Hello- My GGGrandfather ,Gottfried Widmer  came to Derrynane from Galena ,IL. in 1856 and joined the effort to establish a Church/Parish / Cemetery in Section 22. It is apparent that before purchasing a homestead in Section 27 (layer sold to Richard O'Connel) , there was a period of approx. 2 years and in the 1857 Territorial census , that indicated a relationship with Thomas and John Clifford. It was about the same time that Thomas resided in St. Paul and met His future Wife.
It could be possible that Mr. Widmer and Spouse Anna were either renting the Clifford farm or assisting Him until Their land purchase in 1859 just adjacent to the Clifford farm. It is also indicated in the history of the first St. John The Evangelist Church history that Thomas Clifford, prior to the establishment of St. Thomas, donated 5 acres in section 22 for a log Church and Cemetery. In 1867 the St. Paul Diocese disbanded the Parish but the Cemetery was redeeded to be preserved and the remaining 4+ acres reverted back to Thomas.
My search has been the long standing lack of information re: Godtfried Widmer's first Son , Siegfried Widmer , born in  late 1855, in Galena enroute from Switzerland. There are no birth or baptismal certificate and only the 1857 census , under" Godfrey Whitmore" where in Siegfried, along with His Sister Mary ( later Mary Widmer Muckley/St. Henry) but listed as "Ann M"  and likely 1 1/2- 2 years of age. ( late 1857 or early 1858) Siegfried "drowned in a farm pond": His burial site can now be presumed to have been at the "Old Log Church In Derrynane" (section 22 as donated by Thomas Clifford and Family ): This , of course can not preclude exhumation but the Widmers then entered the Parish of St. Scholastica and there is no record of this re-burial there. Some St. Thomas and St. John's
Parisners  were exhumed and some were not. Both Thomas and John Clifford were sent home to St. Thomas Cemetery, The Widmers to St. Scholatica.
If any decendants of the Cliffords or other St. Thomas Families have any definitive information as to those years between 1856 and 1859 and Siegfried Widmer's resting would be so very appreciated.
Sincerely : Doug Widmer Hilgers and Widmer Family