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Permanent LinkSenator John Fletcher Ream View All Years
JOHN F. REAM
MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee which was appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character, and services of the late John F. Ream of Mahaska county Iowa, beg leave to submit the following:
John F. Ream was born near New Castle, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1854, and died at the Mercy Hospital, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Saturday, February 26, 1927. His father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania, his father being of German descent and his mother of English descent. His parents moved to Mahaska county in May, 1855, where he made his home until the time of his death. He entered the coal mines in Beacon, Iowa, when he was sixteen years of age and spent many years in the coal mining business. He served as mayor of the town of Beacon, was nine years a member of the school board and was elected for a number of terms as justice of the peace. He was President of the Iowa District of United Mine Workers of America for two years, ending his services in that position in March, 1900. He was chosen as Iowa’s representative on the National Executive Board of United Mine Workers and held the office for three years. He possessed a common school education.
Mr. Ream was elected Senator in 1908 and again in 1912. He was the first democrat to be elected to the State Senate from Mahaska county after the Civil War. Senator Ream was always interested in public affairs and by hard labor and judicious management attained success in private and public life.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Forty-second General Assembly of Iowa, That in the death of John F. Ream the state and the community where he lived have suffered the loss of an influential and honorable citizen; and
Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the secretary be directed to send an engrossed copy thereof to the family of the deceased.
F. C. STANLEY,
A. J. SHINN,
E. E. CAVANAUGH,
Committee.