Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Reed, William H H 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 4:30 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

William H. H. Reed, a veteran of the Civil war, now owning and operating a 
fine farm of eighty acres in Florence township, is one of the highly respected 
citizens of Will county. He was born June 18, 1840, a son of Edward T. and 
Eliza (Robson) Reed, the former born in Ohio, May 11, 1817, while the latter 
was born May 10, 1822, in Indiana. The Reed family was established in Illinois 
at an early day, when, in 1833, the paternal grandparents of our subject, 
Charles and Chloe Reed, located in Will county. The father was but sixteen 
years of age at the time of his marriage, and when twenty-one years of age 
became a pioneer farmer of Jackson township, and it was in his honor that the 
town of Reed's Grove was named. In 1842 he removed with his family to 
Washington county, Iowa, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land 
from the government, remaining on that claim during the succeeding four years, 
when, in 1846, he again returned to Jackson township, Will county, and here 
remained for a long period. However, in 1872, he removed to Sumner county, 
Kansas, where he purchased a quarter section of land, and he likewise made 
application for a government claim in the Indian Territory and fortunately 
drew one hundred acres, thus becoming owner of considerable farming land in 
the west. Later he and his wife made a trip to Los Angeles, California, where 
they spent some time, subsequent to which period they returned to Will county, 
where their children resided. The father then lived retired until his death, 
which occurred in Custer township, this county, when he had reached the very 
advanced age of seventy-eight years. He was a whig until the formation of the 
new republican party, when he became a supporter of its principles. He was 
identified with the United Brethren church. After his death his widow returned 
to Los Angeles, where her death occurred July 9, 1900. Their family numbered 
three sons and two daughters: Mary 0., the wife of J. J. Smillie, a resident 
of Custer township, Will county; William H. H., whose name introduces this 
record; Charles, who is married and resides in Los Angeles, California; 
Franklin P., who wedded Harriet Wilson and resides in Peoria, Illinois; and 
Chloe, the wife of Scott Odell and also a resident of Los Angeles. William H. 
H. Reed was reared under the parental roof, accompanying his parents on their 
various removals, and in the public schools acquired his education. He 
assisted his father in his farm work until he attained his majority, when he 
started out in life for himself, following the occupation to which he had been 
reared. Loyal to the best interests of his country in 1861, he enlisted on the 
15th of August of that year for service in Company A, Thirty-ninth Illinois 
Volunteers. The company was organized at Wilmington, whence they proceeded to 
Camp Mathews, Chicago, where he mustered in for service on the 11th of October 
following. The company then went to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, making their 
way from that city to Williamsport. They went into winter quarters at 
Cumberland, Maryland. Mr. Reed participated in the battles at Alpine Station 
and at Winchester, after which he was taken ill and sent to Mount Pleasant 
Hospital at Washington, D. C., and later to a Philadelphia hospital. At the 
time of the battle at Bull Run he did guard duty at Elkton, Maryland, and 
there spent the winter of 1862. He participated in the siege of Charleston, 
and at the battle of Petersburg, June 2, 1864, and was taken prisoner, being 
both in Charleston and Andersonville prisons, and later was sent to Savannah, 
Georgia. While in the prison at Andersonville, he made his escape at two 
different times, but on each occasion was captured and returned. After the 
close of the war he was released from prison and was honorably discharged 
August 16, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, having served his country for four 
years and one day. Returning home from the war he there remained until the 
following year, when he went to Ford county and engaged in farming there for 
three years, subsequent to which time he came to Florence township, Will 
county, having here an excellent farm property, embracing eighty acres. His 
farm is well improved with good buildings, and he uses only the latest 
improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, so that in his work 
he is meeting with very gratifying success. On the 8th of March, 1866, 
occurred the marriage of Mr. Reed and Mrs. Lorena Shoemaker, nee Eversoll. She 
was born in Ohio, November 14, 1839, a daughter of William and Susan (Conrad) 
Eversoll, both being natives of Virginia. Her father conducted a flourmill, 
having learned his trade in Ohio, after which he removed to Peru, Indiana, 
where he lived for nine years, and in 1846 came to Illinois, establishing his 
home in Shelby county. After a time he removed with his family to Wilmington, 
the year of his arrival there being 1854. He was there engaged in the milling 
business until his demise, which occurred, however, in Elwood, Illinois, when 
he was sixty-six years of age. His widow survived for a few years and passed 
away at the age of seventy. Mr. Eversoll became identified with the Masonic 
order at Chemung, but later transferred his membership to the lodge at Morris. 
In the early days he gave his political support to the whig party, but later 
became an advocate of democracy. In the family of this worthy couple were but 
two children, who are living, the sister of Mrs. Reed being Polina, the widow 
of Eli Medell and now residing in Chicago. Unto our subject and his wife have 
been born four children, of whom three survive, namely: Eva E.; Viola, the 
wife of Warren Corbin, and George E., who wedded Hattie Whitmore. Mr. Reed 
usually votes the republican ticket, but is a firm believer in prohibition 
principles. In citizenship he is as loyal to the best interest of his 
community and his country as he was when he followed the stars and stripes 
upon southern battle fields. Every movement or measure tended to advance local 
interests elicits his attention, and he is accounted one of the progressive 
and representative citizens of Will county.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/reed2472nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 7.0 Kb