NameWilliam Alexander REAMS 4679
Birth Date25 Dec 1836
Birth PlacePhilipsburg, Centre Co., PA, USA
Birth Memoin a building on the present [1911] site of the Coal Exchange Hotel
Residence Dateca 18454679
Residence PlaceDecatur Township, Clearfield Co., PA, USA
Residence Date18984680
Residence PlaceOsceola Mills, Clearfield Co., PA, USA
Death Dateaft 1911
Burial PlaceUmbria Cemetery, Osceola Mills, Clearfield Co., PA, USA5248
FatherJohn REAMS (1777-1861)
MotherFrances CARNEY (~1777-1871)
Misc. Notes
William Alexander Reams, who is one of the best known citizens of Decatur township, Clearfield county, Pa., where he has lived since he was nine years old, was born December 25, 1836, at Philipsburg, Center county, Pa., in a building on the present site of the Coal Exchange Hotel.

William A. Reams, who was the youngest child of his parents, had but few school opportunities in his youth, his education having been mainly acquired through reading and contact with others. He went into the woods to work while still young and for many years was in the employ of John M. Chase, and was foreman and acted in other capacities. He also was a pilot on the Susquehanna River, a position requiring both physical courage and skill, and rafted from Glen Hope to Marietta, Pa., and Peach Bottoms. He spent twenty-five years on the water and during four or five seasons was a cook on the log rafts and efficiently performed the duties of this necessary position on log drives that went as far as Williamsport.

For the last twenty-four years Mr. Reams has been opening fire clay and coal mines for the Philipsburg Coal and Land Company, which has its office in New York City, his duties taking him all over Decatur Township and into Center county. He was exceedingly active until 1908, since when his duties have not been quite so exacting but still earns a very substantial salary with the company with which he has been so long identified.

Mr. Reams was married October 28, 1860, to Miss Sarah Miles, who was born one mile from Madera, Pa., in what is now Bigler township, Clearfield County. She is a daughter of Lyman and Margaret (Hite) Miles, her father belonging to an old Maine family which came to Clearfield County in pioneer days. Her mother was reared in Huntingdon County, Pa. to Lyman and Margaret Miles the following children were born: Mary, who married Lemuel Alexander (both now deceased); George, who is deceased; Martha, who married John Cathcart (both now deceased); Sarah, who is the wife of William A. Reams; and Henry, Edward, Walker and James, all of whom live at Madera, Pa. Mrs. Reams is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Reams is nominally a Democrat but is an independent voter in local matters and he has been elected at different times to almost all the township offices. He is a member of the order of Golden Eagles.

Mr. Reams is a very entertaining conversationalist and his recollections of conditions and events which at one time prevailed in this section bring pictures of those days easily to the imagination. Reared in a but partially settled neighborhood, his boyhood was spent amid surroundings that belong to a long past time. Wild game as well as savage animals abounded in the forest at that time, and in his day of youthful strength, he was a great hunter and probably killed more deer than any other man in either Clearfield or Center counties. He remembers that he killed his first deer when he was only eleven years of age and since then more than 400 have fallen before his accurate marksmanship.

Indeed, in those early days, it was necessary for some member of the family to be more or less of a hunter, as the meat that sustained life had to be found either in the forest or in the streams, which latter, in his day, were full of trout. He also excelled as a fisherman and he tells in an amusing way how his good wife, one season, attempted to keep count of the fish he caught, but after her tally reached 1,300 she grew tired and perhaps the total would have doubled the amount. Amusements were not wanting, however, in what, to the present generation, seems must have been a life of more or less constant toil, but the friendly feeling that existed among people at that time brought about much sociability and visiting. The present day commercialism was not known and people were more considered for their worth than their worldly possessions. Hospitality was universal and a stranger was kindly welcomed, his wants attended to and he was sent on his way.

It is but natural that Mr. Reams should recall the old days as he looks back so many years and sees the wonderful changes that have taken place in every direction. In all the practical development in his immediate neighborhood he has shared and has done his full duty as a citizen.
Spouses
Birth PlaceBigler Township, Clearfield Co., PA, USA
Birth Memoone mile from Madera
Family ID10551
Marr Date28 Oct 18604679
Reside Date18984680
Reside PlaceOsceola Mills, Clearfield Co., PA, USA
Last Modified 4 Apr 2011Created 17 May 2017 Rick Gleason - ricksgenealogy@gmail.com