Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 591
JAMES W. REED

James W. REED, an extensive farmer and stock-grower of Jefferson Township, residing in Logan, will form the subject of the subjoined notice.

Agriculture is as old as the human race. All nations, kindred and tribes have subsisted upon the products (directly or indirectly) of the earth. Again, agriculture and stock-raising are so closely connected that the success of the one depends upon the success of the other. The cereals and vegetables, together with the meats furnished by the "cattle on the thousand hills," make u the general diet of mankind, and they who are engaged in the production of these life-sustaining substances are indeed benefactors to their race, and hold an honorable position among their fellow-men.

To be an intelligent farmer, with all that this term implies, means much. It is a profession by itself, and can only be excelled in through years of careful training and experiences, sometimes not so pleasing.

It is said that Daniel WEBSTER was never more happy than when arrayed in the garb of his rural costume, feeding his herd of cattle, upon a New England hillside, by his own hands.

To fully understand what our subject has gone through with in life, in order to become the thorough farmer that we now find him, it may be well to review his earlier career, commencing at his birth, which occurred in the old Buckeye State --Ashtabula County, Ohio, September 21, 1825.

His father was William REED, a native of Massachusetts, born December 30, 1794. He was a farmer of the good old Yankee stripe, and early inculcated the principles of thoroughness into our subject's mind which have enabled him to succeed in life. Not being able to carry out the broad-minded views of agriculture he entertained in the New England States, our subject's father removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1812, where he died December 23, 1867, and was buried Christmas day, after a long and well-spent life. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Maria (ADAMS) REED, the daughter of Colonel ADAMS, who was a native of the Bay State, and died when our subject was eight years old, and when she was but thirty-three years of age.

Shortly after the death of our subject's mother, and when he was yet a small boy, he went to live with his uncle, James M. ADAMS, of Andover, Ohio, and there remained until about thirteen years old, working and attending the district schools common to that State. Upon leaving his uncle, he engaged at farm labor during the summer time and attended school through the winter, thereby acquiring an education sufficient to enable him to teach school himself. He also attended school at Kingsville Academy four or five terms, and was at Alleghany College one year. Farm life having a peculiar charm for him he commenced for himself in 1848, and September 18, 1850, he was united in marriage to Martha A. HARDY, a native of Ohio, born January 21, 1826. Her father was John HARDY, a native of Pennsylvania, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, dying in July, 1880. Her mother was Esther (CHAPIN) HARDY, a native of Massachusetts, who died in her sixty-fourth year, on March 5, 1858.

After our subject's marriage he purchased about eighty acres of land, and to this kept adding until he had three hundred and sixty acres, and a timber lot of eighty acres, upon which was located a sawmill, and for about five years he operated this in connection with his farm work.

He then built a steam sawmill on the south part of his farm, at a point called Monroe Centre, marketing his lumber at Buffalo, principally.

He was also very extensively engaged in dairying and stock-raising, employing from eight to twenty men. In these business relations he was quite successful; even this far in his life he had had quite an experience. The highest price of wages he had ever received, either at farming or teaching, was fourteen dollars per month. Upon the death of his father he fell heir to the old homestead, valued at about $6,000, and consisting of two hundred and ten acres, upon which there was some indebtedness. He cleared this up and disposed of the place in 1884.

He came to Harrison County in November, 1877, and purchased land on section 8, of Jefferson Township, to which he added the same season, which made in all seven hundred and forty acres, which he sold in 1880. He did a large stock business in this place, feeding from two to three hundred head of cattle and four hundred head of hogs.

His landed estate in Harrison County now amounts to fifteen hundred acres of choice improved land, which embraces some of the most fertile soil of the Boyer Valley. His son, Roland, H., is on one of the farms containing five hundred and fifty acres, which he runs in company with his father, while the remainder are rented.

At this writing, August, 1891, he has on hand three hundred head of cattle. He generally feeds the years around, buying, feeding and shipping all the time.

Mr. and Mrs. REED are the parents of two children--Roland H., born June 23, 1851, and May, born May 25, 1858.

Politically, Mr. REED is independent in his beliefs.

In religious matters, his wife is a member of the Congregational Church.

The history of our subject's life should be a study for the youth into whose hands this book may fall, giving a record, as it does, of how success at farm life has been achieved by one of New England's sons who was left an orphan boy at the age of eight years.

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