Daniel Mizner

Daniel Mizner was born in 1839.

In 1859-60 Daniel was probably working for H. P. Yale in Grand Rapids, Kent County.

In any case, he was 22 years old when he enlisted as Third Sergeant in Company F. However, Daniel was never mustered into United States service with the Regiment on June 10, 1861. On June 4, Mizner was arrested and tried for rape. According to the Grand Rapids Eagle,

We regret to announce, that the good reputation which the Third Regiment has heretofore enjoyed, has been sullied by an unworthy member thereof. Dan Mizner, a Third Sergeant of Company F was taken before Justice Sinclair yesterday charged with committing an assault and battery with intent to commit a rape, on the person of Martha Dole, a sister-in-law of Mr. Chase, blacksmith. There appears to be but little, if any, doubt of his guilt; and the circumstances of the case, as sworn to by Miss Dole are as follows:

On Wednesday afternoon last, Mizner and Martha Dole, the complainant, proceeded in carriage (in company with other persons) to Kelloggsville. There one of the persons got out; and the carriage then was driven to Camp Anderson, where another person got out, leaving Mizner and Miss Dole in the carriage. This was about ten o’clock at night. He then pretended to drive towards Grand Rapids, but really proceeded quite rapidly in a different direction, at length stopping at a lonely place about seven miles from the city. -- Mizner then took her out of the carriage, and made a number of violent and indecent assaults upon her person, with intent to commit a rape accompanying his brutal acts with most revolting language. This conduct was continued for some time, the young lady being considerably injured about the neck and body, and her dress and other garments much torn. At length he ordered her into the carriage again, he having failed to accomplish his design. But he used insulting words and actions towards her until she arrived at home, in this city, near one o’clock on Thursday morning. She was confined to her bed, from the injuries received, all of Thursday. Yesterday, however, she made complaint, and Mizner was arrested by Undersheriff Covell. A partial examination was had before Justice Sinclair, and the case was adjourned until Monday next; and the criminal remanded to jail, in default of obtaining bail in the sum of $1500. T. B. Church and T. Foote, Esq., for the prosecution. Geo. Gray for respondent.

On July 3, 1861, John Champlin, brother of Major Stephen Champlin of the Third Michigan, wrote his brother from Grand Rapids informing him “You doubtless have heard that Dan Misner was convicted and now ‘doing the State some service’ for 5 years.”

Mizner was indeed found guilty and sentenced on June 24, 1861, to 5 years in the state prison at Ionia.

There is no further record.

In fact he may have been the same Daniel Mizner, age 25, who enlisted in Company F, Twenty-eight Michigan infantry on September 29, 1864 in Jackson, Jackson County, and was mustered the same day. He allegedly deserted on October 10, 1864 at Marshall, Michigan.

In 1870 there was a Daniel Misner (b. 1839) keeping a saloon along with his brother William in Lowell, Kent County.