JOHN REED (deceased) was a son of David Reed, one of the earliest pioneers of Washington county, Penn. David Reed, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a native of Lancaster county, Penn., about the year 1777 came with a brother, John, to Washington county. They were offered settlement rights by the State of Virginia on certain conditions which they accepted, and immediately erected their cabins on the land. In the fall they returned to Lancaster county, where John's wife was awaiting him, and David's betrothed then becoming his bride, the two couples moved to their new homes in the following spring. They lived there several years in undisturbed possession, but the land being really a portion of the George Washington survey, was afterward claimed by that famous personage, while the title was being investigated. After the ejectment suit was decided, the two brothers removed to Cecil township, where they purchased land. John died in 1816, leaving the following children: David (who settled on the home farm), John (sold his land, which is now owned by John Cabbage), Catherine (Mrs. Daniel McClean, Chenango, Penn.), Ann (married to Robert Story), Jane (wife of Rev. David Emery, Darlington, Beaver Co., Penn.) and Mary (wife of Rev. Alexander Murray, Slippery Rock, Penn.) David Reed took a tomahawk claim of 400 acres, and passed his life in Cecil township, this county. He was a ruling elder in the Seceder Church at Canonsburg, of which his wife was also a member; she died many years ago, and he is now buried by her side. Their children were Alexander (married in Cecil township), David (farmer of Cecil township), Mary (wife of George Murray, Chartiers township), John, James (formerly a jeweler of Washington, afterward living in Pittsburgh, Penn.) and Joseph (deceased in 1888, formerly lived on the old homestead in Cecil township). All of these children lived to an advanced age, but are now deceased.
John Reed (the subject of this sketch) was born in 1787, in Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county, and was reared in Cecil township, there receiving his early education. He afterward attended Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, under the preceptorship of Dr. McMillan, during the early history of that institution, graduating in 1806. In 1826 John Reed was married to Jane May, a native of Cecil township, this county, and daughter of John and Phoebe (Ross) May, who were born in Lancaster county, Penn., and after their marriage settled in Cecil township, where they lived and died.
After their marriage John and Jane (May) Reed made a permanent home in Mount Pleasant township, and the homestead is still in the possession of the family. John Reed was actively interested in politics, being a member of the Federalist party. He represented Washington county in the State Legislature from 1816 to 1822, also served many years as justice of the peace, and was county commissioner. He and his wife were formerly members of the Seceder Church, afterward uniting with the U. P. Church at Mount Pleasant in which he was a ruling elder. His wife died many years ago, and he was laid to rest beside her in 1877, weary with the weight of ninety-two years of life. The following children were born to the union of John and Jane (May) Reed: Phoebe, Mrs. A. J Miller, of Hickory, this county (deceased in 1883); Margaret, living on the home farm; David, a farmer of Smith township, married to Martha Borland; John (deceased in 1866); George, of whom further mentioned is made below; Jane, Mrs. John Wilson ( living in this county); Samuel (mentioned farther on), Mary and Elizabeth (living in this county).
Of the children of the above family, George Reed is living on the old homestead, following farming. He is not an active politician, but votes with the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the U. P. Church at Venice, this county. Samuel Reed was married in September, 1885, to Lizzie Harper, a native of Cecil township, this county, and daughter of John Harper, who was born in Cecil township. John Harper was married to Ellen Jane Wallace, a native of Ireland who was brought to America when but three years of age. She is still living on the home farm in Cecil township, but her husband died in March, 1885. Samuel Reed and his wife are members of the U. P. Church at Venice, this county. Their home is in McDonald, Robinson township.
Text taken from page 1015 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]