Pilmer, Robert

PILMER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:15:50

ROBERT PILMER
born Nov 22, 1850, Ohio

Robert Pilmer, of Greenfield township, Warren county, is one of the well known, enterprising and eminently successful farmers and stockraisers of Iowa. A native of the Buckeye State, he was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November 22, 1850, and is one of a family of ten children, whose parents were David and Margaret (Dixon) Pilmer. But of the number are now living - John, Janet, Margaret, and Robert. The father was a native of Berwickshire, Scotland, born March 8, 1816. In that country he was reared to manhood, making it his home until 1850, when he bade adieu to the friends and scenes of his childhood and sailed for the United States. He took up his residence in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he worked for five years, when in 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Greenfield township, Warren county. Here he purchased a farm of 120 acres on section 16, and was numbered among the pioneers of the region. Energy and enterprise were numbered among his chief characteristics. From the first he was successful in his business, as he prospered he added to his possessions the purchase of additional land until he altogether 1,240 acres. For many years handled stock on an extensive scale, and successfully. In 1869 he made a sale of and hogs, the proceeds of which $13,000. He possesses superior business executive ability, sagacity and enterprise, owes his phenomenal success entirely to own efforts. In 1888, after an active extending over many years, he retired to private life, and located in the city of Des Moines, where he now resides. He owns property there and engages to some extent buying and selling city lots, for it seems impossible for a man of his energetic nature utterly lay aside all business cares. In he was called upon to mourn the loss of wife, who died at the age of seventy years. She was also a native of Berwickshire, Scotland, where her parents spent their lives. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Pilmer, was a native of Scotland and came to the United States late in life. He took up his residence in Ohio, where he lived for a few years, and in 1860 came to Iowa, where both he and his wife Margaret died an advanced age.
Robert Pilmer, the subject of this review, was only four and a half years of age when family came to this State. The journey made overland by wagon, traveling across unsettled country, infested with wolves other wild animals. Here he was reared manhood on the frontier, and became familiar with its experiences and the hardships arise from the lack of the improvements civilization. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life for himself as farmer upon eighty acres of land. He reared to habits of industry and diligence, those qualities have characterized his life. Being an active, earnest worker, his success from the first was assured. As his financial resources have increased, he has made judicious investments in real estate and has extended the boundaries of his farm from time to time until it now comprises 960 acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation. He also owns farming lands in Iowa. He has followed progressive methods, has kept abreast with the times in every particular, and has always been an intelligent and successful dealer in stock, raising and handling large numbers. At the present time he has between 200 and 250 head of cattle, but in 1895 has handled more than 500 head altogether. He also raises from 250 to 300 head of hogs annually. He operates 1,200 acres of land in Warren and Polk counties, having 200 acres planted with small grain and 175 acres with corn. All the improvements and accessories of a model farm are found upon his place. He has a commodious residence, large barns and outbuildings, including a hay barn, dairy barn and cattle and hog sheds. He has also erected a commodious barn for his horses, 52x94 feet, which will accommodate thirty-five head. He has always been known as an ardent lover of fine horses, owning at times as many as eighteen young colts, and his position as a dealer in horses in Iowa is well shown by the fact that five years ago he went to the State Fair in Des Moines with sixteen entries of horses and colts, taking twelve first, two second and two third prizes. At the present time he owns some sixty-five head of horses and colts, fifteen of which are standard-bred. At the Warren county fair of 1895 he took the prize for gentleman's driving team. He is also the owner of Laura Wilkes, one of the finest animals in this region. On the 2d of July, 1873, Mr. Pilmer was united in marriage with Miss Roxie O. Cherry, a native of Ohio. Her father, also a native of the Buckeye State, was a soldier of the Civil war, serving as fife major with the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. For two years and a half he moved with his regiment and then died at his post of duty while valiantly defending the Union cause. To Mr. and Mrs. Pilmer have been born fourteen children, namely: William, Bessie, Margaret, Robert, and Frank, twins, Janet, Bert, George, Charles, Nellie, Carrie, James, Lula, and Lisle. The family circle yet remains unbroken and the children are still under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Pilmer has always been a staunch supporter of the Republican party, warmly advocating its principles, yet has sought or desired official preferment. He holds membership with Norwalk Camp of Modern Woodmen, and also Norwalk Lodge, No. 594, I. O. O. F. He is numbered among Warren county's honored pioneers, and is recognized leader in her commercial interests. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.1125