Ed Reber, a man who prospered-week 8

Edward & LaAnda Reber

This week’s theme on #52 ancestors in 52 weeks was Prosperity. Someone who prospered and did well for themselves. I’ve chosen my 3X Great Grandfather Edward Franklin Reber because his life story is one of sorrow and triumph. I do want to say the story I’m telling is solely my interpretation of the man based on census info, newspaper articles, etc. which I’ve collected in research this past year.

Edward “Ed” Franklin Reber was born to Jacob H Reber (1835-1864) m Elizabeth Huff (1837-1920). He was born in 1857 in Berks Co, Pennsylvania, the 2nd of 5 children.

During the Civil War Edward’s father Jacob was a Union Soldier in the L1 PA Cav, mustering in on July 30, 1861 at the age of 26.

Before he left he and Elizabeth had 5 children
*Zacharias - 1855
*Edward - 1857 -(My 3x great grandfather)
*Charles - 1859
*Agnes - 1860
*Alice - 1862

Jacob died in a military hospital in Aug of 1864 and is buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Virginia. This is about 500 miles from where they live and I wonder if they ever saw each other again once he left.

PA government started a series of orphan schools for children ages 8-16 who’s father who had died during the war or had been severely wounded and whose family was destitute. In the 1870 census Zacharias 15, Edward 13, Charles 11, and Agnes 10 were scholars at the Chesterfield Soldiers Orphanage School in Chester County PA. Their mom Elizabeth and Alice are living approx 35-45 miles away in Berks Co.

In 1871 Elizabeth has another child named Fred C Reber. On all documents including his death certificate, obit, etc it’s written that his father was Jacob H Reber and Elizabeth Huff Reber

In Oct of 1876 Edward married LaAnda Boman

In 1880 Census- in one house lived
-Zacharias and his wife and 2 sons
-Edward and LaAndra and daughter (my great great grandmother)
-Fred
-Mother Elizabeth
**Zacharias had been out of work 8 months out of the last year and Edward 6 months out of the year. It lists Edward’s occupation as wheel weight which I’m assuming is some sort of machinist type laborer.

While in PA Ed and LaAnda would go on to have 2 more children.
Susie Reber 1879
Alice 1882
Charles 1884

Sometime around 1884-1886 Edward would leave his mom, all of his siblings and family, and head for SW Missouri. Why he chose this area is not known. I’ve not found any records of him buying land thru the government. I do know he was here by 1886 as they had another child. Once here he started farming and would become one of the more prominent farmers in Newton Co. He lived in the Ritchey area and from reading different newspaper articles he was well thought of and a leader in the agricultural area. While researching several years ago I had the librarian tell me what a prominent family the Reber’s were at that time. I now can see what she was talking about.

Edward & LaAnda Reber Family

Edward and LaAnda’s children were
Susie 1879 —my great great grandmother
Alice 1882
Charles 1884
Mary 1886
Clara 1890
Ed jr 1895

Edward moving to Missouri was probably the best choice he could have made. The rest of his family remained in Pennsylvania and didn’t have it easy. His older brother died at the age of 33 as a result of an accident on the job. He was a brakeman. He left a widow with 3 children. A sister and her husband would take 2 children. One brother died young of heart problems. All seemed to live in poverty. Edward was able to come to Missouri and was the first in his family to become a farmer. He was able to build it up and was well thought of by people all around the area. Edward would die at the home of his son Ed Jr at the age of 81. The year was 1938.

Edward & LaAnda Reber - my 3X Great Grandparents

Susie (Reber) Strong & Henry Strong - my Great Great Grandparents

Dora (Strong) Turner Greer & Clebert Turner - my Great Grandparents

Gene Turner & Melva (Smith) Turner - my Grandparents

Donna (Turner) Immekus & Larry Immekus - my parents