Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Reed, Mrs Dr Cinda T 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 12:32 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Mrs. Dr. Cinda T. Reed, of Fulton, and widow of Dr. Daniel Reed, is deserving 
of appropriate mention in the biographical department of this work. She was 
born in the town of Bethlehem, Litchfield Co., Conn., May 13, 1801, is the 
daughter of Dr. Jesse and Hannah Pritchard Meigs, and a cousin of ex-Governor 
John R. Meigs, of Ohio, and of Dr. Charles D. Meigs, President of the 
Philadelphia Medical College. Her father was a popular physician of Litchfield 
Co., Conn., and she, while a child, accompanied him in his professional 
visits, and soon evinced a marked interest in the nature of medicines and the 
method of treatment of the cases under his care, so much so that her father, 
in answer to her numerous questions, incidentally imparted to her much 
valuable information. She married a physician, Dr. Daniel Reed, at Sandy 
Creek, Oswego Co., N. Y., May 1, 1828. She often accompanied her husband, as 
she had her father, in his professional rounds, and, having access to his 
books, she availed herself of them to perfect her knowledge of medicine. On 
coming to Fulton with her husband in 1838, she rendered valuable assistance to 
Dr. Reed in the care of his patients, especially during the sickly seasons so 
common in the early settlement of this region. At one time, during the absence 
of the Doctor from the city, the care of a large number of sick fell to her 
charge. She turned her house into a hospital, and several of the leading 
business men of Fulton were thankful to be under her skillful treatment. Her 
husband retired from practice about 1860, and she became the doctor in 
earnest. She went to every call, at all times of day or night, in storm or 
sunshine. Many a cold wintry night she was called out of her bed to traverse 
snow-drifted streets to attend some patient. She was successful to a 
remarkable degree, and continued to practice upward of 20 years. An adventure 
that befell Mrs. Reed many years ago is deserving of mention. She had been 
visiting Dr. Bassett's family at Lyons with her husband in early spring, 
before the break-up began, and was returning in the evening on the ice on foot 
to Fulton. Her husband carried a pole with which to test the ice, but in spite 
of his caution, when about two-thirds of the distance had been traversed, the 
ice gave way and they found themselves in the river and in imminent danger of 
being carried under the ice by the strong current. Mrs. Reed worked herself 
around to the strongest part of the ice where by a desperate effort she 
succeeded in raising herself upon it; then, by the aid of the pole which her 
husband had carried, she pulled him out! He was in favor of returning to the 
Iowa side, but Mrs. Reed had left a family of children at home and was 
determined to make the crossing, which they did, in safety, although with 
clothes frozen stiff. This incident goes to prove the heroic energy of the 
lady, who by her cool courage and nerve saved her own life as well as that of 
her husband. During the late war Mrs. Reed was President of the Soldiers' Aid 
Society, and did noble service in the sanitary cause. She united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church when 16 years of age, and has been a consistent 
member of that denomination continuously since. She is now 84 years of age, 
but with eyes as bright and faculties as perfect as many a lady of half her 
years. She is a remarkably bright and intelligent lady, possessed of many 
estimable qualities of mind and heart. Her life has been rich in acts of 
usefulness and kindness, and now, as the shadows lengthen she is happy in the 
assurance of a safe place in the love and esteem of a large circle of 
acquaintances and friends. She reared a family of six children, of whom 
mention is made in the sketch of her husband.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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