James W. Cemer
A representative of the sturdy pioneer stock of the Middle West, James W. Cemer, of Grant County, Indiana, has shown the same characteristics that enabled his ancestors to brave the dangers of the frontier. Mr. Cemer has been a successful farmer in this section for many years, and is a well known and popular citizen of Franklin Township.
The son of Jacob Cemer and Charlotte (Clark) Cemer, James W. Cemer was born on the 11th of February, 1863, in Nile Township, Delaware County, Indiana. His father was a native of Piqua, Ohio, and his mother was born in Delaware County, Indiana. Jacob and Charlotte Cemer were the parents of ten children and of this large family eight are yet living.
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Susan is the wife of William Wingfield of Bluffton.
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Emma is the wife of George Swisher of Marion, Indiana
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John Cemer married Phoebe Ridley
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James W., who married Victoria Rader
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Monice, who married Sam Kiser
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George, who married Clara Iles
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Charles A. who married Minna Lane
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J. V. Cemer, who married Louise Eleman and now lives in Portland, Oregon.
James W. Cemer was reared on his father's farm and being one of the older members of the family early learned how to work. When he was two years of age his father removed to Van Buren and it was in this town that he received his education. However, he had to help his father on the farm and little time was found for study. He worked for his father until he was twenty-five years of age and then he received from his father five hundred dollars in cash, horse and a buggy and some stock. With this as a foundation he has built up his present comfortable fortune. He is the owner of forty acres of well cultivated land in Section 5, Franklin Township.
On the 24th of April, 1887, Mr. Cemer was married to Miss Victoria Rader. She was born in Jefferson Township, Grant County, on November 4, 1866, a daughter of Simeon W. and Matilda (Thomas) Rader. Simeon W. Rader was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, not far from Cambridge, and his wife was born at Winchester, Indiana. They were married near Swayzee on March 17, 1861, Mr. Rader having come to Grant County, with his parents, about 1843. Mrs. Rader lived in Indiana all of her life, though part of the time her home was in Tipton County. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, of whom only four lived to maturity. Victoria was the eldest of these and she grew up in Grant County and received a good education in the public schools of this county. Simeon W. Rader, the father, enlisted in Company "B" in the Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry, ion 1862, to serve in the war against the Confederacy. He was a soldier of great bravery and true patriotism and in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th of September, 1863, he was severely wounded. He was shot three times that day and was thus totally disabled for further active duty. He was consequently discharged in June, 1864, and from 1868 until 1878 he lived in Marion. He then moved to Fairmount where he lived until June, 1898, when he moved to Roseberg and there died. J. P. Rader, the eldest son, married Ansie Davidson and the youngest son, George W., married Dora M. Campton and lives at Anderson, Indiana. Arminta B. Rader died January 20, 1910, age 22 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Cemer have had two children born to them. Charlotte D., who was born on the 12th of June 1893, graduated from the public school and is now a student at the E. M. College at Berrien Springs, Michigan. Van W. who was born on the 10 of April 1897 died on June 20, 1897.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cemer are prominent members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Michaels. He is an elder of this church and she is a clerk of the congregation. In politics Mr. Cemer is a member of the Republican party.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.