In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1850
From History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions (1915), A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896)
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) Abraham Ream was born of German parent- I age, spent his boyhood years in the county of Stark, and by occupation was a farmer, though; for some years he was engaged in school work as a teacher. Later in life he embarked in the mercantile business at Canton, where he t opened a general store, continuing the same 1 until 1856, at which time he removed to llen- I cock county, and engaged in the dry-goods business at the little town ol New talk, having I been proprietor of that village. In 1860, lie started a branch store at the town of Ada, Ohio, disposed of his interests at Newstark four years later, and from [.S64 to 1873 was prominently identified in the mercantile interests of Ada. In the latter year, in partnership with his son, P. W. Ream, he started the business which is now successfully carried on by Henry 1). Ream, the subject of this sketch, and continued the same until his retirement from active life in 1876. His birth occurred near Canton, December 10, 1821. His marriage was solemnized October 6, 1846, and he died April 25, 1895. Mrs. Ream died in 1884 at the age of fifty-four years. Abraham and Anna Ream had a family of seven children, viz: Philip W' farmer and fruit grower of Casey county, Ky.; Henry D.; Mary C., wife of R. S. Shanks; Isaac N., during life an employee of the Chicago, Burlington A Quincy railroad, killed in a railroad accident in 1888; Jacob B., furniture dealer at Ada; Levi O., also a resident of Ada, and Anderson W., teacher of telegraphy in the Findlay Business college. Abraham Ream was a man ol strong convictions, and for many years took a decided stand as an abolitionist against the institution of slavery. He did much for the advancement of Hancock county, was a leader in many reform movements, and took an active interest m political matters until the time of his death.
Henry D. Ream, the subject of this sketch, was born in Canton January 1, 1850, grew to manhood in Hardin county, and received his education in the Normal college at Ada. He remained with his parents until fifteen years of age, at which time he began working at the trade of masonry, and it is a fact worthy of note that before his sixteenth year he entered into a contract to erect a brick building. He molded and burnt the brick for the house, superintended its construction, and turned it over lo the owner, to the entire satisfaction of the latter. Since that time he has been constantly engaged in contracting, and has done a great deal of building in various parts of Ohio, some of his contracts representing over $40,000.
From the beginning Mr. Ream has been j actuated by a desire to succeed, and his life is a striking example of what can be accomplished j in the face of discouraging circumstances. He, indeed, began at the bottom of the ladder, but gradually overcame every obstacle in the way of his advancement, and has met with success such as few in much longer life have attained. Mr. Ream became a resident of the county of Putnam in 1877, and has since made his home in Ottawa. In addition to his planing-mili and lumber yard he owns other Valuable property, among which is a beautiful city residence and a fine farm consisting of 210 acres in Monroe township. His farm is a model in many respects, being highly cultivated, fenced 1 with the Paige wire fencing, and contains over twenty miles of tile drainage. The greater part of the land he cleared himself, and his buildings are among the best in the county. His place is well stocked with superior breeds of cattle, hogs, etc., and aside from his real j estate in Putnam county he possesses valuable property in Indiana and other states. Politically Mr. Ream is a stanch prohibitionist He ! was married May 16, 1871, to Miss Myranda Gilbert, who was born in Hardin county January 14, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Ream have four children, viz: Harry < Alfred A, Lillian L.
and an infant daughter.
As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HENRY D. REAM.
Henry D. Ream was born on January i, 1850, in Canton, Stark county, Ohio. He is the son of Abraham and Anna (Miller) Ream, the former of whom was born on December 10, 1821, near Canton, Ohio, of German parentage. He spent his boyhood days in Stark county, Ohio, where he was reared. Abraham Ream also taught school and was one of the early settlers of Ada, Ohio. He was closely identified with its growth and history. In his days of activity, he was a leader in reform movements and, in the days of slavery, especially, he was a pronounced abolitionist. He was always a stanch-Prohibitionist. Abraham Ream belonged to a class of men to whom the world owes the civilization which it now enjoys. He was the son of Philip and Mary (Altman) Ream, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His grandfather was George Ream and history chronicles the fact that he served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. He was also one of the men sent out to quell Sharp's whiskey rebellion. Philip. Ream came to Ohio at the time it was a territory and settled on Bull creek, in Columbiana county. He moved with his family to Stark county, Ohio, in- 1806. He died in 1852, at which time he owned three hundred and fifty acres of land. Abraham Ream received his education in the common schools and lived on the farm until the age of twenty-five years, spending the lasttwo or three winters in teaching school.
