Ionia-Eaton County MI Archives Biographies.....REEDER, William March 21, 1815 - February 22, 1876 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: LaVonne Bennett lib@dogsbark.com February 5, 2007, 4:48 pm Author: THE SEBEWA RECOLLECTOR April 1971, Volume 6, Number 5; written permission from Editor Grayden D. Slowins A STORY OF THE REEDER FAMILY Written by Mrs. Millie Hanna (about 1930) William Reeder was born March 21, 1815 in the state of New Jersey and died February 22, 1876 at his home in Sunfield (Michigan). He went from the state of New Jersey to New York, met and married Ellen Hyer. Ellen Hyer was born May 7, 1817, and died at her home in Sunfield January 31, 1879. To this union ten children were born, three of whom were born in the state of New York, town of LeRoy. Granpa Reeder decided to come to Michigan and came down to Lake Erie in a Canal Boat. They were all seasick on that trip across Lake Erie and on that boat was a young man named Jacob Cunningham, who cared for them during the trip. The family was very grateful to him. They finished the rest of the journey by ox- team and finally located on what was known as the George Alleman and Briggs Farm, owning 160 acres of land. (This farm was in sections 31 and 32, Sebewa--- 80 acres on each side of Kimmel Road at Tupper Lake Road.) There is still a little cemetery there belonging to the Reeder heirs. (This was sometimes known as the Carpenter cemetery. Both Carpenters and Reeders were buried there. In 1905 the cemetery was discontinued. The Carpenters were reburied in the Sebewa Baptist Cemetery and the Reeders in Sebewa East Cemetery.) Grandpa Reeder sold the land in Sebewa and bought 160 acres of land, the present location of William Fleetham. (Section 1, Sunfield Township.) Grandfather Reeder was a sort of handy man, he could carpenter, blacksmith, make shoes and was a farmer. By these means he was able to bring money in for the use of family. Money in those days was very scarce, there being no market for anything they might raise. In fact, they could not raise much for the forests were so dense and the roads were mere trails. Grandma Reeder in her young days had taken sewing and dancing lessons and many was the quilting and dancing party held in their home. The deer were so tame that they would come up and eat out of the children's hands. The Indians would pass by their home going from Shimnecon to Saubee Lake. Grandmother could talk with the Indians. They bartered baskets, bead work and deer meat for foodstuffs. One time in particular I remember of my mother telling about the year of the sick wheat. The Indians came for some wheat and they thought that Grandmother didn't want them to have it for she told them that it would make their squaws sick. She finally let them have some. In a short time they were back for her to come and doctor up their squaws. When passing by, they would ride their ponies, and if they stopped at the house they would always leave their papooses at the gate. They were afraid of Grandpa Reeder. They called him Big White Chief, although sometimes they stayed and smoked the pipe of peace. When they did they would roll up in their blankets and sleep with their heads to the fireplace. Grandpa Reeder was a progressive man, being among the first who had a team of horses, one of the first to have a mowing machine, which had to have the horse on the run to make it cut hay. Grandma had a copper boiler, a wringer, a cistern and one of the first washing machines put out and the first sewing machine. Henry H. Reeder was born May 31, 1827 and passed away at the home of Mrs. Della Parker October 11, 1912. Henry Reeder was married to Caroline Sanders. To this union seven children were born, three of whom survive; Mrs. Della Parker, Mrs. Emma Oliver and Mrs. Lily Newsom. How Uncle Henry loved to talk of old times! He played the violin and his favorite piece was "Money Musk", and "Turkey in the Straw". He played for dances but later on became a devoted Christian and lived a Christian life. This little instance I will relate of Uncle Henry to show what hardships the older people had to pass through. Grandpa Reeder went to mill with an ox- team. They had to take along an axe to chop away any fallen trees. He was gone longer than usual. They had no corn meal and only flour enough to make a crust, which Grandma made. Then there was nothing for filling except unripe elderberries, she sent the youngsters to gather them. They all ate of it and it made Uncle Henry very sick so he could never eat elderberry pie after that. Uncle Henry and Aunt Caroline came to visit my people and Mother passed the pie to Aunt Caroline and then went into the buttery. Aunt Caroline passed it to Uncle Henry and he said, "I don't want any of that". Aunt Caroline said, "Yes you do Uncle Henry, that is huckleberry pie". "I have been fooled enough on that. I don't want any of it". Mother, overhearing the conversation, came out and said "Yes Henry, that is huckleberry pie". "All right I'll have a piece then", he said. John S. Reeder, born July 10, 1838, passed away at his home in Sebewa January 22, 1891. He was married first to Mary Frazer and to this union one child was born, Ella Reeder Barton. Later he was married to Harriet Rhine and to this union three children were born; Mary and John survive. There was a circus coming to Portland and Grandpa Reeder promised all the older children they might go to the circus if the older boys would hoe so many rows of corn. Uncle Henry and Uncle John, being the older boys, had to hoe the corn. All went well until George Trim came across the field and urged them to go fishing. Of course Uncle Henry would not go; but Uncle John