DEEMER, James M.

DEEMER, DEAN, TAYLOR, VAN HORN, STONER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2014 at 06:05:54

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 376-81. Chicago. 1915.

James M. Deemer

Among the well known farmers of Burrell township is James M. Deemer, whose birth occurred in Ohio on the 3d of March, 1850. His parents, Joseph and Rachel (Dean) Deemer, were both born in Pennsylvania. In 1857 the father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed with his family from Ohio to Greene county, Iowa, and continued to follow agricultural pursuits there until his demise in 1863. His wife survived for eighteen years, dying in 1881.

James M. Deemer was reared and educated in Greene county, this state, and resided with his mother until he attained his majority. He then rented land which he operated for a number of years, after which he went to Oregon, where he engaged in farming for four years. He returned to Iowa and followed agricultural pursuits here for a like period of time, after which he went to Wright county, Missouri, and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he operated and improved for four years. At the end of that time he sold his property and took up his residence in Johnson county, Missouri, where he purchased land which he cultivated for two years. On disposing of that property he removed to Union county, Iowa, where he resided until 1900. In that year he came to Decatur county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 9, Burrell township, to the operation and development of which he devoted twelve years. He then rented that place to his son and purchased forty-two and a half acres on section 15, Burrell township, on which he is now living and which he is engaged in cultivating. He has gained a competence by his labor as an agriculturist and is allowing himself more leisure time than in former years.

The marriage of Mr. Deemer and Miss Sarah E. Taylor was celebrated in March, 1876. Her parents, Henry and Emily (Van Horn) Taylor, were born respectively in Illinois and Indiana and in an early day the father located in Greene county, Iowa, where both he and his wife were residing when called to their last reward. His demise occurred in 1862 and she passed away in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Deemer have become the parents of five children: Clara, the wife of Bert Stoner, an agriculturist of Union county, Iowa; Fred, who is farming in Page county, this state; Charles, who resides near St. Charles, in Madison county, this state, and who is a farmer by occupation; Joseph H., who is cultivating seventy-seven and a half acres of land adjoining his father's farm; and William, who is operating his father's farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 9, Burrell township.

Mr. Deemer is a republican and has loyally supported the candidates and policies of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has resided in Decatur county for fifteen years and in that time has made many friends, as he is a man of pleasing personality and sterling worth. The success which he has won as an agriculturist is fully deserved as it is the reward of well directed industry and enterprise.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014