William A. Reed

As printed in 1907

WILLIAM A. REED.

William A. Reed, to whom has been vouchsafed well-earned retirement from the active work of the farm, having acquired a handsome competence through his carefully directed and managed agricultural interests, was born in Guernsey county. Ohio, on the 5th of May, 1834, his parents being Samuel and Anna (Rose) Reed. The father was born in Ohio, where he continued to make his home until 1859. which year witnessed his removal to Iowa. He located on land in what is now Victory township. Guthrie county, for which he traded his Ohio property. For several years he continued to develop and improve his Iowa farm and then took up his above in Guthrie Center, where he conducted a hotel for many years, a hostelry that will be remembered by all of the old pioneers. He was a popular landlord and he continued to make his home in Guthrie Center up to the time of his death, having many friends in the county seat and throughout the surrounding country. Upon the organization of the republican party he became one of its stalwart advocates and continued to march under its banner. He was several times elected to the office of county supervisor and was recognized as one of the influential citizens of Guthrie Center, his opinions carrying weight with those who knew him. In his family were eleven children, of whom six are living: William A.; J'theodore P., who resides in Palisades, Colorado: George W.. whose home is in Panora. Iowa: Hannah, the widow of George Mc- Clune, of Valley township, this county: Hester A., the wife of Luther Motz. of Colorado: and Mary. the wife of William McKelvey, of Colorado.

The home farm of the father in Ohio remained the place of residence for William A. Reed through his boyhood and youth and in the public schools he acquired a limited education, such as could be obtained in one of the old-time pioneer schoolhouses with its slab benches, its huge fireplace and its primitive furnishings. He was twenty-five years of age when he came to Iowa and in the following spring he went to Pike's Peak with the thousands of other gold seekers. The summer was spent in the mountains there and in the fall he returned to Guthrie county. In the winter of 1861 he took another trip to Pike's Peak with a load of freight. There were eight wagons in the train, he and his brother George each having charge of a wagon. The winter was one of the most severe in years and the trip was made with much difficulty and attended with many hardships, for a large amount of snow fell and the roads were so greatly blocked as to be almost impassable. After his return from the trip Mr. Reed settled down to farming on a tract of land of eighty acres in Victory township, which he had acquired some time previous. His real life work has been that of general farming and the close application and unfaltering diligence which he has manifested have constituted the basis of a gratifying prosperity.

In January, 1863, however, Mr. Reed felt that his first duty was to his country and enlisted as a member of Company I, Twentyninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. The campaign of the Twenty-ninth was a vigorous one and Mr. Reed took part in numerous engagements, in which he proved his valor and his fidelity to the stars and stripes. \Mien the war was ended and victory had perched on the Union banners he was mustered out. being discharged at New Orleans on the 13th of August, 1865. He then returned home and for two years thereafter was engaged in teaming in Guthrie Center.

In 1867 Mr. Reed traded his Victory township farm and his town property in Guthrie Center for one hundred and twenty acres in Bear Grove township, where he now resides. He removed to his new home and has since continued here. Some time later he sold forty acres of the farm, which was across the road from the eighty-acre tract on which he resided, and purchased another eighty acres adjoining his home place. Subsequently he added a similar amount, so that his farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres on sections 22 and 23. Bear Grove township. In his business he has steadily advanced, his financial resources increasing as his labor in the fields has brought forth good crops that made his work very profitable.

On the lath of October, 1860. Mr. Reed was married to Miss Mary A. Rose, a daughter of Ayers and Jane (Thompson) Rose, of Guernsey county. Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born four children. of whom three are living: Elmer E.. who is manager of the home farm: Hattie J., the wife of Richard Clark, of Audubon county.

Iowa; and Millie A., the wife of Andrew Long, of Grant township.

Mr. Reed is a republican in politics and for years has been recognized as a most ardent advocate of the principles of the party, but has never been an aspirant for political honors. He is among the highly esteemed of the early settlers who has been upright in his dealings and reliable at all times in business transactions. In more recent years, because of ill health, he has left the active management of his farm to his son, who has ably succeeded his father, being now recognized as one of the successful agriculturists of Guthrie county. Mr. Reed has passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and in the evening of his life receives the respect which should ever be accorded one who has advanced thus far and whose record has always been that of a worthy citizen. He proved a faithful soldier and in the pursuits of civil life has displayed equally commendable qualities.

As printed in Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.