by the official in such office. All these traits are combined in Charles Whitmer, as everyone knows who has had any occasion to do business in the County Clerk's office for years past."

Charles died at the age of 63 on May 6, 1910, in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there.

Contributed by Lawrence Overmire Larry Overmire (1C4R), Sept. 2008: (Find-A-Grave)