1890 Delaware and Buchanan Co., IA History pgs. 317-318 (picture 316)
RHEINARD KAHMER was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 20, 1817. His father, who bore the same name, was a
sailor, and was lost at sea in 1824. The mother of our subject bore
the maiden name of Mary Surrick. She lived to be
almost ninety years of age, dying in 1887. She was the mother of five children,
four of whom are now living.
Rheinard Kahmer, our subject, was
reared on his uncle's farm in Bucks county, Pa., where he remained till he was sixteen years old. He
then went to Philadelphia to become a carver, but only worked as an apprentice
about a year. He next worked at the carpenter's trade, but finally hired out to
work on a farm. In 1837 he came west as far as Peoria, Ill., where he worked on a farm for two years.
In 1839 he came to Delaware county, Iowa, and has therefore been a resident of the county
over fifty years. There was no settlement then, and even squatters were few and
far between. Delhi, for many years the county seat, then consisted of
one log cabin. Deer, elk and wolves were plentiful, and Indians were frequent
visitors at his cabin.
Mr. Kahmer,
although forty-five years of age, was a soldier in the late war, serving nearly
two years as a member of the Twenty-first Iowa infantry. He participated in
numerous engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg. He was sometimes sick, but never in a hospital. He
was mustered out in June, 1864, at New Orleans.
Mr. Kahmer
married in 1846, the lady of his choice being Miss Pauline Nelson, who was born
in England in 1820. She came to America in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Kahmer
have had no children of their own, but have reared to maturity two whom they
took in infancy. Cornelia Hogh, whom they took when she
was two weeks old, is now the wife of Curtis Blanchard. Lewis Barden came under their care when he was eleven months old,
and is still living with them. He is an industrious and intelligent young man,
and is well repaying his adopted parents by his honorable and useful services
for the care and thoughtful solicitude which they have spent on him.In politics Mr. Kahmer was
reared a democrat, but has been a stanch republican since the organization of
that party.
Our subject owns one hundred
and forty acres of good land, in Union township, which he has in a good state
of cultivation and which gives him a
fair yield annually for his time and expenditures on it. He is one of the very
few citizens now living in Delaware
county who have been identified with the growth and
development of that county for more than fifty years. He is a pioneer of
pioneers, a citizen of good repute, and a gentleman whom every one likes and
whom all respect.
Back to Biographies
Back to Main Page
Back to Iowa AHGP
Back to AHGP