Kemmerer, Louis D.

KEMMERER, CRAMER, WARNOCK

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/3/2012 at 07:38:07

Louis D. Kemmerer, the mayor of Grinnell, conducts an extensive business as a dealer in vehicles, marketing his buggies all over the United States. His birth occurred in Ackley, Iowa, on the 2nd of July, 1872, his parents being Edward and Amanda (Cramer) Kemmerer, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Canda respectively. Their marriage was celebrated in Parkersburg, Iowa, to which place they had removed with their respective parents, both the Kemmerer and Cramer families settling in Butler county on coming to this state about 1850. Edward Kemmerer became associated with railroad work early in life and for twenty-three years prior to his demise acted as agent for the Iowa Central Railway at Grinnell. His death occurred here on the 24th of June, 1904, when he had attained the age of sixty years. His widow still survives and makes her home with our subject.
Louis D. Kemmerer was reared under the parental roof and pursued the prescribed course of study in the Grinnell high school, while subsequently he spent three years as a student at Grinnell College. He next entered the Iowa State University at Iowa City and in 1892 was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Following his graduation he accepted the position of collector for the Spaulding Manufacturing Company, his work taking him from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. He acted in that capacity for about ten years and on the expiration of that period embarked in business on his own account as a retail dealer in vehicles, having conducted an enterprise of this character continuously since. He markets his buggies all over the United States, his salesmen covering the country from coast to coast.
In 1902 Mr. Kemmerer was united in marriage to Miss Ora Warnock, of Magnolia, Arkansas. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his fellow townsmen have honored him with positions of public trust and responsibility. For one year he was a member of the town council and in 1909 was elected mayor of Grinnell, in which capacity he is now serving. His administration has been characterized by many measures of reform and improvement and has won uniform approval. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Herman Lodge, No. 273, A.F. & A.M.; Palestine Chapter, No. 101, R.A.M.; and Oriental Commandery, No. 22, K.T., of Newton, Iowa. He is also a member of Grinnell Lodge, No. 175, K.P., and Hardy Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Kemmerer stands foremost in his community as one of its leading and influential citizens and is a man honored and esteemed wherever known.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 660-661