G. P. Reed

As printed in 1881

G. P. REED, merchant, Massillon. Among the long established merchants of this city is Mr. Reed, who was born in Kendal, Sejit. 3, 1828, son of Thomas and Adaline E. Reed. Thomas Reed was a native of Lynn, Mass., of Quaker parentage; he emigrated to this State with his father, Thomas Reed, who located in Jackson Township, and entered land from the Government in 1817. The father of our subject engaged in the mercantile business and dealt in wool. G. P. was early in life initiated into the details of the mercantile business, beginning at the age of 14 as a clerk for the firm of J. & Z. S. Ely; continued in their employ two years; during this time attended school six months at Gambler, Ohio; after-ward clerked for Jarvis & Hine for a time, then with Reed & Searl, the former being Thomas Reed, his father; continued with them until May 0, 1856. His father was unfortunate in his business relations; in the goodness of his heart in order to accommodate his friends became surety for them and in consequence was broken up. He died in 1875, aged 72. His wife yet survives him and resides with her son, yet a bachelor, who is her staff and comfort in her declining years. Since the retirement of his father, Mr. Reed has succeeded him in the same business, continuing steadily without any intermission since that time, and in the same building, and notwithstanding the difficulties attending his early youth, and the subsequent discouraging circumstances, he has overcome them all, and stands to-day one of the prominent and successful merchants in Massillou City, a self-made man.

As printed in History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.