Reed, Jacob I.

REED

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 8/12/2008 at 13:56:31

Jacob I. Reed

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.73, Belknap Twp.)
J. I. Reed, farming, P. O. Oakland, was born in Rushville, Rush Co., Ind., November 26, 1830. His father, Zenas Reed, was born in South Carolina March 9, 1795; was a stock-dealer and farmer. When twenty-three years old, he moved to Indiana, where he lived till 1840. About 1830, he became County judge of Rush County, Ind., which position he held a number of years; he held several other civil offices. In 1840, he moved from Indiana to Mercer County, Ill., where he farmed till his death, March 6, 1845. Subject's mother, Elizabeth (Rishling) Reed, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., March 10, 1805. She is the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters. Two sons and one daughter are dead. Mr. Reed received his education mostly in a subscription school, the building for which was erected by subject's father and three other men. When Mr. Reed was fifteen years old, his father died, and the care of the stock and farm devolved on our subject and an older brother. They conducted the farm till they were of age. This brother, George, was afterward the first Postmaster of Big Grove. October 21, 1851, our subject was married, in Mercer County, Ill., to Hannah Jane Sherer, born in Lawrence County, Penn., February 27, 1832; daughter of Robert and Mary (Adair) Sherer, he born in Lawrence County, Penn., in 1803, was a farmer by occupation, and died December 25, 1854, in Mercer County, Ill. When Mrs. Reed was one year old, her mother died. After his marriage, Mr. Reed farmed in Mercer County, Ill., till 1855, when he came to Council Bluffs. After remaining a short time in Council Bluffs engaged in teaming, Mr. Reed returned to Mercer County, Ill., where he remained till 1861, when he came back to Iowa, and bought prairie land. The latter he improved and exchanged for a farm in Big Grove; there he lived from February, 1863, to October, 1881, when he sold his farm and bought nine acres on the northern limits of Oakland. In 1882, Mr. Reed bought 200 acres two and one-half miles south of Hancock. This is very fine land. For the last three years, Mr. Reed has dealt in hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have ten children - Adaline (Mrs. McMartin), Mary (Mrs. Larue), Maggie, (Mrs. Russell), Robert, George, John, Albert, Irwin, Harry and May. Mrs. Reed is a Presbyterian; Mr. Reed is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a Republican.

(From the Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.597)
JACOB I. REED, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie county, first came to Council Bluffs in 1854 when the town contained only log houses. His great-grandfather, Jacob REED, came from Scotland and settled in South Carolina long before the Revolutionary war. His son, Jacob REED, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that State and was a captain in the war of the Revolution, and received a land warrant. He was married in his native state to Mary SMITH, and to them were born 9 children: Enos, Rebecca, Wilburn, Harper, Francis, Jackson, Joseph, Mary and Ozie. After these children had reached maturity, Mr. REED moved to Rush County, Indiana, about 1817 and settled on a farm near Rushville. In 1842 he moved to Mercer County, Illinois, where he died in 1853 at about 80 years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a devoted Christian. He was also an educated man, and taught school until he was 74 years of age, having taught in one building for five years.
Enos REED, the father of our subject, was born in South Carolina and was 23 years of age when his father moved to Indiana with his large family. He was married in Rush County, that state, to Elizabeth RISHLING, daughter of Fredrick and Catharine (BOUSEMAN) RISHLING. The father was of German descent and was an old settler of Rush County. He was the father of six children, viz.: Fredrick, Catherine, Elizabeth, George, William and Samuel. After marriage Mr. REED settled on a farm in Rush county, and was the father of 9 children, namely: Emily, George, Jacob, Edner, Mary, Enos, Marion, Emeline and Elizabeth. The father was a county judge of his county for several years. He removed to Illinois and settled on a farm where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church and held several church offices. At one time he had a handsome property, but lost it all in the cattle business. He lived to the age of 54 years, dying in Mercer County, Illinois.
His son, Jacob I., the subject of this sketch, was born November 26, 1830, in Rushville, Indiana, and was but 11 years of age when his parents removed to Illinois. He remained on a farm in Mercer County until 1861 when he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He lived for two years south of Oakland, then came to the northeast corner of what was then Big Grove, where he remained 19 years. In 1882 he settled on his present farm of 200 acres.
He was married in Mercer County, in 1861, to Hannah J. SHERER, daughter of Robert SHERER. He was the father of three children: Eunice, Margaret, and Hannah J. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born ten children, namely: Adaline, May S., Margaret, Robert, George, John, Albert, Irvin, Harry and Jennie M. The mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois, but joined the Methodist Church in Iowa. She died in March 1890 at age 58 years, and was a faithful and devoted wife and mother. She was a helpmate to her husband, having labored with him to build up a home in the wilderness of Iowa. Robert REED, their eldest son, died very suddenly in August 1890, at age 28 years. This was a sad blow to Mr. REED, following so closely the death of his wife. Mr. REED is a man of honor and integrity, and has done his full share toward building up and developing this township. He has taken an active interest in the schools, having acted as school director and trustee. Socially he is an Odd Fellow.