Reel, Perry

REEL

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 2/10/2008 at 18:34:42

Perry Reel

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.117, Hazel Dell Twp.)
Perry Reel, farmer, P. O. Honey Creek Station. William A. Reel was a native of Virginia, but moved to Indiana about 1822, settling in Putname County. In 1850, he came to Iowa, and like the country, purchased two claims, one for himself and one for his son-in-law, Edmond Latham. Mr. Latham and a Mr. Cox came in the fall of 1851, and then Mr. Reel in the spring of 1852, and through Mr. Reel's influence, almost all the settlers than came from Putnam and Clay Counties, Ind., came to this part of the county. Mr. William Reel bought the mill on Pigeon Creek when first coming in 1852, and resided near the same till is death, in 1859. Mr. Reel did as much or more than any one to make this part of the county what it is - a community filled up with energetic and successful farmers. Mr. William Reel had two sons - W. R., who is now in Montana in the mining business; and Perry Reel, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Perry Reel was born in Putnam County, Ind., in 1838, and came to this county with his parents in 1852, and since that time Pottawattamie County has been his home. Mr. Reel's education was obtained in the subscription schools of Indiana. When coming here, they did not have any schools, so his chances for an education depended on himself. Mr. Reel's main business has been that of farming. His politics have always been those of his father - Democratic. Previous to 1867, Mr. Reel had served five years as a member of the Board of Supervisors from his township. In 1867, he was elected Sheriff of Pottawattamie County, and again re-elected in 1869, going out of office January, 1872. He then was on farm till the fall of 1873; he was elected County Treasurer and served two years, and again, in 1877, he was elected Sheriff, and held the office two terms, going out January 1882. Mr. Reel's election to office so many times in a county where his support had to come from Republicans as well as his own party, tells more of his personal character and uprightness than any other words can, and he feels indebted to both parties for the honor. Mr. Reel was married, in 1862, to Miss Millie Branson, who was also born in Indiana. She came to Pottawattamie County in teh spring of 1860, with her father, Jonathan Branson. They have five children living - two boys and three girls - all at home. Mr. Reel also has his fair share of this world's goods, having quite a large body of land, most of it, however, being grass land and pasture. Still, his home farm of 160 acres is well improved, fine forest groves, convenient farm buildings, fruit, etc. Mr. Reel has water works on a small scale on his farm. A wind-mill pumps water into a tank or reservoir on a bluff about seventy feet above the level of his building grounds, and from this pipes are laid below frost depth to different places around his grounds where he has hydrants. Other things are made convenient in proportion. The place first settled by William A. Reel is now owned by H. B. Paris. When Mr. William A. Reel built his house on the old home place, it was probably the finest house in the county at the time, and, with lumber and everything else so expensive, the house cost about $8,000. At Mr. Reel's close of office, January 1882, the Council Bluffs bar presented him with a fine gold-headed cane, in token of their good will.