Rayner, Henry N. M. (Henry Nathaniel Mitchell), 1826-1901

Wisconsin farmer who served in the Union Army during the Civil War ; participated in the California Gold Rush.

From the description of Henry N.M. Rayner papers, 1852-1896. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 42064427

Union soldier, farmer, and businessman.

From the description of Henry N.M. Rayner family papers, 1852-1896. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 70959501

Henry N. M. Rayner was born in Ohio in 1827. He farmed in Noble County, Ohio, prior to traveling to the California gold fields in 1852, leaving his wife Mahala at home. His journey west began by passing through Philadelphia and New York City where he boarded a ship bound for the Isthmus of Panama. Rayner eventually prospected in Nevada County, California where he met with uneven success. Returning home sometime after 1854, Rayner next moved his family to Wisconsin where he again engaged in farming. During the 1850s Mahala and Henry had at least one son, Lee, who eventually married Mary Heron. On August 26, 1864, Henry enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery regiment, Company L, and eventually saw garrison duty in the fortifications surrounding Washington, D.C. He spent most of his enlistment at Fort Willard, Virginia, and was mustered out on June 20, 1865. After he returned home, Rayner received an appointment as Postmaster at Enterprise, Vernon County, Wisconsin and may have engaged in traveling dry goods sales work the following year along the Missouri River to Montana Territory. Rayner eventually settled down to farming at Viroqua, Wisconsin, becoming active in the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic before his death sometime after 1898.

From the guide to the Henry N. M. Rayner Papers, 1852-1896, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)