William L. Reid

WILLIAM L. REID.

If one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advancement made in the development and. substantial upbuilding of this section of Ohio within the last few decades, he may listen to the stories and reminiscences of men who are still living here, and not overburdened with years, and whose memories form an indissoluble chain linking the early pioneer ef>och with these days of prosperity and proud accomplishment as the glorious twentieth century swings into the cycle of the ages. The subject of this review, one of the prominent and influential farmers of Seneca county, and one whose reputation is unsullied by suspicion of injustice or wrong, is a native son of the county, a representative of one of its pioneer families, and has here passed his entire life. It is well that records concerning such sterling citizens and pioneers be perpetuated on printed pages of this nature, and of the career of Mr. Reid we now offer a resume.

William L. Reid was born in Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the lath of January, 1838, the son of John T. and Eliza B. (Watson) Reid, who became the parents of four children, of whom three survive, — William L.; Margaret, who is the wife of Joseph Marquis, of Bloom township; and Benjamin F. Reid, of California. John T. Reid was Ix>rn in Maryland, January i, 1807, and there he was reared and educated. His father, Archibald Reid, was a native of England, and married Catherine Talbert, of the old Maryland family of that name. In 1829, when a yoimg man, John T. Reid came from his native state to Seneca county, in company with his uncle, John Valentine, and in 1831 he entered claim to a quarter section of heavily timbered government land in Bloom township, the place being now known as the old Shaffner farm. Here he built a small log cabin and proceeded to reclaim his land and place the same under cultivation. This he accomplished, and in 1856 he disposed of the property and purchased two hundred and forty acres of the farm now owned by his son. Here he developed a fine property, making good improvements as the years passed and here continuing to make his home until within a few years prior to his death, when he turned the farm over to our subject and thereafter lived in practical and well-desened retirement in the village of Bloomville until his death, on March 12, 1888, ar the age of eighty-one years. He was one of the influential men of the community, and served for several years as township trustee. In early life he was a Democrat in politics, later became a Republican, while finally he gave his allegiance to the Prohibition party, whose cause he continued to support and advocate until the close of his life. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife also was a member. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and died in 1897, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years, revered by all who knew her. In an early day she came to Seneca county from Pennsylvania with her mother, who had married Hugh McClellan, and she passed the remainder of her life here, dying at the age of ninety-two years.

William L. Reid grew up on the pioneer farm, and his educational advantages were such as were afforded by a somewhat desultory attendance in the primitive log school-house in the vicinity of his home, since, when he was still a boy, he began to aid in the work of reclaiming and cultivating the old homestead. He was married in 1860 and with his bride continued to reside on the old home farm, operating the same on shares for several years. In the early '70s his father removed to Bloomville, and somewhat later our subject purchased the farm to which he has since added until he now has two hundred and seventy-seven acres of as fertile and productive land as is to be found in this section of the state, his operations being naturally upon a somewhat extensive scale, while the fine improvements and general air of thrift indicate the care Ix'towed by a discriminating and progressive owner. Mr. Reid has ever had the friendship and high regard of the people of the community where

Google his life has been passed, and his eligibility for office of public trust and responsibility has been distinctively manifested, since he served fourteen years as trustee of Bloom township, doing much to conserve the best interests of the township and county. He gives a loyal and unswerving support to the Republican party and the principles for which it stands exponent, and fraternally is a member of Bloomville Lodge, No. 191, F. & A. M.

On the 25th of April, 1860, Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Martha Hershberger, who was born in Eden township, October 4, 1 84 1, the daughter of Jonas and Martha (Mauck) Hershberger, early settlers of the county, whither they came from Frederick county, Maryland. Mrs. Reid passed away on the 25th of February, 1890, leaving two daughters, — EJIen, who is the wife of M. O. Bliss, of Bloomville, and who has one child living, Edson; and Eliza, who remains at the paternal home, and who was educated in Heidelberg University; she has taken considerable interest in art work, and has made quite a success as a chicken fancier and breeder. On the 19th of April, 1891, Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Anna Sankey, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Almira (Lysle) Sankey, and of this union four children have been born, — Walter Merlin, Edwin Mc- Kinley, Mabel Amethyst and Alice Lysle.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.