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Submitted by  Cheryl VanWomer

				
				       WILLIAM C. REED
		  	   MRS. SAMANTHA (SHILTON) REED (1st wife)
		      	     MRS. MARY A. (WEST) REED (2nd wife)

	William Reed, father of the above, first saw the light of day on ground made memorable in
the "long-ago," during the struggle of the colonies for independence.  He was born in 1805, near 
the Bunker Hill battle-ground, in Massachusetts.  At the age of twenty he shipped aboard a 
whaler, and led the life of a sailor a few years.  On his return he visited his grandparents, 
residents of New York, and fell in company with Mr. David Beebe and family who were preparing to 
come to Michigan; he came with them and located in Oakland County, where Sarah, one of the 
daughters of Beebe, taught two terms of school, but in the mean time Mr. Reed married her, she 
completing her school after marriage.  In September, 1836, he removed to Berlin township, Ionia 
Co., and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 3.  On the Sunday following his 
arrival, with the assistance of four men, he erected a log house on his place.  He afterwards
purchased two hundred and ten acres additional on section 10 upon which he erected substantial 
buildings.  His death occurred in June, 1873, at the age of sixty-seven years eight months and 
three days.  He was married three times, and his third wife survives him.  He was the father of 
ten children,--six by his first wife and four by his second.  He was a man who was much respected.
He was energetic and industrious, and from having funds barely sufficient to make his first 
purchase from government he accumulated a handsome property.
	William C. Reed, the second in his father's family, was born Jan. 25, 1835.  His youth 
was spent on the home-farm, and he occasionally assisted in a mill owned by his father.  Sept. 
25, 1858, he married Samantha Shilton, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah Shilton, of Orange 
township, in which (on section 7) they were early settlers.  The daughter was born in Raleigh 
township, Kent Co., Canada West; removed to Michigan, where they arrived April 1, 1849.  In 1860,
Mr. Reed purchased eighty acres of land on section 10 in Berlin, to which he removed with his 
wife, occupying a frame dwelling, fourteen by twenty, which he had erected.  It was roughly 
constructed, but served a good purpose.  Mrs. Reed died Jan. 3,1872, leaving her husband and one 
child (the only survivor of four) to mourn her loss.  He subsequently married Miss Mary A. West, 
daughter of William and Vina West, who was born March 27, 1845, in Kent Co. (township of
Raleigh), Canada.  Her parents had settled in Orange township, Ionia Co., in 1855, and are still 
residents thereof.  In 1879, Mr. Reed replace his first home with the finest brick residence in 
the township.  He is the present owner of two hundred acres of land, finely improved, well 
stocked, and having a tenement-house and three large barns and other outbuildings.  Mr. Reed and 
his first wife united with the Disciples' Church, and his present wife is a member of the 
Episcopal Church.  To each of these ladies is given the great credit due to most excellent and 
exemplary wives.  Mr. Reed's children now living are Clara Belle, by first marriage, born May 31,
1863; Jennie Bird Reed and Berton Lewe Reed, by second marriage, the former born Oct. 7, 1873, 
and the latter June 16, 1878.  Mr. Reed is a man of liberal spirit, and is foremost in all 
enterprises in the interest of his town.  He has contributed much towards religious and 
benevolent objects, and is highly esteemed for his many manly qualities.  He is a member of the 
Masonic lodge, chapter, and council, and of Berlin Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.  He has never 
sought notoriety in public life, and sickness, caused by heavy labor and exposure early and late,
also a hurt, has resulted in weak eyes, which at times makes him nearly blind, the trouble being 
chronic granulated eyelids and iritis of corona, for which he has been treated at Ann Arbor 
University, and is now enabled to attend to business, though not able to read newspaper print.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Pages 189-190.  Berlin.