JOHN W. REED, a prominent and influential agriculturist of East Pike Run township, is a grandson of Samuel and Maria J. Reed, who lived in Allegheny county, Penn., the grandfather dying in December, 1869, in his eighty-seventh year, the grandmother at the age of about seventy-five years. Thomas R. Reed, the eldest son of Samuel and Maria J. Reed, was born October 31, 1816, and in early life learned the trade of blacksmith, at which he is still working. On September 6, 1838, he was married to Mary Ann Pyle, who was eighteen years old at the time, and to this union were born children as follows: Joseph F., born October 11, 1839, by trade a blacksmith; Samuel H., born March 25, 1841, following carpentry; John W., born February 6, 1843; William E., born December 5, 1814; Boyd E., born April 30, 1846, a blacksmith by trade; James W., born July 6, 1848, by occupation a plasterer and contractor; Thomas Roland, born June 3, 1850, died March 21, 1866; Maria E., born May 21, 1852; Mary J., born September 17, 1854, died March 10, 1855; Albenah A., born March 20, 1856; Cyrus S., born February 20, 1858, now a blacksmith; Ida M., born February 18, 1860; and Alfred F., born July 19, 1862, also a blacksmith. The mother of this family died October 30, 1878. The father now lives in Irwin, Westmoreland Co., Penn. He votes with the Democratic party, and for twenty years was a justice of the peace at Allenport, Washington Co., Penn.; in religious faith he is a member of the Baptist Church. John W. Reed was reared to manhood in the town of Allenport (now Independence), where his early education was received. He then learned blacksmithing and boiler making, which trades he followed until purchasing the farm. In November, 1865, he was married to Sara A. Wilson, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Stroud, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of five children, viz.: Charles, residing in Belle Vernon, Fayette county; Emily, wife of Joseph Eller, of Belle Vernon, Fayette county; Mary J., married to Nathan Werrell, of Fayette county; Jemima, wife of Abraham Tinley, of Bentleyville, Washington county, and Sara A. (Mrs. Reed). Mr. and Mrs. Reed reside on the home farm of 116 acres, located two miles southeast of Coal Centre, Penn. During 1862-63 he worked in the navy yard at Pittsburgh. He and his wife are members of the Ebenezer M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Reed affiliates with the Democratic party, is interested in the progress and welfare of his community, and has served as school director. He is one of the directors of the California National Bank. His house and surroundings are a credit to the owner, and place him among the thrifty and progressive men of the county. Mr. Reed has resided upon his present home since 1890.

Text taken from page 598 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]