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Jacob Wismer, a member of Markham’s Pennsylvania German Mennonite community, was a prominent resident of Mount Joy-Quantztown. His parents, David and Lydia Wismer, came to Markham from Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1806 and became significant landowners in the area. Two of their sons, Jacob and Asa, settled on Lot 15, Concession 7, in the community of Mount Joy in the mid-1830s. Jacob Wismer was granted the eastern 100 acres of Lot 15 from the Crown in 1842, and constructed a two-storey plank-on-plank farmhouse. His first wife was Elizabeth Wurts, with whom he had eight children. His second wife was Julia Curtis. Jacob Wismer was an active and well-known Reformer in his politics, but when he was passed over for a Justice of the Peace appointment by the Baldwin cabinet, he switched his allegiance to the Conservative party. His lengthy obituary in the July 11, 1895, edition of The Markham Economist paints a picture of a much-respected citizen of old Markham who lived to the remarkable age of 94. The property was sold out of the family in 1895. |