REIMERS, WILLIAM F.

REIMERS, EILERS, SIMPSON, ANTCLIFF

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 9/9/2003 at 21:28:09

Biography reproduced from page 734 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

William F. Reimers, one of the progressive and well-known young men of Kossuth county, has since 1910 lived retired in a beautiful house which he owns at Whittemore, Iowa. He was born in Tama county, Iowa, May 27, 1876, his parents being Jurgen and Sophia (Eilers) Reimers, both of whom were natives of Germany. The parents of Jurgen Reimers came to America when he was fourteen years of age and located on a farm in Scott county, Iowa. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he engaged in the teaming business in Davenport, Iowa, and later moved to a farm in Scott county, where he remained for a number of years. Subsequently he took up his abode on a rented farm in Tama county, continuing to operate the same until 1886, when he came to Kossuth county, Iowa, and purchased a farm north of Bancroft, which he improved and brought to a high state of development. In 1899 he put aside the active work of the fields and settled in the village of Bancroft, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred March 9, 1900.

William F. Reimers was reared and educated in Tama and Kossuth counties, where he attended the district schools. He remained with his parents on the farm until 1898, when he entered the Highland Park College of Des Moines, Iowa, from which institution he was graduated as a registered pharmacist with the class of 1899. After graduation he engaged in the drug business at St. Benedict, Iowa, but sold the store shortly after he had purchased it and subsequently spent six months at work in a drug store at Bancroft, this county. Coming to Whittemore, he purchased a drug stock and here continued in the business of a druggist until November, 1910, when he sold out and retired permanently from the drug trade.

On the 24th June, 1903, Mr. Reimers was married to Miss Alice Simpson, a daughter of John A. and Eliza (Antcliff) Simpson, who are natives of Vermont and Illinois respectively. The father was for many years engaged in farming in Indiana, but, after having thoroughly investigated the soils and opportunities for investment in Kossuth county, removed from that state to this county in 1885, where he purchased land and began the systematic development of farming property. The rich and reliable qualities of the soil so fully justified his choice of location that he has continued to make investments in Kossuth county lands until he now owns sixteen hundred and forty acres, all of which is within the limits of Whittemore township, and this large body of land is now operated by him in mixed farming and stock-raising. To Mr. and Mrs. Reimers have been born two children: Wilma Ruth, who passed away on the 3d of June, 1905; and Ralph William, who is six years of age.

Mr. Reimers is a useful and honored citizen of his county, having served on the town council of Whittemore for several terms, and is at present the president of the school board. He also holds the office of township clerk in Whittemore township. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. He and his brother own the old homestead of one hundred and sixty-five acres near Bancroft, Iowa, and he also owns the beautiful home in which he lives at Whittemore. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.