Seaman Daniel W. Wilhelm

Union Ancestor of Brothers Rodger and Steve Pearce

Seaman Daniel W. Wilhelm was one of the brave defenders of the Union during the trying days of the Civil War. Daniel was one of four brothers that fought for the Union, including Henry, Jacob, and Jeremiah (Jerry), who was a drummer boy.

The Wilhelm family was founded in America by their great-grandfather, Henry Wilhelm, a native of Germany, who came to America during the Revolutionary War and aided the colonies in achieving their independence. Henry acquired a large estate in the sixth district of Baltimore County that has been handed down through four generations of the family. Its members have ever been noted for their patriotism and loyalty, and in the War of 1812, Henry Wilhelm, our subject’s grandfather, served as a soldier. Seaman Wilhelm’s parents Peter B. and Elizabeth (Kone) Wilhelm, spent their entire lives in Elko Maryland and reared their family of nine children.

Daniel was born September 7, 1848, in the upper part of Baltimore County Maryland known as Elko near Middletown Maryland. Daniel was reared and educated in the sixth district, where he owned a large estate and worked as a general farmer after the Civil War. Daniel joined the Union Navy on August 11, 1864. Daniel was a little less then forthright, about his age, at his enlistment. His papers at enlistment show his declared age as 18, with his actual age being a month short of his 16^th birthday. His service reflects duty on three vessels, the Allegheny, Brandywine, and Aries. His discharge reflects that Daniel scared his right forearm with the initials DW, an early, crude, tattoo.

Daniel married Martha who lived from February 1856 to November 11, 1896. Daniel died August 20, 1929 in Middletown Maryland. Both are buried at Middletown Cemetery in the same small country town.

Submitted by Steve Pearce

August 11, 2001