WILLIAM B. REEDER

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Mr. W. B. Reeder and Mrs. W. B. Reeder

William B. Reeder, long identified with agricultural interests in Cedar county but now living retired in Tipton, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, November 8, 1832, and is the eldest in a family of four sons and one daughter, whose parents were George and Sophia (Stroub) Reeder, natives of Maryland and of Pennsylvania respectively. They resided in Ohio during a portion of the first half of the nineteenth century, and in 1850 came with their family to Iowa, spending their remaining days upon a farm in Cedar county, where they met the usual experiences and privations of pioneer life until the efforts of the early settlers had introduced all the advantages and comforts known to the older east. Further mention of the family is made in connection with the sketch of J. W. Reeder on another page of this volume.

William B. Reeder spent his first eighteen years of his life in the county of his nativity and thence made his way direct to Tipton in 1850. The family home was established about three miles northwest of the city and there he continued to reside until 1895, when he removed to Tipton, having in 1894 erected his present home at No. 1107 Seventh street. He still retains ownership of the old farm, a tract of two hundred acres of rich and valuable land, which he converted into productive fields, gathering therefrom abundant harvests. In all of his farm work he was practical and progressive, determined and resourceful, and in the basic industry of agriculture he found a field for his success. His attention in a business way has been given only to farming, save that after removing to Iowa he engaged in teaching school through the winter months for five years. He is financially interested in the City National Bank of Tipton, serving as one of its directors since its organization.

In 1858 Mr. Reeder was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Wiggins, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 12, 1840, and arrived in Cedar county, Iowa, in the fall of 1852. She died September 15, 1906, and in her death Mr. Reeder lost one who had for forty-eight years been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life’s journey. In their family were six children: Ida is the wife of Frank Foster, of Boston, Massachusetts. Emma is at home. Fred L., is a resident of Tipton. Frank G. resides on the home farm. Martha, born in 1874, became the wife of Homer Wroten, and died April 1, 1905. Mertie B., born in 1879, became the wife of Louis Beed and departed this life in September, 1907. All the children with the exception of the oldest daughter are graduates of the Tipton high school and all attended Cornell College, Martha, Frank and Emma having graduated there. Emma was a teacher for about two years and for nine years was connected with the Young Women’s Christian Association work as a general secretary, spending four years of that time on the Pacific coast. Fred, Frank and Martha also engaged in teaching school for a time. For two years Martha was secretary of the Young Woman’s Christian Association at Kalamazoo, Michigan, having previously spent two years in the Chicago training school.

In his political views Mr. Reeder has always been a republican but in recent years has been much more independent, considering the capability of the candidate rather than his party affiliations at local elections. He has reported to the National Agricultural Bureau at Washington, D. C., since its organization during the first administration of Grover Cleveland. He has always taken a very helpful and active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church since aiding in building the West Bethel church in 1857, where he still holds membership. His life has conformed to its teachings and its principles have found exemplification in his treatment of his fellowmen and his conduct of his business affairs.