Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 768 - 769 

ERNEST A. REIMAN, real-estate agent, Notary Public, conveyancer, civil engineer and draughtsman, is one of the worthiest representatives of the business element of Wichita. He is a native of Michigan, and was born in Detroit in October, 1842. He is of German ancestry, his parents having been born in Germany. The grandfather of our subject, Ernest A. Reiman, a native of Hainau, Prussia, was a soldier in the Prussian army and had some experience worthy of note. It was he who was employed to drive the coach containing the Emperor Napoleon on his retreat from Moscow, while he was passing through Prussia from Liegnitz to Dresden, Saxony. The father of our subject, Ernest G. Reiman, was also a soldier in the Prussian army, and before coming to the United States was an extensive traveler, visiting Switzerland, France, Belgium, and other countries, and while serving as ship's blacksmith on board a Prussian man-of-war he visited Mexico and other foreign countries. He married Miss Elizabeth Goerlitz, and in 1836 with her came to the United States and settled in Detroit, where he engaged in blacksmithing, remaining there several years. From there he removed to Bloomington, Ill., where his death occurred in 1866.

            Ernest A. Reiman, of this sketch, was one of a family of five children born to his parents. He attended the public schools of Detroit and Bloomington, receiving a good education, and learned afterward the trade of blacksmith and also that of civil engineer. In 1860 our subject started out in life for himself, and after farming for awhile he enlisted in Company D, 24th Illinois Infantry, under Col. Hecker. He served fifteen months and was then honorably discharged on account of sickness. In 1865 Mr. Reiman came to Kansas and was in the Government employ as a teamster to Salt Lake and Wyoming Territory, being absent nine months. During that time he was at Ft. Laramie and engaged in several fights with hostile Sioux Indians. On the way out the wagon train was attacked by savages, who would circle round them on horseback, and lying along the sides of their horses to screen themselves, would dexterously shoot at their foes without danger of being shot themselves. They attempted to cut out the very team which our subject was driving, and he came to a hand-to-hand encounter with a Sioux, who attacked him tomahawk in hand, inflicting a severe wound in the head, but was instantly shot by Mr. Reiman. The guard came to the rescue and the Sioux fled, six Indians having been killed and one white man, an Irishman. After this Mr. Reiman was sent to Leavenworth, Kan., with others, in charge of a herd of horses for the supply of Government troops. The animals were fastened to a long rope in teams of about fifty head, each man having charge of a team; part of the horses were left at Ft. Kearney. Our subject has experienced all forms of border life and exciting adventures, at one time making one of a party of seven on a trip to the Smoky Hills, on a buffalo hunt. They passed Ft. Hayes, struck the Arkansas River at Great Bend, and crossing it at Rattlesnake Creek, found plenty of buffaloes and killed at least 200.

            Mr. Reiman returned to his home in Bloomington, Ill., in 1870, and was soon after married to Miss Sophia Muhl. Returning to Kansas with his bride he came directly to Wichita, but subsequently moved to Arkansas City, where he took up a homestead claim, which is now a part of the town site, and established the first grocery store of that place. Disposing of his property there our subject went to the old Salt City, now called Gauda Springs, and pre-empted the town site, where he opened a store. At the time of the killing of Leonard by the Indians at Medicine Lodge in 1872, the majority of the settlers fled across the Arkansas River, but our subject, with his usual pluck, remained, and afterward assisted in organizing Sumner County. He was elected the first Justice of the Peace of that county, and was appointed Notary Public. From 1876 until 1879 Mr. Reiman followed his profession of civil engineer, and surveyed and located several towns in Texas, being Deputy District Surveyor. He located Seymour, county seat of Baylor County, April 25, 1878, and at one time was so troubled by the Indians that he had to apply to the Governor of Texas for protection. He traveled extensively through the Southwest and made many original surveys, among others being that of Beaver City in No Man's Land. During the winter of 1879 our subject was engaged in mining in that disputed strip of land. He is thoroughly acquainted with that part of the country lying between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, and has greatly aided in its settlement. He has taken an active interest in the Oklahoma Colony; was Vice President of the Paine Colony, and has probably as intimate a knowledge of the development of the West as any man living. Great credit is due him for his indomitable perseverance and enterprise, which are recognized and appreciated. In 1880 Mr. Reiman, who desired a permanent home in some wide-awake, progressive town, came to Wichita and established his present business. He at once took a prominent position among the intelligent and successful business men of the city.

            To our subject and his wife have been born six children, namely: Emma, born in Arkansas City; Eddie, Lucy, Minnie, Ernest and Ida. Politically, Mr. Reiman is independent in his opinions, working for the best men rather than any party. That he has made life a grand success is due to his untiring energy, affability, integrity and judicious business management.

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