WIDMAYER, ERNEST P. (deceased), was a veteran of the Civil war and for many years was prominent in Cass County and a leading factor in politics. During the long period that he served in public office, he steadfastly discharged his duties in a manner that kept him high in public favor. He came to Cass County from Jacksonville, Ill., in 1877, with his brother, Robert E. Widmayer, and they engaged in the livestock business and general farming, having large interests in shipping. Mr. Widmayer withdrew from the firm in April, 1912, in order to devote his entire attention to the duties of his office, in 1910 having been a second time elected sheriff of Cass County.

Ernest P. Widmayer was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, May 5, 1849, and died at Virginia, Ill., January 29, 1915. He was a son of Jacob and Fredericka (Hochstetter) Widmayer, natives of Wurttemberg, Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1854, and located at Niagara Falls, N.Y., after a voyage of fifty-four days on a sailing vessel. The father died during the same year, leaving his wife with many children: Fredericka and Caroline, both deceased; Charles, formerly sheriff of Morgan County, Ill., now deceased; Louise, deceased; William, a resident of Kane County, Ill.; Minnie, a resident of California; Gottlieb, who met a soldier's death in the Civil war in 1863m, and was buried the same day a brother was wounded at the battle of Corinth; Ernest P., now deceased, and Robert E.

Ernest P. Widmayer was five and one-half years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and three years later came with his mother to Kane County, Ill., settling on a farm near Elgin. There he was residing at the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war, February 8, 1864, in Company K, Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which organization he served one and one-half years, being with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea and subsequently participating in the grand review at Washington, D.C. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 6, 1865, and one week later received his honorable discharge at Chicago, Ill. He was a valued member of Downing Post No. 288, Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Widmayer began his connection with official life in 1898, when he was first elected sheriff of Cass County, a position in which he served for four years. In 1902 he was elected assessor and treasurer, and held these office for one term. Again, in 1910, he was given the shrievalty, and continued to discharge the duties of his office in a conscientious, faithful and courageous manner. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he had been a trustee for a number of years.

On January 2, 1872, Mr. Widmayer was married to Miss Matilda Ream, a native of Kane County, Ill., and daughter of Levi and Magdalena (Shoemaker) Ream, her father being a soldier in the Civil war in the same company with Mr. Widmayer, while a cousin and three uncles were also with that organization. To Mr. and Mrs. Widmayer there were born eight children: Charles Albert, deceased, who at death left a widow and three children; Cornelia, who is the wife of D. F. King, of Springfield; Clara, who died in infancy; Florence, who is the wife of Leslie Atkins, of Springfield; Lee, who is a resident of Virginia, Ill.; Edward R., who is deputy sheriff of Cass County; Rose, who is the wife of H. A. Breeden; and Walter, who is in the newspaper business and connected with the Virginia Gazette, who married Pearl McDonall.