Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 690
DANIEL C. REEL

It is proper to judge of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They know him as he really is, not only in his relations with his fellow men, but also what sort of man he is in his home, in his church and about his daily affairs and are, therefore, competent to judge what manner of man he is. When the stamp of approval is placed on a man by the friends among whom he has resided for many years, it properly may be stated that he is worthy of all the honor and respect accorded him. Such may be said to be the lot of Daniel C. REEL, subject of this short biographical sketch. Mr. REEL has passed his entire life in St. Johns township, Harrison county, Iowa, having first seen the light of day on the old REEL homestead in section 28, where he now has his home. He was born on April 17, 1874, a son of John Allen and Amanda REEL, both of whom were born and reared in Putnam county, Indiana.

John A. REEL was born in Reelsville in that county, which town had received its name from members of his family, and he and his wife were joined in wedlock in their native state before starting in 1852 on the long overland journey which ended in this county. After reaching Harrison county, John A. REEL secured a tract of land on which he made his home for a time, this being the exact spot on which the stock yards of Missouri Valley are now located. He was a miller and for some time operated the mill owned by Uncle Henry REEL at Logan, this county. Later he secured from Frank WEATHERLY the tract of land where his son, Daniel C., now lives, which at that time had been but little improved. After moving there he put the best efforts possible into its improvement and resided there the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1910, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife had died two years previous, when seventy-three years old. John Allen REEL was a man who kept abreast of the times and was instrumental in introducing into this section many implements and practices much better known in other sections. He had the first threshing machine in his neighborhood and was kept extremely busy during the season making his rounds. He was a stanch Republican and a member of the Baptist church and was a man well known throughout the county, counting his warm friends by the scores. To him and his good wife were born eleven children, as follow: The eldest living is Mrs. Sarah MATTOX, of St. Johns township; the second daughter, Caroline, is dead; John H. is a farmer near Loveland; Henry M. is a farmer of Pottawattamie county; Dorcas, the first child of the family, is dead, as is also Martha; Mary JONES resides in Missouri Valley and William L. farms in Pottawattamie county; George Dow is a farmer, of Crayton, Nebraska, and the youngest of the family; Florence A. (Mrs. MEADOWS), lives in Silver City, this state. The immediate subject of this sketch is next to the youngest in order of birth.

When a boy, Daniel C. REEL attended the old Willow Creek school house, making the best of such educational advantages as it afforded at that time, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time, on January 13, 1897, he was united in marriage with Nora A. JONES, a native of Pottawattamie county, and a daughter of Allen S. and Eliza (FLETCHER) JONES, retired farmers residing at Missouri Valley. Directly after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. REEL located on the W. E. JONES's place in section 30 of St. Johns township, purchasing forty acres thereof. They remained there two years, at the end of which time they moved to a forty-acre tract in Cincinnati township, this county. There they remained but a comparatively short time, for in 1908 Mr. REEL bought the old REEL homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, where the family has since resided. He has been winning success in his undertaking and in 1913 erected his splendid two-story, nine-room house, besides making many other valuable improvements on the place. His farm is in an excellent state of cultivation and he succeeds well with his crops of grain. He also gives a goodly portion of his time and attention to his live stock, having a splendid strain of Poland China hogs. He also breeds road horses and many good animals have come from his stables.

While his own affairs have been such as entirely to engross a less liberal-minded man, Mr. REEL has made a place in his scheme of affairs for some service to the community at large. He is a stanch Republican and has served as school director of his township for six years, also having charge of all road work for four years. Before going to St. Johns township, he also had held office in Cincinnati township, and has always taken a keen interest in anything that had for its object the betterment of the community in any line. His religious fellowship is held with the Christian church of Missouri Valley and in its affairs he takes a warm interest. He gives all he possibly can of both time and money in this direction and is at present serving his congregation as elder. His fraternal affiliation is held with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows through the local lodge at Missouri Valley. Mr. REEL is a man who is wide awake to the questions of the hour and well posted on all matters, particularly such as pertain to his chosen vocation. He is said to possess most excellent judgment in business matters, which coupled with his energy and ambition has doubtless brought him the gratifying degree of success which is his. He is a most agreeable man to meet and readily makes friends, whom he is able to retain because of his genuine worth. Mrs. REEL also is warmly liked by all who know her and their home is a center from which genuine hospitality radiates, attracting friend and the casual stranger alike. They are the parents of three children: Fletcher, Lois and Harry, all of whom are at home with the parents. Fletcher, seventeen years of age, and Lois, fourteen, are attending high school in Missouri Valley. Harry is twelve years of age.

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