Charles S. Gomer (abt. 1832 - bef. 1903)

Born about 1832 in New Jersey or Michigan, United States

Husband of Winnie W. (Phillips) Gomer — married 10 Sep 1882 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States

Descendants

Died before 1903 before about age 71 in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Daniel Cox [send private message]

Biography

Charles Gomer is a part of US Black heritage.

C. S. Gomer was the father of Nina Gomer, who married W. E. B. Du Bois in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on 12 May 1896. Nina's mother was identified as Jeanette Pease. C. S. Gomer and Winnifred Gomer witnessed the marriage. ^[1][2] Presumably, Nina's mother had died before this marriage, or she would have witnessed the marriage.

Public records that appear to be this man indicate that he was born in New Jersey in about 1832 and later moved to Michigan.

The 1860 U.S. Census recorded Charles Gomer, 28, a cook, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His birthplace was unknown. Also in the household were "Mrs. Gomer," 23, birthplace unknown, and Charles Gomer, 3, born in Michigan. All were described as mulatto. The elder Charles had $800 in real estate and $1000 personal estate.^[3]

Charles Gomer registered for the Civil War Draft in June 1863 in the 2nd Congressional District of Michigan. He was 34 years old, born in New Jersey, colored, a cook, married, and living in Kalamazoo Village, Michigan. ^[4]

The 1870 U.S. Census recorded Charles Gomer, 39, in Detroit, Michigan. He was married and worked as a cook in a hotel. Also in the household were Henriette Gomer, 35, and George Gomer, 12. Both Charles and Henriette were recorded as born in Saxonia (possibly referring to Saxony). George was born in Michigan and was "at school." All household members described as white. ^[5] This appears in several respects to be the same Charles Gomer, but the European birthplace and "white" racial description for Charles are inconsistent with other records. If this Charles Gomer is the same man who was the father of Nina Gomer, then (because Nina appears to have been born in 1870 or not long thereafter) it is possible that Henriette is the same person as Jeanette Pease, who was named as Nina's mother on her marriage record.

Census records for Nina (Gomer) Du Bois indicate that her father was born in Michigan. Her mother's birthplace was variously given as Germany, France, and Alsace, suggesting that she was born in the Alsace region, which has shifted between Germany and France. Since Nina's birthplace is often reported to be Quincy, lllinois, Charles is inferred to have lived in Illinois around the time of her birth, circa 1870 to 1875.

Charles S. Gomer and wife Mary J. Schneider Gomer, apparently his second wife, moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in about 1876. He was a cook at Brown’s Hotel on North Commercial Street (First Street) in Cedar Rapids. As of 1877 he was the hotel’s head cook. He bought a small house in Cedar Rapids in 1878 for $615. In 1880 was the cook at the Northwestern Hotel (later The Clifton hotel) on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids.^[6]

Charles S. Gomer, age 55, and Winnie W. Phillips, 19, were married on 10 September 1882 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. According to the marriage record, Charles was born in New Jersey, son of Joseph Gomer and Hannah Sitef. He was a resident of Cedar Rapids, a cook, and was described as mulatto. Winnie was born in Rock Island, Illinois, daughter of Robert Phillips and Mary Phillips. She was a resident of Cedar Rapids, described as mulatto. It was the third marriage for Charles and the first marriage for Winnie. Witnesses were Daniel Allard, Sarah Allard, and A. St. Clair Smith.^[7]

The 1885 Iowa State Census, recorded Chas. Gomer, age 53, in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, with Winnie Gomer, female, 21; Nannie Gomer, female, 16; Bennise(?) Gomer, female, 10; and Phillip Gomer, male, 1. All were described as colored. Chas. and Winnie were both recorded as married; the others were single. Chas. worked as a cook.^[8]

According to Langton, he became head cook for The Clifton in 1890 and its chef in 1895, In about 1895, the Gomers moved to 605 B Ave. in Cedar Rapids. Charles was a Black Mason in Cedar Rapids.^[6]

Charles Gomer died before 1903, when the Cedar Rapids city directory listed Winifred Gomer, widow of Charles, described as colored, living at 1025 1st Ave. in Cedar Rapids.^[9]

Research Notes

Additional records that mention this man:

• Marriage of Philip Joseph Gower, 36, and Eula Irving, 38, on 3 September 1919 in Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa. He is son of Charles Gower and Winifred Philips, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, living in Iowa Falls, occupation janitor. She is born in Nashville, Tennessee (parents not named), living in Peoria, Illinois. Both described as colored; second marriage for both.^[10]
• Death of Philip Joseph Gomer, 30 March 1938, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Born 3 Oct 1883 in Cedar Rapids, son of Chas. S. Gomer, native of Michigan, and Winifred Phillips, native of Cedar Rapids. Married to Eula Irving. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1V9-3GP?cc=1805551&wc=M6TH-668%3A148934501 : 8 March 2016), 004321319 > image 1401 of 1575; county courthouses, Iowa.
2. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJDJ-2YF : accessed 27 April 2016), W. E. B. Dubois and Nina Gomer, 1896.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSS-K2F?cc=1473181&wc=7QGH-BW1%3A1589428970%2C1589429311%2C1589429315 : 24 March 2017), Michigan > Kalamazoo > Kalamazoo > image 130 of 177; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 1 of 3. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1666/32178_620305173_0079-00250
5. ↑ United States Census, 1870. Enumeration sheet for Detroit Ward 7, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: M593_714; Page: 45A; Family History Library Film: 552213. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4273771_00093
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Langton, Diane. Time Machine: Woman who grew up in Cedar Rapids married civil rights leader. The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Feb. 16, 2019.
7. ↑ Iowa Department of Public Health. Iowa Marriage Records, 1880–1922. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8823/42563_fp030872_0012-00317
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1084/IA1885_221-0270
9. ↑ The Gazette's Cedar Rapids City Directory, 1903, page 145, accessed on Ancestry.com in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2469/12685121
10. ↑ Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8823/42563_fp030872_0190-00038
11. ↑ State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Iowa Death Records; Reference Number: 101821071. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61442/101821071_04255