Omer Madison Kem

Omer Madison Kem (November 13, 1855 – February 13, 1942) was an American Populist Party politician.

Early life Omer Madison Kem was born in Hagerstown, Indiana on November 13, 1855.

Career He moved to Custer County, Nebraska in 1882 and to Broken Bow, Nebraska in 1890 where he farmed. He was deputy treasurer of Custer County from 1890 to 1891. He was elected as a Populist to the United States House of Representatives from 1891 to 1897, serving first the 3rd district and then the 6th district when the number of representatives from Nebraska was increased following the 1890 national census. He did not run for reelection in 1896.

Kem went to Montrose, Colorado, to grow fruit and raise cattle. While out of office, he led the campaign to appropriate public land for the Gunnison Tunnel, which was approved by Congress in 1902.

Kem wrote a twelve-volume autobiography, eleven volumes of which are stored at Creighton University in Nebraska. The twelfth volume, entitled "Spiritualist Notes," is in a private collection.

Death Kem died in Cottage Grove on February 13, 1942. He was cremated and the ashes scattered.