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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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JAMES B. REED, contractor and builder, was born in Allegheny City, Oct. 23, 1838, a son of Robert M. and Sarah (Bigham) Reed. His paternal grandfather, Robert Reed, a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and a pioneer of Washington and Allegheny counties, in the pioneer days “packed” salt over the mountains to Pittsburgh. Robert M. Reed was a native of this county, a carpenter by trade, and the proprietor of a planing-mill in the city of Allegheny for a number of years; was also engaged in bridge-building to some extent. He reared a family of six children: Frances, Thomas J., James B., Horace G., Jennie M. and John M. The subject of these lines was reared in Allegheny, and learned the carpenter’s trade with his father. He came to McKeesport in 1863, and worked at his trade as a journeyman until 1875, when he embarked in business as a contractor and builder, in which he has been very successful. In 1870 he married Martha E., daughter of Aseph and Anna (Sill) Atwater, of McKeesport, and by her he has three children: Anna, Harry and Charlie. Mr. Reed is a member of the First Christian Church. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the A. O. H., and is a republican.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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