The Road to Holman Valley-John Rem’s 1300-Mile Journey
In the years following the Civil War, many African Americans traveled great distances in search of opportunity and freedom. Among them was John Rem, a man born into slavery in Pitt County, North Carolina, whose journey would eventually take him more than 1,300 miles west to Fayette County, Texas.
John Rem was born on July 24, 1846. His surname appeared in records as Rhem, Ream, or Rem.
This reflects the inconsis tent spelling practices of the 19th century, when clerks often wrote names phonetically. John’s parents were John Jack Rhem and Annie Holland Nobles. He was one of 13 children. Some records suggest a few of the children carried the mother’s surname, Nobles, per- haps born before the official marriage.
The Rem family lived under the shadow of slavery, but John’s life took a dramatic turn during the Civil War. At the age of 18, he made his way to New Bern, North Carolina, where he joined the Union Army on August 29, 1864. Enlisted as Private John Ream, sometimes recorded as John Rem, he served in Company K of the 37th Regiment, United States Colored Troops. A scar under his left cheek and his height of 5 feet, 6 inches were noted in military records. John mustered out in August 1865, having earned a pension for his service.
After the war, John sought to rebuild his life. Opportunities for freedmen were scarce, but the Freedmen’s Bureau was established to assist formerly enslaved people. Nat Holman, a Fayette County, Texas, plantation owner, traveled to New Bern, North Carolina, to hire some of the freedmen to work for him on his plantation. He offered them a Freedmen’s Bureau labor contract. John was one of more than 20 men who took advantage of the opportunity.
On February 9, 1867, John signed a one-year labor contract with Nat Holman. The contract promised $125 for the year, a modest sum in dollars, yet equivalent to roughly $2,180 in today's dollars. However, the purchasing power of that sum is worth $40,000. The agreement also ensured fair treatment, adequate food and lodging, and support for the education of children. For a freedman, this was no small opportunity. It was a measure of independence and a foothold for the future.
Nat Holman arranged transportation to Texas for all of his new hires. John traveled with the others for over 1,300 miles from New Bern, North Carolina, to Alleyton, Texas, before completing the journey to Holman Valley, about 13 miles from LaGrange in southeastern Fayette County. LaGrange would serve as a nearby hub for community life as John settled into Holman Valley.
John Rem married Elvira Davis on May 2, 1868, in Fayette County, Texas. Elvira, the daughter of Alex and Jane Russell Davis, was born in March 1845. Together, John and Elvira raised nine children. Their daughter, Amanda, later married Henry Brown, and they too raised a large family. Among their children was Ola Mae Brown, who went on to marry Floyd Homer. Ola Mae and Floyd had 13 children, and she became known in Fayette County for running a café in Cozy Corner, just north of the Holman community.
John Rem died in La Grange, Texas, on December 18, 1920, at the age of 74. Though his death cer- tificate lists his burial 12 miles west of La Grange, it is believed he rests alongside Elvira in Holman Cemetery, also known as the Burnam-Holman Family Cemetery. Elvira passed away on June 23, 1931, at the age of 86.
As of 2025, it has been 158 years since John Rem left North Carolina for Texas. That legacy continues today, as some of his descendants remain in Fayette County and help organize family reunions each year at the Holman Parish Hall. For Michelle, John Rem was her great-great-grandfather, and his life continues to inspire her family across the U.S. and generations.
Sources: U.S. Colored Troops Military Records; Freedman Bureau’s Labor Con- tract; Death Certificates; Marriage Certificate and
local Census Records
