Bernard Wilmer

Regions: Albany Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, publ. 1912, Page 1431-1432 BERNARD WILMER. Life is pleasant to live when you know how to make the most of it. Some people start in life as if they had weights on their souls, or were afraid to make the necessary effort to live up to a high standard. Others, by not making the proper study of the conditions of existence, or by not having that blessed trainer, a good and intelligent mother, are side-tracked at the outset and never seem thereafter to be able to get back again on the main track. Much depends on the start, just as it does in a race. The horse that gets the best start, all other things being equal, will almost invariably win the race. So in the race of life; if you are properly started with suitable grooming, such as good educational and splendid home training, you will lead in the race in after years and enjoy every minute of your existence. Such home influences were thrown around the subject of this sketch in his early years. Both father and mother were people of unusual intelligence and both led lives of singular purity. Bernard WILMER, member of the popular mercantile firm of WILMER Brothers, of East Troy, Walworth county, was born on July 7, 1845. He is the son of Bernard WILMER, Sr., and wife, a worthy old pioneer family of this locality. The subject was reared and educated in this community and he began life as a farmer, which he continued with success until 1871, when the firm of WILMER Brothers was organized, and he has since been connected with the same, no small part of its success and prestige being due to his energy, judicious counsel and conscientious and honest treatment of the thousands of patrons of this well kept, carefully stocked and superbly managed store. Politically, Mr. WILMER is a Democrat, but he has never been specially active in public affairs. He and his family are Catholics and faithful in their support of the mother church. Mr. WILMER was married in September 1875 to Eliza BOYLE, who was born in Cohoes, Albany county, New York, in 1854. She is the daughter of John BOYLE and wife, a highly esteemed family of this county, a complete sketch of whom appears in another part of this work. The union of the subject and wife have been without issue. Submitted by Carol