3rd g-grandfather of Janice Davis (comrade)

 

Private       Co. K      8th MI Cavalry; then Co. I

Dates of Service:  26 Mar 1863 - 22 Sep 1865

 

James Y. Trimmer was born [by his own reckoning in multiple records] in New York, between 1822 - 1834. When he died in 1911, having outlived two wives and as many children, the undertaker gave James's father's name as "John", his birthplace as England, and his birthdate as June 1831.  No record has been found where James ever named his father, but strong circumstantial evidence exists for his father's name to have been "James" also, as there was a James Trimmer living in Oakland, Michigan Territory during the 1830 Federal Census, with 2 sons younger than 5 years old; and James Y. himself lived the majority of his life in Oakland and Genessee Counties. 

 

"On May 19,1846, following the initial battle between Mexican forces and United States troops under Gen. Zachary Taylor in the disputed territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers, Michigan's Governor received a request from the War Department to enroll a regiment of volunteer infantry…to be held in readiness for service until called for by the President. Under the first call…only Detroit's Brady Guards were accepted, the men [being] sent to garrison the posts at Mackinac and Sault Ste. Marie to free the regular troops stationed there for duty in Mexico. The First Michigan Volunteers was enrolled and mustered in answer to a second call in October 1847. The companies were mustered into federal service at various times during November and December 1847 and January and February 1848. Prior to January 1848, six companies were sent to the battle area and landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, where the four remaining Michigan companies later joined them. General Scott was already occupying Mexico City when the last companies advanced as far as Cordova, which they garrisoned until the peace treaty was signed. Michigan troops guarded General Scott's communications lines… Although Michigan men were in the field for nearly six months, they never saw battle. The regiment was mustered out at Detroit on July 23, 1848." ~ from the Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, the War with Mexico.

 

James Y. Trimmer enlisted as a private in Capt. Hanscom's Company, 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in late 1847 or early 1848. He served for six months with his regiment and mustered out at Detroit July 23, 1848. 

 

In 1850 James was living in Springfield, Oakland, Michigan, his stated age 22 years old, born in New York. He had received a bounty land warrant for his military service, but for whatever reason, he assigned his patent to another man in April 1851. On the 23rd January 1851, James Trimmer, aged 23, and Catherine Elizabeth Howell, aged 19, were joined in marriage at Groveland, Oakland, Michigan, by Justice of the Peace Harvey Mudge. Their daughter Mary Isabelle (aka "Mary A." and "Belle") was born September 12, 1853 - 1857 [as reported variously by herself], and son Hiram Edward on 26 December 1854.

 

By 1860 James was enumerated alone in Montcalm, Montcalm, Michigan, where his employer, a farmer, apparently provided the census information for his "day laborers" as he stated James was "26", "single" and his birthplace "unknown." Diligent searches have found no record of his children or his wife during this time period, thus presuming she had died and the young children were being cared for in someone else's household.

 

James enlisted in Co. K 8th MI Cavalry from Groveland Feb. 9, 1863, and mustered in Mar. 26. He was missing in action at Duck River, Tennessee, Nov. 28, 1864, and returned to his regiment Dec. 26, 1864. He transferred to Co. I July 20, 1865, and mustered out at Nashville, TN, Sep. 22, 1865.

 

By 1870 James was in Holly, Oakland, Michigan, "46" years old, born in New York, married to Rhoda [Warren] Trimmer, born 1829, aged 31. They were living with their 3-year old son Thomas J. James's son with his first wife, [Hiram] Edward, 15 years old, was a farm laborer on Aug. 24, 1870, for the Baker couple in the township of Rose, Oakland County. Three weeks later, on Sept. 15, 1870, in the nearby township of Groveland, Oakland, Edward now aged 16 was a farm laborer for the Halsted couple. His sister Mary Isabelle was still nowhere to be found. But on Aug. 26, 1873, in Chesaning, Saginaw, at the [stated] age of 16, she married Joshua H. Sharpe, a 26-year old farmer from Maple Grove. [Nothing further can be learned of Joshua Sharpe.] 

 

In 1880, James Y. Trimmer of Holly, Oakland, aged 51, born New York, was farming; his wife Rhoda was 40. Neither could read or write. With them were sons Thomas, aged 12, and John, aged 4. James's daughter Mary Trimmer Sharpe had married George Loyer about 1879; in 1880 they were farming in Ingersoll, Midland. [Together they would have 7 children of whom 4 survived to adulthood.] James's son Hiram Edward Trimmer married Ella Hurst in 1879; in 1880 they were living in Richland, Saginaw, Michigan, Edward a 27-year old farmer, his wife Ella, aged 23. [They would have 7 children together, of whom six survived to adulthood.]

 

On the 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll from Holly, Oakland, Michigan, James Tummer [sic] was shown with a disability caused by "g.s.w. [gunshot wound] left hand", certificate number 58577, receiving $8 per month. In the 1890 Veterans Schedules, as a Pvt of Co K 8th Michigan Cavalry, living in Holly, Oakland, Michigan, his disability incurred was "lost 3 fingers left hand, breast injured by a shell." 

In 1900, James and Rhoda were 77 and 64 years old, living with sons Thomas, aged 24, and John, 21, in Holly, Oakland. James's occupation was "gardener", he owned his home (a farm) outright, and his sons were day laborers. James said he was born in July 1822 in Michigan, and that both of his parents were born in England. Rhoda's birth was Dec. 1825, Thomas's was April 1876, and John's was Aug. 1878. By now, James said he can read but not write, and Rhoda can both read and write.

 

Rhoda died Oct. 25, 1901, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Holly, Oakland, Michigan. Their son John died May 7, 1905, in the Michigan Home for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic, in Lapeer, where he had been a patient since 1901. James died Mar. 22, 1911, in Fenton, Genessee, Michigan. Son Thomas never married and died in the Oakland County Home Feb. 6, 1921. Hiram Edward died 14 Feb. 1937, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Fenton, near his father. Daughter Mary Isabelle Trimmer Sharpe Loyer Hall died in Marshall, Calhoun, Michigan, 14 Apr. 1945, and is buried in Marshall. 

 

GRAVESITE: Oakwood Cemetery, Fenton, Genessee, Michigan

Written by Dorotha Piechocki, February 2020