My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW REIMAN. The farmers of Jackson County are as a class men of business integrity, industrious habits and excellent moral character, and even a brief outline of their lives is worthy of the consideration of all who appreciate true worth. One who has been identified with the agricultural interests of Levan Township for many years, and who is known as one of the most energetic farmers of the community, is Andrew Reiman, the owner of a finely improved estate.

The subject of this sketch was born in Somerset County, Pa., November 22, 1815, and is a son of Charles and Catherine (May) Reiman. Upon the home farm he spent his boyhood years, and at the age of nineteen years commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter, at which he was employed for the ensuing thirteen years. When twenty-two years of age, in 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Zeigler, an orphan, who was born in Pennsylvania. Though without means, the young couple commenced housekeeping, and although obliged to use the strictest economy in their expenditures, were nevertheless contented, and gradually accumulated a competence.

For several years after his marriage, Mr. Reiman followed the carpenter’s trade, and with his savings, amounting to about $800, purchased the old Reiman homestead. After two years he disposed of the property and came west, sojourning for a short time in various places, and finally landing in Murphysboro with four children and a capital of fifty cents, which with his accustomed generosity he loaned to a stranger. He obtained employment at log chopping and boarded among the neighboring families, of whom there were very few. Some of the first structures in Murphysboro were built by him, and he did considerable pioneer work in this section of the state.

Abandoning the trade of a carpenter in 1861, Mr. Reiman has since engaged in farming, and such has been his success that he was at one time the owner of two thousand acres. As each of his eight sons attained the age of twenty-one, he was given two hundred and sixty acres with which to commence agricultural pursuits, and as payment for his services during boyhood. His children are named, John, William, Catherine, Mary, Joseph, George, Harriet, Thomas, Charles, Edwin, Andrew and Ellen. Catherine and Charles are deceased; the others are prosperous and useful citizens, prominent in their several communities, and widely known as energetic farmers. After a happy married life extending over a period of fifty-two years and eighteen days, Mr. Reiman was bereaved by the death of his faithful wife, September 20, 1889.

While not an active partisan, our subject always casts his ballot for the principles of Democracy, and has been the incumbent of various township offices. His life has been one of industry, and in former years it was his frequent habit to toil all day at carpentering, then returning home at dark, spend the evening in making furniture or constructing various useful articles for the house. He sold his Murphysboro property in 1862, and afterward made a number of purchases, until he was one of the most extensive land owners in the county. In all his enterprises, he has been guided by judgment and excellent executive ability, and what he has and what he is today are attributable to the possession of the qualities of honesty, perseverance and energy.