Reed, Melvina (Forbes) 1842-1923

REED, FORBES, BUDD

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 9/25/2021 at 16:48:16

from the Wed., 14 Mar. 1923 issue of "Fennimore Times" (Fennimore, WI), Lancaster section, page 12, column 3:

Mrs. M. A. Reed

Word was received Thursday by friends in Lancaster apprising them of the death of Mrs. M. A. Reed at St. Paul, Minn., where she had been the past five years, she having gone there to make her home with two cousins who both preceded her in death and since then she has lived in the Episcopal Church Home in that city. She had been in failing health for some time and her passing on was not unexpected.

Mrs. Reed’s maiden name was Melvina Forbes, born at Garnovillo [sic], Iowa, September 9, 1842. Her people came to Lancaster to live when she was still a young child and lived here until she grew to womanhood. While the family lived here the parents conducted a hotel called the “Black Hotel” which was located on the present site of the Wright House block, and later moved back to Garnovillo. Here the deceased met and married Dr. Reed, a young physician, who at the commencement of the Civil war enlisted as a surgeon and while stationed at St. Louis he became infected with blood poisoning through an operation on a soldier boy and this was the direct cause of his invalidism the remainder of his life. They moved back to Garnovillo and the doctor followed the practice of medicine until his death. Five children were born to them, three dying in infancy and two growing to manhood but passing on while still in the prime of life, leaving the mother alone. After the death of the husband Mrs. Reed with her two small sons came to Cassville to reside with relatives and here she organized a music class. As she was very successful as a teacher she came to Lancaster and had no trouble in finding pupils and remuneration to support her children. And this remained her home until a few years ago.

It was the expressed request of Mrs. Reed to have Miss Clara Budd accompany her remains to its last resting place, and in fulfillment of the pledge Miss Budd left Friday to meet the body and take it to Garnovillo to have it placed beside the husband, parents and a brother. The nearest relatives of this good woman are cousins living in Minneapolis and La Crosse.