Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 817 - 818

EUGENE B. REMER. The rapid development and almost marvelous growth of Sedgwick County has, to a great extent, enriched many men by the increase in value of their lands, assisted by their own industry and efforts in farming. Among this class is the individual of whom this personal history is written. He is a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Attica Township, having his home on section 22. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1834, and is the son of Adam and Content (Rowe) Remer.

            The father of our subject was a native of the Empire State, born Oct. 15, 1803, and was of German descent. Mr. Remer well remembers his paternal grandfather, John Remer, and also, that he used the language of Germany. He was killed by a runaway horse when our subject was a small boy. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Remer was a soldier in the British army, who came to this country to aid in the suppression of the Revolution, and was taken prisoner by the American forces. He became convinced of the righteousness of the cause of the Colonists, which he espoused and defended with as much zeal as he had that of England previously. At the close of the war he settled in Connecticut, married, and reared a family. His daughter, the mother of Eugene, was born in the State of Connecticut.

            The subject of this history was reared upon a farm, his father following the double occupation of carpenter and agriculturist, and, although circumstances were not favorable to the acquirement of book-learning, still he managed to obtain a fair common-school education. He was the mainstay of his father on the farm, being the eldest son. When about ten years of age he removed with the family to Lee County, Ill., where they lived about two years, and then went to Union Grove Township, Whiteside County, in the same State. They were pioneers in that region, and there the mother died, in July, 1847. The father took up Government land and opened a farm, on which our subject remained with his father until he was married. While a resident of this place, his surviving parent, in 1849, was married the second time, to Mrs. Janette (Hurlbert) Haynes. By the first marriage Mr. Remer, Sr., was the father of seven children, as follows: Adeline, Mrs. S. S. Hubbart, living in Erie, Whiteside Co., Ill.; Eugene, the subject of this narrative; John M., a farmer of Harvey County, Kan.; Mary, wife of Warren Bent, living in Osborne County, this State; Chester K., living near Mapleton, Iowa; Harriet, wife of Elisha Hubbart, who makes her home in Seattle, W. T.; Charles H., who was a member of the 49th Illinois Infantry, came home sick, and died in March, 1864, and John M.

            John M. Remer, a member of the 46th Illinois Infantry, remained in the service over three years. He was a scout part of the time, and was with Grant from Donelson, until the end of his term of service. He enlisted Oct. 1, 1861, and went into camp October 16, at Dixon, Ill. The regiment left Dixon Feb. 5. 1862; went to Camp Butler, at Springfield, Ill.; left Camp Butler for Ft. Donelson, February 12, landing at Ft. Donelson February 14, where the regiment was held as a reserve during the battle. Thence it was sent to Ft. Henry, and from there to Shiloh, being in the battle there April 6 and 7. Mr. Remer was at the seige of Corinth, in the battle of Hatchie, October 5, and was wounded by a gunshot in the right wrist. He was also at the siege of Vicksburg in June and July, 1863. He went from there to Natchez, and for a time was in the Provost Marshal's office. From Natchez he was sent to New Orleans and thence back to Vicksburg, being there transferred to the invalid corps. He went to St. Louis in May, 1864, and thence to Washington, D. C.; from there to York, Pa., and next to Morrison, Ill., where he tarried during the Presidential election. Afterward he returned to York, from there was detailed to Harrisburg, and received his honorable discharge Dec. 1, 1864.

            By the second marriage of Adam Remer, the father of our subject, were born three children, as follows: Julia, the deceased wife of David Smith; Lorinda, Mrs. Edward Venumn, residing at Stratton, Neb.; and Philip, a railroad fireman living at Wichita. The father was born Oct. 15, 1803, and is still living in Morrison, Whiteside Co., Ill.

            Wishing to establish a home of his own, Eugene Remer and Miss Sarah Lewis were united in marriage, Sept. 5, 1858. The bride was the daughter of Micajah M. and Catherine (Emmons) Lewis, natives of the Empire State, and was born Nov. 7, 1838, in what is now Orange County, N. Y. Seven children were the result of this union, one of whom survives, John Henry, whose birth took place Sept. 15, 1863. For a few years after his marriage Mr. Remer rented land on which to pursue farming, but eventually bought 100 acres of land in Illinois, to which he added at different times until he had a place of 280 acres. In 1878 he removed to McPherson County, Kan., where he raised two crops, and in July, 1880, secured the home, which he sold in the spring of 1887 for $7,000.

            Mrs. Sarah (Lewis) Remer departed this life in March, 1877, and the marriage of our subject with Mrs. Mary E. Morse was solemnized Jan. 19, 1878. This lady is a daughter of Frederick L. and Henrietta (Lewis) Holley, and was born in Steuben County, N. Y., April 20, 1848. To her first husband, Mr. Morse, she was married Jan. 1, 1865. One child, Frederick L., born Jan. 19, 1872, was the result of that union. Two children have come to bless the household of Mr. and Mrs. Remer: Sarah May, whose birth occurred Dec. 1, 1880, and Frances Effie, born March 2, 1886.

            Mr. Remer, politically, is independent, aiming to support principles rather than men. What he has now of this world's goods has been accumulated since he came to Kansas, for through sickness And misfortune he lost all that he had owned in Illinois. Both he and his estimable wife are highly respected in their community and foremost in all good works. Mrs. Remer is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, and the home roof apparently shelters a family surrounded by all the comforts of life, and blessed by the esteem of many friends.

            As representative people of Sedgwick County, the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Remer are appropriately placed in our illustrative department, and will be the object of interest years hence, when their children especially, grown older, shall begin to realize the importance of the family record.

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