Son of James Andrew and Henrietta Reams. Brother of Roy, Ira, Lon, Grover, Myrtle, and Harvey M. Reams and Mrs. Louis Pegg. Lived at Prairie Center, Kansas until moving with his parents to Silesia, Montana. Attended University of Colorado, Department of Mechanics, where he enlisted. Described by Olathe Mirror as "a bright young lad of a fine family".