JOHN M. REID

REID, METTEER, HILL

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 20:26:16

"John M. Reid, owning and operating an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Orient township, is widely recognized as one of the successful agriculturists and progressive and public-spirited citizens of the county. His birth occurred in Jasper county, Iowa, on the 5th of April, 1869, his parents being James H. and Augusta C. (Metteer) Reid, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of Scott county, Iowa. Charles Metteer, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was one of the early pioneer settlers of Scott county, this state. James H. Reid, father of J. M. Reid, removed to Scott county, Iowa, in 1854, when a youth of nineteen years, and was there married. Soon afterward he tookk up his abode on a farm in Jasper county, continuing its cultivation during his active business career and passing away thereon in 1908. His widow survives, however, and now makes her home across the county line, in Polk county.

John M. Reid acquired his education in the district schools and also pursued a course of study in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines. Subsequently he embarked in the hardware business at Mitchellville, being thus engaged for three years, while during the following five years he cultivated rented land in Jasper county. In 1900 he came to Adair county and for seven years was here identified with agricultural pursuits as a renter, while in 1907 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Orient township. Success has attended his undertakings in gratifying degree, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.

In 1893 Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Hill, of Jasper county, by whom he had nine children, eight of whom are yet living, namely: Kenneth L., Florence E., Mildred A., Dorothy A., John V., Charles F., William E. and Marian L. All are still under the parental roof.

Mr. Reid gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for years has been an active worker in its local ranks. During the past six years he has served as a member of the board of township trustees and he has also acted in the capacity of township assessor and as a member of the school board, making a creditable record as a most efficient and trustworthy public official. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Mitchellville Lodge, No. 363, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, with which his wife is also affiliated. His public-spirited devotion to the general good is manifested in many ways, including a loyal support of all the projects and measures which are undertaken for the upbuilding and welfare of the community."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.