REAM

Albert Edmond Ream

1861-1940

Sarah Ann McClain

1860-1938

Albert Edmond Ream was born 9 July 1861 in Jacksboro, Jack County, Texas, the youngest of three children of Sylvester Ream (1835-after 1870) and Rebecca Jane Hewitt (1842-1925). (See Obituary of Rebecca Hewitt Ream Ray).

That family appears in the census as follows: 1860 Marion Co., Arkansas census, p. 633: Silvester Ream 25 bp AR; Rebecca 18 bp AR; John S. 3; Josephine A. 1.

By 1870 Albert’s father had died and his mother had married Alphes D. Ray. That family appears in the census as follows: 1870 Tarrant Co., TX census, p. 543, Ancestry.com image 39: A.D. Ray 30 AK; Rebecca 28, John Ream 13, Josephine 11, Albert 8, Joel Ray 2.

Sarah Ann McClain was born 7 August 1860 in Ohio, the second of five children of James W. McClain (1828-after 1880) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Guinn (1830-after 1880).

That family appears in the census as follows:

1870 Baker, Crawford KS census, p. 22, Ancestry.com image 22: James B. McClain 64 KY, James W. McClain 42 IN, Elizabeth 40 TN, Emily J. 13 TX, Sarah A. 6 TX, William T. 5 TX, George F. 3 TX, Minett (f) 7 mos KS, Charlotte J. Gwinn 20 TX, Jeremiah Gwinn 18 TX, David Gwinn 14 TX [these last 3 are apparently relatives of Elizabeth]

1880 Wise, TX census, p. 152B: James W. McClain 52 IN KY KY; Elizabeth wife 50 TN TN TN; Sarah A. dau 17 TX; William T. son 15 TX; George F. son 13 TX; V'Nettie dau 10 KS

Albert Ream and Sarah McClain married in about 1880. They had 7 children:

i. James Washington Ream (does not appear in the census)

ii. Rebecca E. b. 17 Feb 1885 m. Joseph Henry Hardin Johnson (see JOHNSON)

iii. Teane L. b. Nov 1889;

iv. Fred D. b. Feb 1891;

v. Luke b. Aug 1895;

vi. Mark b. Oct 1897;

vii. Robert F. b. Feb 1900.

The family appears in the census as follows:

1900 Vernon, Wilbarger, TX census: Albert E. Ream 38, b. Jul 1861 TX; wife Sarah A. 37 b. Aug 1862 TX; Rebecca E. 14 b. Feb 1886; Teane L. 10 b. Nov 1889; Fred D. 9 b. Feb 1891; Luke 4 b. Aug 1895; Mark 2 b. Oct 1897; Robert F. b. Feb 1900.

1910 Archer Co., TX (ED 3, Sheet 2): Albert E. Ream 49, Sarah A. 48, Fred D. 19, Luke 14, Mark 12, Robert F. 10

1930 Roosevelt Co., NM census, Portales, p. 11A: Albert E. Ream 68, TX MO AR, Sarah A. 68 TX IN TN. Both married at age 20.

From his great-grandson Barry Duane Miller’s autobiography comes this memory of his Grandpa Ream:

That day was our first trip to Portales, although we eventually would make two more trips there. Grandpa drove through town to the south side and stopped in front of a little house fenced by barbed wire. A heavy-set lady came to the door, her smile the invitation to come in. Grandma called her Bess, and she was Grandma’s sister-in-law. Before Grandma went through the door, she stopped to give Bess a kiss. In the kitchen, Grandma kissed an old man sitting at the table. The old man was her daddy, my great-grandpa Ream. Grandpa Ream made us feel welcome. He seemed glad Grandma came to visit.

There was a man with one leg sitting near the stove. Grandma kissed him, too. This man was her brother, my Uncle Fred Ream. Uncle Fred lost his leg in World War I.

Back at the kitchen everyone talked, while I shyly stood behind Grandma. Pulling me around to her front, she said, “I would like to introduce Duane. He’s just a little bashful. Duane is my grandson.”

Great-grandpa Ream put out his hand. “You are getting to be a big boy. I’m your grandma’s daddy. Will you give me a hug?” I felt his arms squeezing, pulling me close. “I have something for you.”

He handed me an old pocket watch, and when I took it, Grandma said, “What do you say?”

“Thank you, sir,” I replied, as I slid up on Grandma’s lap. I was amazed at the respect everyone showed Grandpa Ream. Even Grandpa Johnson gave the old man respect.

Albert E. Ream, my great-grandfather, was almost eighty years old in 1939. Born on July 9, 1860, he was alive when Abraham Lincoln became President. He grew up in hard times for Texas, the Civil War, then the reconstruction and into the Indian wars. Grandpa Ream raised a family during the time when these old hatreds remained in the minds of Texans, saw them grow into a new century, then survived the Great Depression. In all that time, what his eyes must have seen! I never saw Grandpa Ream again. I can still remember the respect and dignity showed to this man. In my heart I reserve a place of honor for my great-grandpa, whom I saw only that one time. I still have the pocket watch and it is in working order. I hope to pass it on to my oldest grandson, to keep passing the old man’s memory on. How grand it would be in a hundred years or so to have someone say, "This old watch belonged to my great-great-great-grand-grandpa Ream. He was born on July 9, 1860," then to hear their response and be able to see their reaction. "My God, that has been forever. May I have a closer look, please? Wow, listen to this thing tick!"

We made two more trips to Portales, one trip in December, because Grandpa Ream was sick. On January 31, 1940, Grandpa Ream died, so we went back to Portales one last time. I was considered too young to attend the funeral, so Grandpa and Grandma left me with, or they turned me loose with, three of my older cousins. Bert, Jerry, and R.L. Sparks were three of Aunt Nellie’s boys. Jerry bragged that Portales was a big city. It had an amusement park. I remember it cost a nickel to ride on the rope swing merry-go-round and we didn't have a nickel.

NM Death Cert #3623: Albert Edwin Ream died Portales, NM 31 Jan 1940; birth date 9 Jul 1859; age 80 years 6 mos 22 days; bp Jacksboro TX; father J.R. Ream bp Arlington TX, mother Rebecca Snow bp Arlington TX. Informant: Mrs. Rebekah Johnson (dtr)

NM death cert #4711: Sarah Ann Ream died 6 Oct 1938 Portales, NM; married to A.E. Ream; birth date 7 Aug 1860; birthplace Wise Co., TX; father J. W. McClain, bp unknown; mother Betsy Guinn, bp unknown.

An interesting note is that Albert Ream’s older sister Josephine (1859-1892) married William Henry Carter (1854-1915) and they had a son, Giles Amon Carter (1879-1955) who called himself Amon G. Carter. Among his many accomplishments, he was president and publisher of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Duane wrote that when his grandma Rebekah spoke of her cousin Amon Carter, it was always with respect for having earned his education the hard way.

For further information about Amon G. Carter, see his biography on the Amon Carter Museum website: http://www.cartermuseum.org/amon_g_carter_bio.html

Just for information, Barry Duane Miller is the first cousin twice removed of Amon Carter; Duane’s children are first cousins three times removed; and Duane’s grandchildren are first cousins four times removed.

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