Max Reimer, one of the prominent German farmers of Walnut, Iowa, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 26, 1844, the son of Ditlof Reimer, who was a prominent German farmer. He died at the age of fifty-one years, when our subject was but two years old. His wife, nee Mary Reimer, was of the same name, but of a different family. They had five children: Katie, Maggie, Mary, George and Max. Katie was married in Germany to Claus Roch, a wealthy farmer of Clinton County, Iowa, and came to America in 1857. They had one son, named John. She died in 1864, and the remainder of the family are still in Germany.

Max Reimer, our subject, came to America in 1866, at the age of twenty-one years, landing at New York from the English steamer Superior. He sailed from Holstein, and was four months on the way. He came direct to Iowa and engaged in farm work in Clinton County, and also in the brewery at Lyons for seven years.

In 1874 he came to Pottawattamie County, where he bought 160 acres of wild land, which, by industry and hard work he has converted into a fine, fertile farm, and to which he has wisely added until he now owns 320 acres, and where he has a fine barn costing $1,000, a good house and windmill and many other improvements.

Mr. Reimer is a trustee of his township, and stands high as a citizen of sterling worth whose word is as good as his bond. Politically he is a Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a self-made man, having by his own industry made his property in America, having had but $9 when he landed. He well illustrates what good, honest, hard work will do in America.

He was married in Lyons, October 21, 1871, to Maggie Roona, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Frahan) Roona. The father was a native of Germany, was a well educated man and a school-teacher in Holstein. He died in this county, and was the father of four children: Katie, Annie (who died in Germany), Maggie and George. All of the children came to America. Mrs. Roona came in 1884, and is living with her son-in-law, the subject of this sketch, at the age of eighty years. Her daughter, Maggie, now Mrs. Reimer, was born August 4, 1850, and came to America in the spring of 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. Reimer have been born nine children, six of whom are now living: Henry W., Emil W., Alvenia M., Bernhart, Katie P. and Annie.

Contributed By: Mona Sarratt-Knight