Abraham Ream engaged in the mercantile business in Canton about- 1850, in partnership with Kaufman & Reynolds, and continued until 1856, when he came to Hancock county. Here he engaged in the dry goods business, at the little town of Newstark, having been proprietor of the place. In 1860 he started a branch store at Ada and in 1863 combined his stock from Newstark with that at Ada and from 1864 until 1873, he was prominently identified with the mercantile interests at Ada, Ohio. He started in partnership with his son, P. W., in 1873, operating a general store, a planing milf and a saw-mill in different sections of the town. Later he came to Ottawa, in 1874, and retired from active life in 1876.
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Abraham Ream was not a member of any church, but was inclined toward that of the Presbyterian faith. He was active in church work, contributing liberally of money and services. He died on April 25, 1895, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died in 1884, at the age of fifty-nine. Abraham Ream was a man of strong convictions and for many years took a decided stand as opposed to the institution of slavery. He was a leader in many reform movements. He did much for the moral, civic and political advancement of Hancock county.
Henry D. Ream grew to manhood in Hardin county, Ohio, and received his education in the Normal College at Ada. He remained at home until the age of fifteen years, when he began to learn the trade of a mason. In his sixteenth year he entered into a contract to build a brick building. He molded and burned the brick for the house and superintended the construction, turning it over to the owner who was entirely satisfied with the work. Since this time, Mr. Ream has been engaged in contracting and has done a great deal of building in various parts of Ohio, some of his contracts running over forty thousand dollars in cost. Mr. Ream moved to Ottawa, Ohio, in 1877 iid purchased the Ottawa Manufacturing Company plant and assumed the management of the concern. This company manufactures sash doors of every description. When Mr. Ream took charge of it, only sash and doors were manufactured and general planing done. Later on turned work was added. Mr. Ream continued in this business for eighteen years and then sold it to Ault & Lee in 1885. Moreover, Mr. Ream had a farm of forty.acres in Ottawa township and in selling the plant, took two farms in Monroe township of two hundred and ten acres.
Henry D. Ream took a mortgage on the plant and, in 1887, received the plant back, after which he with his two younger brothers conducted it for about three years. He then bought out the interest of the brothers and erected a brick building on the site of the old plant. Later it was used as an armory. He later sold the building and machinery to different parties in the spring of 1 90 1, having moved to the Monroe township farm in the fall of 1900. Here he followed general farming for about five years and also shipped hay and straw. His farm is a model in many respects, being highly cultivated and fenced with Paige wire fencing. It contains about twenty miles of tile drainage. The greater part of the land is cleared and the buildings are about the best that are to be found in Putnam county. Mr. Ream sold a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, in December, 1910, to the Strauss brothers and, on January 26, 1915, sold seventy-seven acres more. He moved to Continental, in February, 191 1, and built his present home, in July, 1912.
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Mrs. Henry D. Ream's father, Horace Gilbert, was born on April 10, 1805, in Vermont. Lie was the son of Josiah and Chloe (Barnard) Gilbert, both of English descent and natives of Verm.ont. Josiah Gilbert was a carpenter and joiner. Horace Gilbert was educated in the public schools of Canada and Vermont. He settled in Ohio in 1840 and some time in the eighties was married to Sarah Wood, the daughter of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Savage) Wood. To this union ten children were born, Berthina, the wife of John Shuster, deceased; Horace, deceased: Mrs. Mary A. Walters, deceased; Alvin, deceased; Milanda, deceased; Mrs. Melissa Arbuthnot;' Arinda, deceased; Mrs. Laura Ream, deceased; Mrs. Marantha Cross, deceased; and Myranda, a twin sister of Marantha, who is the wife of Mr. Ream.
Josiah Gilbert and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Horace Gilbert owned the first store in Ada, purchasing the same from the railroad company. He was a farmer and owned one hundred and sixty acres of land. He died on January i, 1891, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife died on December 25, 1890, at the age of eighty-two. Horace Gilbert was a Republican in politics.
Henry D. Ream is a stanch Prohibitionist. He is not a member of any lodge and, with the exception of the presidency of the school board, has not held any office. Mrs. Ream is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Continental, and has been a member of this church since early girlhood
As printed in History of Putnam County, Ohio : its people, industries, and institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.