Reimer, Christopher Friedrich (1857-1918)

REIMER, HOPPE, WILLIAMS, GALLANDT, HILLEMAN, STOUT

Posted By: C Tucker (email)
Date: 7/16/2017 at 10:46:46

Evening Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Thursday 9-5-1918] p. 11

"CHRIS" REIMER DEAD

Well-Known Old-Time Contractor of City, Dies in Crookston, Minn.

Christopher F. Reimer, a well-known old-time contractor of this city, and until recently head of the firm of C. F. Reimer & Co., died this morning at 9 o'clock in a hospital at Crookston, Minn., according to a telegram received by Mrs. E. H. Reimer, 1205 West Main street, from her husband. The younger Mr. Reimer was called to Crookston Tuesday night owing to his father's illness.

Mr. Reimer left a week ago for Crookston to look after farming interests he has near Crookston. Tuesday a telegram came to the son advising hime that his father was critically ill, and to come at once. The telegram announcing the death said that Mr. Reimer had undergone a surgical operation at the Crookston hospital on Monday. Further than this no particulars of Mr. Reimer's illness were contained in the message.

Mr. Reimer was a native of Germany, having been born Nov. 19, 1857. He came to the United States in 1881, when he was 24 years of age, and stopped in New York. He had learned the brick-layer's trade in Germany and followed it after coming to this country. After a comparatively short stay in New York City he came to Iowa and settled at Eldora, coming the same year, 1881, to this city, where he had since lived.

First continuing to follow his trade, and later branching out into the building contracting business, in later years he did a large business in this city and central Iowa, including considerable building for state institutions.

In 1891 he formed a co-partnership with the late John Banzhaf, which continued a number of years, and during this partnership some of the largest building undertakings in which he engaged were accomplished.

Among these were the high school built in 1893. In later years he continued in business under his own name, and during more recent years he built a great many of the town and consolidated school buildings in central Iowa. Among the last of the larger public buildings he erected in this city was the Congregational church, 1913. In still more recent years he was for a time interested in the contracting firm of C. F. Reimer & Co. consisting of his son and son-in-law, but Mr. Reimer was never very actively engaged personally in this business, which still, however, retains his hame. During the last four years he had retired and spent repeat winters in warmer climates.

As a builder, Mr. Reimer was regarded as a safe and conservative contractor, whose work gave general satisfaction and was up to specifications.

Mr. Reimer was united in marriage with Miss Emilie Hoppe in this city in 1883. Mrs. Reimer died here April 30, 1897, and Nov. 10 of the same year he took Mrs. Katherine Miller as his wife.

In addition to his widow Mr. Reimer is survived by five children, all of whom were born of the first marriage. They are Harry E. Reimer, Mrs. C. H. Gallandt, and Mrs C. F. Hilleman, of this city; Mrs. C. E. Stout of Seattle, Wash.; and Ray Reimer, living on a farm near Eldora.