Biography of John A. Reid, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Reid, Bennett, Coutts, McEachen.

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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 275

John A. Reid

Scotland is the place and April 19, 1834, the date of his birth, his eyes
first opening to the light near the bounds of old ocean's realm and amid its
thundering roar. Two years later he was transported to the United States by
his parents, John and Margaret (Bennett) Reid, who located in Philadelphia,
where they remained for a number of years, then removed to Michigan, where his
father was engaged in ship-building, and then later they went to Canada. In
that country and in Detroit our subject received his education and in 1861 he
sailed from New York to encounter the adventures of and seek his fortune in
the wild scenes of the Pacific coast. He had previously made himself master of
the ship carpenter trade and to this he devoted himself on the "Old Herman"
until he reached Washington territory, when he went to the Cariboo mines in
British Columbia, where he operated for two years, and then paid a visit to
his brother in Elk City, Idaho. He spent one summer with his brother in work
on the latter's claim, then repaired to The Dalles and engaged with the O.S. &
N. Company until the following spring and then came to Baker county with a
pack train, where he and his partner, James Fletcher, engaged in mining and
carpentering. He gained possession of two very valuable mines, the Gordon and
the Collateral, which he afterwards sold. In 1866 he built the old Western
house in Baker City and operated it for a number of years, also taking charge
of the stage company's business at the same time. He wa a member of the first
city council and has always been very active and prominent in the upbuilidng
of the town. He now owns the whole block where he lives and has just completed
an elegant residence at the corner of Fourth street and Auburn avenue, still
owning the old Western hotel property, and considerable other city property
and also valuable interests in Michigan.

The marriag eof Mr. Reid and Mis sAnnie, daughter of Captain Duncan and Sarah
(Coutts) McEachen, was celebrated in Canada, September 25, 1871, and it is of
note that they started for their western hom on the day of the beginning of
the great Chicago fire, October 8, 1871. They have become the parents of six
children: J. Gordon, married and living in chicago; Pearl L., teacher in the
public schools; William E.; Andrew D.; Sarah V. and Robert A. Mr. Reid is an
active member of the First Presybterian church and has ever been prominent in
the advancement of the interests of all that was for the welfare of the
people. He is the fourth in a family of eight children and seven of them are
still living. It is of note that he is a relative of the well-known Gordon
Bennett of New York.