History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Reed, Richard a veteran of the Civil War, who for the last 36 years has been a resident of Rhinelander, Oneida County, was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1838, son of Richard and Cynthia (ANDERSON) REED. The parents were both natives of Vermont, the father born Aug. 17, 1797, and the mother Aug. 20, 1802. They were married Feb. 12, 1825 and came to Wisconsin in 1848. They spent their lives as farmers and passed away many years ago, the father, Richard, dying Jan. 31, 1884, and his wife Cynthia a number of years previously , on Sept. 16, 1870. They had seven children, Luther, Royal, Philander , Ellen, Cynthia, Richard and William H., all of whom are now deceased except Richard, the subject of this sketch. As a boy Richard attended school in Omro, Winnebago County, Wis., and subsequently was a pupil for one term in Lawrence University at Appleton, this state. After that he taught district school for awhile. In the spring of 1860, fired with the spirit of youthful adventure, he went to Colorado, making the trip with an ox team, a slow method of locomotion for so long a distance; yet it took him only three months, as he left Oshkosh April 12 and arrived in Denver July 12. There he remained two years, working in mines the first year and on a ranch the second year. In the fall of 1862 Mr. REED, then 24 years old, returned to Wisconsin and engaged in the hardware business in Fond du Lac with a partner named James EDWARDS, and he was thus engaged until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, going out from Omro, Wis., as a member of Company C, 14th Wis. Inf., which was attached to the 3d Brigade, 3d Division of the 17th Army Corps of the Army of the Tennessee. He served in the Atlanta Campaign and took part in the battle of Nashville , the siege of Spanish Fort, and the battle at Blakely. On Oct. 9, 1865 he received an honorable discharge from the army and returned home. For ten years thereafter he was employed on a farm at Omro, and then bought a general store in the village, which he operated until the spring of 1887, then he sold it and came to Rhinelander. Here he entered into the mercantile business, his store being located on the site of the present Hildebrand Furniture Co.'s place, and he continued to operate it until 1900. He then served three terms as city comptroller, and in 1903 was appointed assistant postmaster under Judge ALBAN. In December, 1913 he resigned his position and has since been retired from active business life, spending his time in Rhinelander and California. Mr. REED organized the Grand Army Post in Rhinelander and for several years served as chairman of the Republican County Committee. He belongs to Lucius Fairchild Post, No. 11, G.A.R., of Madison. No long ago a local journal said in its news columns: "For the third time Richard REED of this city was honored with the presidency of the Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment at the thirty-sixth annual reunion of that famous organization in Fond du Lac. Only a small remnant of this family regiment, which during the Civil War was known as the "Fighting Fourteenth," now remains. Nineteen survivors attended this year's reunion. Mr. REED, the president of the regiment, is a pioneer citizen of Rhinelander. He is one of the most prominent G.A.R. men in Wisconsin and for many years has been conspicuously identified with the activities of that body. Although 84 years of age, he is as active both physically and mentally as the average man of 50 years. He is frequently referred to as 'Rhinelander's youngest old man.'" Mr. REED was married in Fond du Lac, Dec. 12, 1862, to Margaret A. EDWARDS, daughter of James and Eliza (NESBIT) EDWARDS, and their married life lasted for over half a century, she passing away March 16, 1913. The fruit of this marriage was four children: Frank, born Dec, 5, 1863, at Fond du Lac, Wis., who died Feb. 13, 1900; E. Howard, born July 27, 1869, at Omro, Wis., and now in the dray business in Rhinelander; Grace M., born at Omro June 13, 1871, who is the wife of E. G. STURDEVEND of Rhinelander; and Roscoe A., born Aug. 8, 1880, who died Oct. 7 the same year. Mr. REED is affiliated with the Congregational Church.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 236-237 (with picture); History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.

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