Biography - James Reid
JAMES M. REID, a resident of Burnside Township, Johnson County, was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in 1828. He is a brother of William L. Reid, whose biographical sketch, together with mention of the parents, is to be found elsewhere in this volume. James M. was the fourth son and fifth child in order of birth, and was reared and educated at home. He was married in Calloway County, Ky., when in his twenty-fourth year, March 17, 1851, to Miss Ollie E. Robinson, a sister of his brother's first wife. This couple came to Johnson County, Ill., one year after their marriage, reaching here on the day of their first wedding anniversary. They came through with two yoke of oxen, and brought with them all their effects in a large covered wagon. Our subject raised one crop on his brother's claim of Government land, and then bought a claim of a settler for $150, all of which was gold excepting a $10 bill. He pre-empted eighty acres with a land warrant of the Jacksonian War, and at the end of six years added one hundred and twenty acres more Government land, making in all two hundred acres, which he sold in the year 1858, realizing more than $1,200. With the money he bought two hundred acres, which comprises his present farm, for $1,400, there being on it some little improvement. The house was originally a hewed-log one, in which the family still lives, having improved it by clapboarding on the outside and ceiling on the inside, which makes it a substantial and comfortable house.
Our subject and his estimable wife have had six sons and six daughters, of whom five sons and three daughters are living. The deceased ones are, Matilda, wife of A. P. Holloway, a Methodist minister of Pope County, and one son and two daughters who died in infancy. Those living are, Nancy P., wife of William E. Chitwood, a school teacher, who has six children; J. T., a farmer living near his father's farm, who has two sons; Mary J., wife of B. M. Holloway, who has two sons; Martha, wife of J. W. Rushing, who has one daughter; J. P., a farmer of Pope County, and also a Justice of the Peace, who has a wife and three sons; Robert Wesley, twenty-three years old; Hugh F, twenty-one and William Y., seventeen; the last three children are unmarried and live at home.
Mr. Reid and his wife have both been members of the Methodist Church for more than forty years, in which they have worked faithfully, and well, and the former has been a Class-leader. Charles G., brother of Mr. Reid of this sketch, is a farmer of Massac County, where he is also engaged in shoe and harness making. Mr. Reed voted for Stephen A. Douglas for President in 1860, but has ever since that time been a Republican, except for the past few years, when he became a Prohibitionist, and says he intends to support this reform the rest of his life. Mr. Reid stands high in the estimation of the people of this vicinity, and all those bearing the name are looked upon as citizens of the best class.
Extracted 28 May 2002 by Rick Girtman from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 394-395.
