David V. Reed

DAVID V. REED, one of the hardy pioneers of Labette county, Kansas, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, located upon his present farm in 1867, and has since engaged in general farming and fruit growing. He was among the very first to settle in this section and has witnessed the wonderful growth and development of the county since that period. He has prospered with the county, and is now reckoned as one of the most substantial and influential men in the community. He was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1842, and is a son of James and Asenath (McWilliams) Reed.

James Reed was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1814, and died there in 1845. His wife, Asenath McWilliams, was born in Ohio in 1818, and died in Wilson county, Kansas, in 1887. They reared six children, as follows: Joseph, deceased; Enos, of Douglas county, Kansas; Marcenas, deceased; Almeda (Molesworth), of Labette county, Kansas; David V., the subject hereof; and James, deceased. Mrs. Reed married a second husband, Thomas Long, by whom she had seven children: Mary, deceased; John, deceased; Samuel, of Montgomery county, Kansas; Arabella, deceased; Eliza, deceased; Flora (Handley), of Montgomery county; and Brumfield, of Wilson county. Kansas.

David V. Reed lived in Union county, Ohio, until 1850, when he moved to Lucas county, Iowa, and received a common school education in that state. In 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 34th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., and was in the battles of Vicksburg, Mobile, and many others. He was captured by the Confederates at Sterling Plantation, and taken to Tyler, Texas, where he was incarcerated for a period of ten months. In 1864, he was exchanged, and three days afterward participated in the battle of Sterling Plantation. He was mustered out in 1865, and returned to Lucas county, Iowa. There he remained on a farm until 1867, when he moved to Labette county, Kansas, and located upon his present farm on section 18, Liberty township. He has since engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has made a specialty of fruit growing.

Mr. Reed was united in marriage with Mary E. Collins, who was born in Grundy county, Illinois, in 1842, and is a daughter of Theron and Garetta (Van Dolson) Collins. Her father was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1810, and died at Parsons, Kansas, in 1884. Her mother was born in Albany county, New York, in 1813, and died at Parsons, Kansas, in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were parents of the following children: John, of Whatcom county, Washington; George, of Pawnee county, Nebraska; William, of Greenville, Texas; Edward, of Whatcom county, Washington; Mary E., of Labette county, Kansas; Margaret (Wood), of Parsons, Kansas; Catherine (Irwin), of Spokane, Washington; and Sarah, of Labette county, Kansas. Mr. Reed is a man of pleasing personality, and has many warm friends in Labette county. Politically, he is a Republican, having cast his first vote while in the army for Abraham Lincoln, and having voted with that party ever since. He is a member of the Anti-Horsethief Association.