William Christian Reimer, a
prominent attorney of Elkader, Iowa, was born in
Clayton county July 27th, 1887 and is the of Carl and
Marie (Speicer) Reimer, both of whom were foreign
born, the father a native of Mecklenburg, Germany,
and the mother of Switzerland.
Mr. Reimer came to America
in 1865, locating in Clayton county, Iowa, but after
years of successful industry has been able to retire
from active work. Mrs. Reimer passed to the other
life December 19th, 1906, Mr. Reimer afterward
removing to Minneapolis where he is living retired.
Seven children were born to
them: Henry, a farmer of Read township; Louise, wife
of William Splies of Garnavillo township; Carrie, who
is married to John Fritz of Giard township; Lena,
married to Walter Sadewasser and living in
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles and Herman, both
Volga township; and William, the subject of this
sketch.
Mr. Reimer's success in his
profession, aside from his native ability, is due in
a large measure to the years of thorough preparation
he devoted to its study. In 1906 he began his course
of study in Drake University, spending one year, then
entering the University of Oregon, spending one year,
after which he received his Bachelor degree of Law,
and also took the state bar examination. At this time
he was as yet under 21 years of age and not allowed,
on account of his years, to practice his profession,
he returned to Iowa, re-entering Drake University
with his old class, receiving his Bachelor degree
from the University and also taking the Iowa State
Bar examination. Not satisfied with these degrees he
took a post graduate course at Drake, receiving the
master's degree at the end of another year, and then
took the Chicago law course, receiving the degree of
doctor of jurisprudence. During all the course of
these studies he also took the literary course,
receiving the degree of Bachelor of Literature from
the Chicago Seminary of Sciences in 1910.
For a year he traveled
extensively over the country before coming to
Elkader. He went to Elkader, Iowa, April 1, 1911, and
entered upon the lucrative practice of his
profession. He makes a specialty of abstract work,
and is president of the Clayton County Abstract
Company, which employs the card index system in the
conduct of its business, thereby having a complete
and absolutely reliable list of all deeds and titles
of Clayton county.
On December 26, 1912 Mr.
Reimer led to the altar Miss Lina Stemmer, and to
their marriage has been born one son, Carl Jr.
Mr Reimer is Republican in
politics, and holds the office of town clerk. He is
very active in the affairs of his church, the German
Evangelical, serving as its secretary. He takes keen
interest in automobile activities, being secretary
and treasurer of the Clayton County Automobile Club.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 344-345
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
