HAROLD KEMMERER FAMILY

The 1994 Farmers Pig Roast will be hosted by Central Sod on the Harold and Verna Kemmerer farm. Harold and Verna moved to the farm in 1939. It was known as the Sollenberger Farm. In 1984 the Kemmerers bought the farm across the road. It was known as the Dannenberg Farm. Joseph and Caroline Dannenberg came to America from Germany in 1886. Verna Kemmerer’s mother was Ida Dannenberg, daughter of Joseph and Caroline Dannenberg. Ida married George Schrader.

Lewis Kemmerer, Harold’s grandfather, was born in Berke County, Pennsylvania in 1840. Lewis was the only one of seven brothers and sisters to come to Illinois. He settled in the Copenhagen area in 1862. In 1865 he married Sarah Stoner. They lived in the Kemmerer Homestead, which is located on Book Road. The Rueben Kemmerer family moved to that farm in 1897. When Rueben moved to Naperville in 1927, Ralph Kemmerer bought the farm. The farm was bought by Don Kemmerer, Ralph’s son, when Ralph moved to Aurora. It is now known as Shell Lake subdivision.

Three of Rueben Kemmerer’s sisters lived in the Wheatland area. They were Cora who married Frank Berger, Clara who married Walter George, and Mary who married Al Brown.

Harold’s mother was Susie Brown, the daughter of David and Elizabeth Brown Jr. His great grandfather, David Brown, Sr. came to Illinois from Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1841. The homestead was located at Copenhagen, which was the corner of 83rd and Route 59. David Brown Jr. donated the land for a church, school, and Cemetery. When the Wheatland parish and the Copenhagen parish decided to unite in 1907 they used the materials from both churches to build the new church, which is known as Wheatland Salem. Until the new church was built services were being held in the Johnson School that was located on the southeast corner of 95th and Route 59. That school was attended by all seven of Rueben Kemmerer’s children.

The children were all active in Wheatland Salem choirs and also served as organists or pianists. At one time they all lived within two miles of the church. Now their farms are subdivisions or soccer fields.