Home > Family History > John William Reed
John William Reed continued the western migration of the family being born in Andover, Connecticut and moving to Henrietta, Huron Co., New York as a child. He then moved from New York to Ohio with his family in 1851. He first lived in Erie County, Ohio then moved to Collins, Huron County, Ohio in 1872 where he spent the rest of his life. He held various public offices; county recorder, infirmary superintendent, and justice of the peace. He was also a businessman trying his hand as a vineyardist and a lumber dealer. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church late in life.
Sources:
1850 US Census, New York, Monroe County, Henrietta, family 1540, line 30. Name: John W. Reed Age: 36, Male; Born: Massachusetts. He is in the same household as his parents, Daniel and Patty Reed, wife Lucinda Reed, children John E. Reed and Adelia Reed as well as John Roach and Catherine Burwell from Ireland and James Lacy from England.
His birthplace recorded in the 1850 census, Massachusetts, is incorrect.
"Lorinda Webster, b. Oct. 10, 1823, m. Jan. 12, 1839, in the town of Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., John William Reed, a "business man," b. May 2, 1811, same place, son of Daniel and Patty (Whiting) Reed. He d. Dec. 23, 1883 at Collins, Huron Co., 0., and she. May 1, 1902, at Tiffin, Seneca Co., 0., but is buried at Collins, 0.
John Wm. Reed and his wife, Lorinda, removed from Henrietta, N. Y., to Sandusky, 0., in November, 1851. He was a Justice of the Peace; Superintendent of the Erie County Infirmary from 1857 to 1862, and Erie County Recorder, 1862-1868. Removed to Collins, O., in 1872. After his death she removed to Norwalk, 0., and was Matron of the Huron County Children's Home from 1885 to 1889. In 1892 she removed to Gallon, 0.; 1894 to Delaware, 0., 1900 to Tiffin, 0., where she died in the home of her only daughter."
pp. 1147–1148, History and genealogy of the Gov. John Webster family of Connecticut, by Webster, William Holcomb and Webster, Melville Reuben, 1915, E.R. Andrews Print. Co., Rochester, NY. https://archive.org/details/historygenealogy00webs/page/1146
The following is transcribed from a newspaper clipping in our family bible, currently in the possession of William Alonzo Reed of Balsam Grove, N.C., December 2, 2015.
Townsend Obituary. John William Reed was born in Andover, Ct., May 2nd, 1813. In the year 1821 he moved with his father's family to Monroe Co., N.Y., he being then eight years of age. He was united in marriage to Miss Lovinda Webster on the 12th day of January, 1841. The offspring of this union were J. E. Reed and Gertie A. Reed, now the wife of the Rev. E. Persons. Brother Reed removed from New York State to Erie Co., O., in 1851, where he resided until November, 1872 when he came to this place where he has since lived. He was the seventh of eight children, all of whom save one, Mrs. Isaac McKesson, of this place, have preceded him to the future world. He was a man of few words, entertained strong convictions, was faithful, efficient and accommodating in the offices of public trust which he filled at different times. (He having held the offices of Infirmary Superintendent and County Recorder each for a term of years in Erie County.) He had no known enemy; all who knew him were his friends. He was kind in his family, very indulgent and generous to a fault. No call of need was ever turned from his door. About eight years since, when over sixty years of age, he was clearly converted to God under the pastorate of Rev. Hiram Royce of blessed memory, and united with the M. E. Church, and has been a willing and efficient helper in church work and counsel so far as his weak constitution and poor health would permit. "He was truly faithful in all his house." The family altar was a place of spiritual joy with him, frequently rising to victorious triumph, and in his last illness which was exceedingly painful and severe, he often found refuge and strength in prayer. At the commencement of his last sickness his language was - "This is the beginning of the end." Thus he met death as a friend and not an enemy. He died Sunday morning, Dec. 23rd, 1883, retaining consciousness to the very last. Recognizing and speaking words of tenderness and assurance to those who were watching and waiting for the moment of dissolution, Thus endeth a life of three score and ten years in blessedness and peace. His age was 70 years 7 months and 23 days. H. Place
This clipping appears to be from the Sandusky Register, January 2, 1884, Page 4, Column 4.
His gravestone, an obelisk for several people, has "John W. Reed[,] May 2, 1812[,] Dec. 23, 1883" engraved.
The family tree I made for a 7th grade school project in 1985 and is still in my posession has "John William Reed Jr.[,] Born: in Andover Connecticut". His father is incorrectly listed as John William Reed [Sr.,] Lived in Henryetta [sic] N.Y.[,] was College Professor". John William Reed's father was Daniel Reed III. This information came from my Uncle Bob and my father. I remember my father saying that his father said there was a "William" Reed ancestor "back there somewhere" and that one of these Reeds had four wives and was some kind of teacher. Perhaps the Jr./Sr. designation was confused with the Daniel Reeds which had a Sr., Jr., and III.
Floyd A. Reed, December 29, 2019 – April 19, 2020