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         SAMUEL REANEY, of the firm of Reaney Bros., clothiers, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April 14, 1862, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Turkington) Reaney. In August, 1863, he emigrated to America in company with his parents, who settled at Chester, Pa., and eight years later, in 1871, they came to Louisa County, Iowa, locating on a farm in Concord Township. Samuel was educated at the public schools, and began his business life as a clerk with S. & L. Cohn & Co., wholesale and retail clothiers, of Muscatine, Iowa, with whom he continued for two years, and then formed a partnership, Nov. 1, 1886, with Mr. Mackey. That connection was continued until April, 1888, when his brother, Robert J., purchased an interest, and the present firm was organized.

In his political views Mr. Reaney is a Republican, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He also belongs to Columbus Junction Lodge No. 365, I. O. O. F., and to Liberty Lodge No. 22, K. of P., of Columbus Junction.

Our subject’s parents are residents of Concord Township, Louisa County, and their sketch appears elsewhere in this work. His uncle, Thomas Reaney, who recently died at Philadelphia in his seventy-fifth . . .

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. . . year, was prominently identified with the ship-building interests of this country for many years. He came to America when twenty-three years of age, was first a locomotive engineer, later starting a ship yard at Philadelphia, in company with John F. Starr, under the firm name of Reaney & Starr, and their yard made the first iron boat ever built in Philadelphia. After several changes in the firm organization he went to Chester, Pa., there establishing what is now known as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works, under the name of Reaney, Son & Archibald. Mr. Reaney retired from business in January, 1871, and was succeeded by John Roach & Sons, who became the great Government ship builders of the United States. If the ships constructed by the various yards with which he was identified could be massed together they would form a mammoth fleet. Mr. Reaney was noted for his public spirit and liberality, and as a specimen of his manner of giving, it is stated that he built the South Ward First Presbyterian Church from his own private means. The family is of Scotch origin, and all are Presbyterians.