Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 1048. EVAN ROGERS REAMES one of the leading capitalists and bankers of Oregon, resides in a beautiful home on the banks of Klamath river, Klamath Falls. The place of his nativity, is Litchfield, Montgomery county, Illinois, having been born April 5, 1850, the son of Woodford and Mahulda (White) Reames, both natives of Hart county, Kentucky. Woodford Reames was born April 4, 1811 ; his wife, April 2, 1825. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Aaron Reames, although living in the south and being a large slave owner, was found firstly on the Union side when slavery became a national issue. He then emphasized his sincerity by liberating those who had toiled for his personal success in life. Probably of Scotch descent his ancestors settled in Virginia, whence his parents moved to Kentucky, where he was born. During the Civil War he attained to the rank of colonel in the Union army. Aaron Reames was the father of nine children, and lived to an advanced age. Woodford Reames, the father of our subject, in his youth learned the blacksmith trade, working at the same in Kentucky and, also, after he had removed to Montgomery county, Illinois. In April, 1852, when Evan R. was two years of age, he crossed the plains accompanied by his wife and four children, and a long train of many other emigrants. The family tarried one winter at St. Helens, Columbia county, Oregon, and the following spring Woodford Reames located about one mile south of Phoenix, Jackson county, Oregon, where he secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. On this land he made many improvements, and in connection with his farming operations conducted a blacksmith shop, this being one of the first in the neighborhood. Having erected a small log cabin and cleared a patch of ground which he swerved to grain, he removed his family to Talent, and thence to Fort Wagner. In each of these places the settlers had erected stockades to protect themselves from the hostile Indians. Following the Rogue River Indian War, assured of greater safety, they returned to their land and resumed their improvements of a home in the wilderness. About 1879 he removed to Jacksonville where he lived a retired life until his death in 1884. His wife survived him until 189o. They had a family of six children, the two youngest being born in Oregon; Thomas G., a banker in Jacksonville, Oregon, who died in March, 1900; Martha, widow of Joseph Rapp, of Talent, Oregon; James R., a farmer on the old homestead at Phoenix, Oregon ; Dora, the wife of Oliver Harbaugh of Jacksonville, Oregon ; Richard, who died in infancy; and our subject, being the fourth of the family. The latter received a fair education in the public schools of that pioneer period and at the age of nineteen entered upon a six-year clerkship in the store of Major James T. Glenn. At the breaking out of the Modoc Indian War he promptly responded by enlisting as second lieutenant, Company A, First Oregon Volunteer Cavalry. This was on November 26, 1872. He served until April, 1813, under Captain Harris Kelley, and was detailed to service in southern Oregon and northern California. In his first important battle he received a flesh wound in the leg. Returning he again assumed his old position in the store. In 1881 he was in partnership with his brother, Thomas G., in a general merchandise store, with a branch store at Klamath Falls, then called Linkville, of which Evan R. took control, removing here the same year. In 1886 he disposed of his interest in both stores and turned his attention to stock-raising. His ranch comprised two thousand acres, two miles south of Klamath Falls. He engaged two years in business in San Jose, California, chiefly on account of the superior educational advantages offered for his daughter. In 1890 Mr. Reames engaged in the hardware business with George T. Baldwin, at Klamath Falls, but in 1898 disposed of his interest and inaugurated a general merchandise and banking business, in company with Alexander Martin & Sons. He purchased Martin's interest in two years and has since conducted the same under the firm name of Reames & Jennings. He is one of the promoters and stockholders of the Klamath Falls, Electric Light & Water Power Company, and is treasurer and owner of a quarter interest in the Midway Telephone & Telegraph Company, and is, also, vice-president of the Klamath County Bank. Politically Mr. Reames is independent and he has held many positions of honor in the community. At the organization of Klamath county he was appointed treasurer by the governor, succeeding himself at the following election. He has served several terms in the city council, and has ever been recognized as a broad-minded and public-spirited citizen. He is a member of Klamath Falls Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & .A. M., the Knights Templar and the Royal Arch Masons. October 3, 1873, near Jacksonville, Oregon, he was united in marriage to Jennie E. Ross, a native of Jacksonville, born in 1855. She is a daughter of General John E. Ross, one of the best known Indian fighters in the northwest. They have one daughter, Molette, an accomplished and very popular lady, the wife of F. W. Jennings, of the firm of Reames & Jennings. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.