Abraham R. Reimer

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Abraham R. Reimer (1841-1891)

This article is from the book Familienregister der Nachkommen von Klaas und Helena Reimer mit Biographieren der ersten dri Generationen, by Abram Unger, p.114-16. It was printed in English.

Biography of Abraham R. Reimer

In the year 1841, September 3rd. in Kleefeld, Russia a male child was born. The father and mother looked hopefully into the future and named the child Abraham (Father of a multitude).

One hundred and thirteen years later (1954) the descendants of Abraham number over eleven hundred. So we see that their hope was realized.

Abraham R. Reimer our progenitor was united in holy matrimony with Helena Poetger on the eleventh day of June, 1860. From the union were born four boys. The oldest, twins, Abraham and Klaas died in infancy. The next baby was again named Klaas. Then followed Peter. August 9th, 1866, his wife Helena Poetger died. On October 14, 1866 he was married the second time to Maria Reimer. From this marriage were born 13 children making a total of 17 children and 119 grandchildren.

Grandfather received his education and training as blacksmith in Russia, which trade he also practised in Canada. In the year 1874 he with his wife Maria and six children, Jacob the youngest being only a few months old, immigrated with many others to Canada. This move was made in faith and much sacrifice, and provided a home for many, where we have freedom of religion. For this we are deeply grateful.

Abraham Reimer was a man of strong character who was "not carried about with divers and strange doctrines". His yea was yea and his nay was nay. In this atmosphere of strictness and order their family was trained in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

January 21, 1883 he was elected as a deacon at the age of forty-one. He accepted this call as from the Lord and displayed the same thoroughness and order in the discharge of his duties as deacon, as he did in his domestic duties. James 1:27 was strictly observed in that the fatherless and widows were regularly visited in their affliction and their needs attended to. The total alms-giving amounted to about forty dollars per year for the small group.

In his church work as well as other duties he worked in close harmony with his brother Peter who was a minister, and several years younger.

Not only was grandfather a man of strong character and convictions but he was also a strong man physically. It is reported that he delivered a wagon to a customer living on the other end of the village, carrying the wagon on his back. The wagon weighed about 600 pounds.

Another incident in his life reveals his sense of humor and wisdom:

The hired man was trustworthy and a willing worker, till one day, in grandfather's absence, he was placed at the head of the table for the noon meal. Occupying this place of honor affected the servant adversely and grandfather soon noticed that his loyalty and service were not as in former days. Having learned from grandmother the probable reason for this change of attitude in the servant, grandfather takes it patiently for some time, till one day both servant and master work side by side in the blacksmith shop. Grandfather is busy and bids the servant to set the anvil on the bench. The servant tries hard but the anvil is heavy and he is unable to lift the anvil. Whereupon grandfather, with his one free hand lifts the anvil and sets it on the bench. And so respect and loyalty were again restored in the servant toward his master.

Our grandfather reached the age of not quite 50 years. The cause of his death may be attributed to what was at first a sore leg on which he suffered for three weeks. Then the disease spread into his body and after being seriously ill for four days he passed away.

As we look back and remember those who have gone before and think of the hardships and sacrifices they have gone through for our sake, may we be moved to gratefulness and inspired to pass on to the next generation the Christian heritage which our forefathers have given us.

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