Herbert Matthias Ream was born Sept.10.1910 in Lower Turkeyfoot Twp.Confluence,PA. He was the 10th of the 16 children born to Joseph and Sarah Ellen(Harbaugh)Ream. He liked to joke to his children that the year he was born was the year when "the women ran after the men."
On Dec.4,1933,Herb married Florence Maria Rugg (1917-1999) daughter of Thornton and Susie(Ohler) Rugg. They resided in Mill Run,Fayette County,PA.
They had 7 children-Delores 'Jean' Stull, Helen June Harbaugh,Kenneth Dale Ream,Shirley Mae Hensel,Lois Marie Henry, Robert Gerald Ream and Linda Faye Henry.
During his lifetime,Herb was known for being "an honest hardworking man but he never had a lot of pattience(remember he had seven children)," said a daughter.He was generous although he never had much money. He would work for people and then forget half the hours he put in when it was time to get paid. He was always giving the grandkids a quarter or later a dollar when a dollar seemed like a lot."
Herb worked as a coal miner for Saxon Coal Co., and the family resided in Acosta,Somerset Co.,PA,a company town. He was a member of the United Mine Workers Local 1742, Recalled a daughter.
After retirement,Herb was employed by the Mastowski and Fullem Lumber Co. of Normalville,PA. He loved to hunt for raccoons and would take some of his children along, often bribing them with a small sum of money. He gained a reputation as a 'waterwitch'who,said a daughter, "could take a branch in the shape of a Y from a tree, walk over the ground and when the branch would turn in his hands, find an underground stream of water. He could even tell how deep it was. This was valuable information for anyone needing to drill a well.
The Reams were members of the Melcroft Assembly of God Church. In 1968,they celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with an open house reception at the Indian Creek Valley Community Center. The party was arranged by their 7 children and 12 grandchildren.
Herb died April 7,1991. Florence outlived him more than 8 years. She passed away on New Year's Eve 1999, the last day of the 20th century. They are buried in the Normalville Cemetery, Normalville,PA.
The above is from: http://www.minerd.com/bio-ream