My Genealogy Hound

Herbert L. Reed, a prominent merchant of Irwin, Mo., was born in Stark County, Ill., on the 16th of October, 1848, being a son of Isaac C. and Luna (Pomeroy) Reed, who were born in Litchfield County, Conn., and Vermont, in 1821 and 1824, respectively, and are yet living, enjoying fairly good health. Isaac C. learned the shoemaker’s trade of his father, and in 1841 left Connecticut for Illinois. He worked at his calling until 1868, when he went to California, residing there eighteen months, and then came to Barton County in 1871, where he still resides. He has been engaged in farming since 1868, in which occupation he has met with well-deserved success. He is a Chapter Mason and a Democrat. His parents, William A. and Amy Reed, were born in the “Nutmeg State,” and moved to Illinois about 1841, where they died in 1882 and 1874, respectively. The former was of Scotch descent, a shoemaker by trade, and during the War of 1812 was an active participant in a number of engagements. Herbert L. Reed is the eldest of the following children: Herbert L.; Miles A., an engineer in Colorado, but whose home is in Weeping Water, Neb.; Sewell S., who is foreman of the Weeping Water Stone Company, and superintends 365 hands; and Ernest A., who is an employe of the Denver Street Railroad Company. Herbert L. Reed received his education in the common schools of Stark County, Ill., and at the age of nineteen years began doing for himself, having previously learned the harness-maker’s trade. In the year 1870 he came to Barton County and located in Union Township, where he engaged in farming and stock trading, and since 1885 has given his attention to the mercantile trade in Irwin. The same year he built a mill on his farm, which he has since operated. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., in his political views is a Democrat, and in 1886 was appointed postmaster of Irwin. November 3, 1872, he married Amanda O. Bickford, who was born in Fulton County, Ill., in 1852, and by her has these children: Edwin P., Laura, Pearl and Grover. Mrs. Reed is a daughter of John Bickford.