went. Uncle Henry was afraid they wouldn't get to go to the circus, so he hoed corn all the faster that he might finish his own rows and Uncle John's too so they could go. That night Grandpa Reeder gave each one a quarter, which would admit them to the circus. He gave Uncle Henry and Uncle John the privilige of driving the ox-team down and back as they were the oldest. My mother said that they had a wonderful time. What would the boys and girls of today think of such a treat? Mary E. Reeder was born April 3, 1841 and passed away at her home in Sunfield December 19, 1905. She married John Fleetham and to this union six children were born, three of whom survive: Henry, Edgar and Joseph. Later she married Dr. George W. Lusk and of their two children Sarah Nickles survives. Aunt Mary always went by the name of Aunt Lib. We all loved to eat with Aunt Lib, for we thought her a wonderful cook. I will relate an instance told me by Mrs. Rumfield, my nearest neighbor. She said Grandpa Reeder and Aunt Lib talked with some of the older children and walked to her home to quilt a quilt. She didn't have the quilt on the frame, so they all turned in and helped put it on. Then she sent her girls into the kitchen to get the dinner. They made a boiled dinner and a johnny cake. That was a treat to Granda Reeder as their cabbage didn't do well that year. She said you would have to know a week ahead and then tire yourself all out getting delicacies ready and when your company came, you wouldn't have a good time at all. They quilted the quilt and then Mrs. Rumfield went a mile piece with them home, which was customary in those days. William Oscar Reeder was born February 16, 1844 and passed away at his home in Sunfield September 24, 1869. Oscar Reeder was married to Hannah Bidwell. To this union two children were born and Orin Reeder survives. Of Uncle Oscar we haven't much to say as he passed in young manhood. I remember my mother relating this incident. A new barn had been built across the road from the present home of William Fleetham and a dance was in order. Uncle Oscar wanted a partner so he went to Sebewa and got Nellie Carpenter. As soon as she found it was a barn dance she made him take her home. So you see the girls then were as notional as are the girls of today. Benjamin D. Reeder was born February 24, 1848 and passed away at his home in Charlotte January 10, 1915. He was first married to Alinda Dunham. Both children born to them have passed away. He was later married to Florence Frayer. Their children were Claud and Maud. Uncle Ben was a farmer, could carpenter some, was always whistling about his work and dearly loved to talk politics. Cordelia E. Reeder was born January 29, 1852 and died at the home of Mrs. Millie Hanna March 12, 1917. She was married to James Cure. Her children were Millie and Hiram. After having the measles, Mother's eyesight was very poor. She had granulated eyelids, was near sighted and had to leave school. They told Dad that she should go to Grand Rapids to see a specialist. Grand Rapids was then a small town with no street cars or city conveniences. They all got together and made Ma a brown suiting dress. They got up at two o'clcok in the morning and Uncle Ben Reeder took them to Vermontville to take the train. After arriving at Grand Rapids they went to a restaurant, had dinner and went to the eye specialist to have her eyes examined. They told her in two weeks they could cure her. Then Grandma told them that she had no money but that her husband had a position of building a barn (that barn was built for Elliot Wyman's father and still stands). They told her that they would take the case and she went back to the restaurant, stating the same to them, and they said she might stay. As Grandma had no money to leave for postage, she asked them to let her know if anything happened. Then at the end of two weeks she came for Mother and had the money. They told her she was prompt in meeting her obligations. Phebe A. Reeder was born March 26, 1855 and passed away at her home in Sunfield April 30, 1879. She was married to John Dunham. Mrs. Litchfield told me that Aunt Phebe could cut the most peculiar shapes out of paper and frequently cut shelf paper for the neighbors as they were unable to buy shelf paper in those days. James Leroy Reeder was born November 4, 1857 and passed away at home in Sebewa February 27, 1959. As he was less than two years old we haven't much to say of him except that in a letter written by Grandma's sister said "Kiss little James for me". Jane L. Reeder was born October 1, 1846 and passed away at her home in Portland February 4, 1876. She was married to David Dilley. Of their three children Mary Dilley Kickle survives. Aunt Jane was always sickly. Grandma Reeder gave a quilting at her home and they thought they ought to take Aunt Jane home. Grandpa Reeder had a team of colts and he drove them up in the driveway to wait. Edgar Fleetham, then a small boy, got into the wagon just as Ella Reeder Barton ran out with a sheepskin over her head. This frightened the horses and they ran. Uncle Sam, thinking he could catch them, grabbed them by the head. They threw him down and took his hat off. This caused quite a bit of excitement. We ran to the windows and looked in that direction to see how Edgar came out. He came out all right as he is here to testify to that. The end. A cross reference to the Reeder family may be found in the 1850 census of Sebewa published in the March 1966 Recollector. Our thanks to John Fletcher for furnishing this Reeder family report. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/bios/reeder435gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 11.8 Kb