Tehama-Yuba-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Reed, Elbridge G. 1819 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2007, 6:40 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) CAPTAIN ELBRIDGE G. REED, one of the prominent citizens and honored pioneers of Red Bluff, came to California in 1850. A brief sketch of his life is herewith given and will be found of interest to many. He was born in Maine, in July, 1819. His father, William Reed, was born on Plumb Island, and his grandfather Reed was a native of Massachusetts. Their ancestors were Scotch people. William Reed married Hannah Hutchings a native of Maine. To them were born nine children, all of whom are now living, so far as Captain Reed knows. His father was a Methodist and, in politics, he was a Democrat before the war, but after that struggle he gave his vote and influence to the Republican party. He was a seaman and was both owner and captain of the ship, the William Reed. He was also the owner of and had an interest in several other vessels. The subject of this sketch received his education in his native State, and, at the age of fourteen years, entered upon a seafaring life with his father, going before the mast. When he was fifteen years old he was mate, sailing in summer with his father and going to school in the winter. At the age of eighteen he had command of the schooner Diamond. After that at various times he had charge of different vessels. At twenty-three he was commander of the brig Lamertine, in the West India trade. He also sailed the schooner Odd Fellow, a packet from Augusta, Maine, to Boston. In 1849 Captain Reed set sail in the ship Rob Roy for San Francisco. He was one of a company who built the steamer Kennebec, to ply on the Sacramento River between Sacramento and Marysville. His brother William was commander while Captain Reed was mate. They ran her for two years and during that time made a considerable amount of money. They then sold the vessel, and Captain Reed went as mate for Captain William Moore on board the San Joaquin. Soon after this he bought the United States Hotel, conducted it about two years and sold it to Mr. Brown. In the spring of 1852 he came, to Red Bluff and built the first frame house in the town. It was located about thirty rods east and north of the north end of the bridge on Reed's Creek, that creek having been named for the captain. For years he entertained travelers in his house, and hunters and miners also found a temporary home with him. Mr. Cavit, the first merchant of Red Bluff, had a small stock of goods in a little board store on the bank of the river. Bull & Baker also started a little store there. These early merchants boarded with Captain Reed. After he moved on his ranch the old hotel was utilized for a school-house, and was finally blown down. In 1870 the captain built his present brick house. At that time his ranch contained 200 acres, but he has since sold a part of it for $100 per acre. For a time during the navigation of the river Captain Reed acted as night watchman. Before the bridge was built for many years he ran a pontoon. More recently he has engaged to some extent in the real-estate business. In 1843 he married Miss Susan Randall, a native of Augusta, Maine, and the daughter of Captain Samuel Randall. They had a family of six children, three of whom are living: Ellen M., married A. W. Bishop, and resides with him in Oakland, California; Alvira B. married Charles Adams, with whom she resides at Sacramento; and Annie wedded William Cahoon, cashier of the Tehama Bank at Red Bluff. After thirty-six years of married life Mrs. Reed died. Captain Reed subsequently married Mrs. Emily A. Eastman, widow of Mr. Harvy Eastman. They reside on their ranch south of Red Bluff. This worthy pioneer has had many interesting experiences which he is unable to relate, and regrets that he did not keep a diary of the events as they occurred. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/reed896bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb