William Evans Reed

JOLLY, REED, SCOTT, SIMPKINS

Posted By: Madison County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/22/2015 at 08:34:59

"History of Decatur County, Iowa and Its People", Volume II
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1915

W. E. Reed, a highly esteemed farmer living retired in Pleasanton, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, February 15, 1842,a son of William and Susanna (Scott) Reed. The father, who was a native of Ireland, migrated to America with his parents in 1818, the family residence being established in Ohio, where his father followed agricultural pursuits. William Reed removed to Madison county, Iowa, in 1855 and purchased land, to the operation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1857. His wife, who was a native of Virginia, died in 1905.

W. E. Reed was reared and educated in Ohio and Madison county, Iowa, and remained with his mother until he was about eighteen years of age. He then began working as a farm hand and was so engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he put aside all personal considerations and enlisted in Company I, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served for three years and eight months. At the close of hostilities he returned to ^Madison county, Iowa, and rented land there until February, 1896. In that year he went to Mercer county, Missouri, and purchased land which he cultivated for six years. In 1902, feeling that he had acquired a competence, he retired from active life and removed to Pleasanton, where he has since resided, enjoying well earned leisure.

In 1881 Mr. Reed married Miss Rose Jolly, a daughter of Beden and Lucinda (Simpkins) Jolly, both natives of Iowa. The father farmed in Warren, Van Buren and Madison counties, Iowa, but for the past thirty years has operated a truck farm near St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have become the parents of four children: Merton, who is farming in Hamilton township, Decatur county; Oscar, at home; Ivan, also a farmer of Hamilton township; and Donald, who died in 1892.

Mr. Reed is a republican and has given stanch support to the party which stood by the Union in the time of its peril. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and no movement characterized by high moral endeavor lacks his support and cooperation. He has many excellent qualities which have gained him the respect and esteem of those who know him.