Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-03-26
TRIBUTE OF FRIEND
Capitalist and Farmer
Panegyric Of the Late Norman B. Ream


Norman B, Ream, who has a large es-
tate in Thompson, recently appeared
in the New York Sun. 1t sets forth
a side of his character well known to
the people of this section who were
fortunate enough to make his acquain-
lance.
To the Editor Of the Sun-Sir: OF
the very rich men OF the United States
Norman Ream, who died here on Mon.
day, was, l think, least known to the
general public. This was partly be.
cause of his intense modesty, which
made him refrain from putting him.
self forward in any way, and partly
because he was at heart throughout
his life just as he was in its beginning;
farmer, with all farmers love of
quiet and domestic comfort and with
all farmers dislike of the ceremonies
and diversions Of what is called $50
ciety." With giants body and a
giants heart and brain, he was the
plainest, the most democratic, the
most approachable and best natured of
men. He loved TO plan and carry on
great enterprises, but he did SO with
such simplicity of manner that even
those who were closely associated with
him did not realize sometimes how big
man he was.
1 do not know of another rich man
of the first rank so typically an Amer
lean as was Norman Ream. farmers
boy, school teacher, photographer
when photography was new art, prl-
vate soldier through most of the civil
war, county storekeeper, buyer and
seller Of grain, and finally and for the
last half Of his life m organizer OF
great corporations, he was at all times
q plain, shrewd, kindly man, never
obtrusive, but always choosing his
ground and standing upon 1t against
any odds. Homely in manner and
speech, he talked, acted and lived in
the vernacular of the United States.
Mr.. Ream's most striking character
istic was his abundant possession of
what is commonly called horse sense,
which by no means implies that he
was rough or coarse. He spoke in u
low voice, used gentle gestures, and
showed himself man of widest read
ing. His business foresight and abili-
ty TO analyze a financial proposition or
oifnofin,, mara SINH oc uln,oSf ~ -, - L.
the possession of species of prescience,
except that it was very plain that MIR.
Reams abilities were in no sense a
matter of intuition. They came of a
slow reasoning out and balancing of
pros and cons, and it seemed when he
was through discussing proposition
as if the conclusion that he arrived at
would be what every one else would
arrive at if they would only take the
pains to go over the matter carefully.
1t was an event in any ones life to
about the business future of the next
year. At these times he generally
liked to go back to the days of the civil
war and to trace the development Of
prevailing business conditions from
those days. Step by step and with
the utmost deliberation he followed
business up to its existing status, and
then, without definitely predicting the
future, he left lit plain to his listener
what his view of the future was. He
could be pessimistic as well as optimis-
tic, and events proved in nine cases
out of ten that his judgment was right.
For the last quarter of century of his
life Mr.. Ream's chief function was
that of general counsellor on the
boards of corporate institutions that
were so fortunate as to be able to secure
his advice. Throughout the Admins
tration of President Benjamin Harri-
son he was virtually silent member
of the Cabinet. 1t is interesting to
know right at this time that IL was his
firm belief that our country was now
on the eve of period of prosperity
never before surpassed.
In Norman Ream great as well as
a rich American has passed away.
New York, March II. +. ID.