Cyril
'Edgar' Ream
(1896-1978)
Cyril
Edgar Ream was born
on June 29, 1896 in Lower Turkeyfoot Twp., Confluence, Somerset County, PA.
Edgar, as he was known, was the first of the 16 children born to Joseph
and Sarah Ellen (Harbaugh) Ream.
Edgar had worked in the timber industry with his father while a young man. On Jan. 13, 1917, he married a cousin, Nora Pearl Harbaugh (1897-1945) daughter of Marshall and Annie M. (Shroyer) Harbaugh, and granddaughter of Joseph and Jane (Williams) Harbaugh.
Later, Edgar worked as a coal miner and also owned a farm several miles down the road from where he was raised on the Jersey Hollow Road. He served as a School Director of Lower Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County (1938-50), including in the office of Treasurer.
The Reams had eight children -- Raymond E. Ream, Eugene Arthur Ream, Alvin Glen Ream, Verna E. Clouse, Esther Fern Clarkson, Robert Gene Ream, Donald Clifford Ream and Dane Elmer Ream.
Edgar was active in the International Order of Odd Fellows lodge in Confluence. In April 1938, he was installed as secretary of the lodge. His brother in law Donald Conn and brother Charles Ream also were officers in the lodge.
The
Reams gather at Trent, PA, circa 1940,
on the eve of World
War II.
Son
Alvin, seen here, enlisted in World War II in November 1942. Tragically,
he was killed in action in Germany on April 18, 1945. It was not until January
1949 that his remains were shipped home for burial at Somerset Memorial Park.
Heartbroken, Nora died December 18, 1945, at the young age of 48. The cause of her untimely death is unknown.
After some years as a widower, Edgar married Florence Mitchell. He sold the farm and he and Florence bought a home at Harnedsville, Somerset County. They were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Edgar
enjoyed the annual Harbaugh
Reunions. He is pictured in the group photographs taken at the 1926, 1929
and 1936 affairs. As well, he is recorded to have attended in 1952 (when he was elected Vice
President) and 1971 (when he was named to a "one-person committee" to
erect a new grave marker for his great-great grandfather, and the family's
ancient ancestor, Casper Harbaugh, at New Centerville, Somerset County). A
photograph of the new stone is seen here, standing in front of the
original stone which had been laid in the ground.
Edgar
once helped author Benjamin F.G. Kline Jr., gather
information and photographs for a booklet called "Stemwinders"
in the Laurel Highlands, seen here. The book documents "all of
those enterprising men associated with the Railroad Era of the Lumbering
Industry in Pennsylvania." In the foreword of the book, published in
1973, Kline acknowledged this contribution, saying "Since a chance meeting
in 1965, Edgar Ream has constantly sought the material that helped to unravel
the tangled skein of affairs surrounding Confluence."
Son Robert served in the US Army during the Korean War. He later worked for the DHIA as a 'tester.'
Edgar died of a heart attack at the age of 82 on March 3, 1978. He is buried at Somerset Memorial Park Cemetery, near Somerset.
Son Donald was employed by Agway in Somerset and Mack Truck in Allentown, PA.
Son Eugene (1919-2006) married Wilma L. Burnworth in 1949 and they resided in Pleasant Gap, near State College, Centre County, PA. He received the "Furthest Traveled Award" at the Harbaugh Reunions in 1986, 1987 and 1995 (130 miles) and the "Oldest Man Present Award" each year from 1991 to 1995, and in 1996 and 1999. Said the Centre Daily Times, he "served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as an aircraft mechanic. He was a salesman for Agway for 35 years, retiring in 1984. He previously worked for the Farm Bureau in Greensburg. He was a member of the Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church, Friendly Citizens of Pleasant Gap, and the Pleasant Gap VFW." Eugene passed away at age 86 on April 6, 2006.
Copyright © 2001-2002, 2006 Doris (Sands) Hawker and Mark A. Miner