BIO: Jacob REED, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 395

  JACOB REED, a prominent retired agriculturist, residing in 
Aaronsburg, ranks among the leading owners of farm lands in this 
section. In these days of selfish monopoly in land it is to his credit 
that his extensive holdings are all made productive instead of being 
allowed to lie uncultivated for purely speculative gains. As a shrewd 
manger and a deservedly successful one, Mr. Reed has found his profits 
in ways which promote the general good.
  Mr. Reed is a native of Centre county, born August 2, 1832, in Haines 
township, on the same farm land and in the same house where his father, 
Daniel Reed, was born and reared. Our subject's grandfather, Benjamin 
Reed, a carpenter, came from Berks county, Penn., at an early day, and 
as a pioneer farmer secured a tract of excellent land for a permanent 
home, where five sons and three daughters were trained to lives of 
usefulness.
  Daniel Reed, who was born in 1802, and was among the youngest of the 
family, became one of the substantial citizens of the locality, owning 
two farms in Penn township, two in Haines township, and one in Sugar 
Valley. He was more than six feet in height, an industrious worker, and 
excelled in the management of his enterprises. In religious faith he 
was a Lutheran, and in politics a Democrat. He was married in Berks 
county, Penn., to Miss Elizabeth Tobias, by whom he had six children, 
of whom, two only lived to adult age; Jacob; and Rebecca, who married 
Noah Stover, and died in Penn township, Centre county. The father 
passed away in 1872, his remains being laid to rest at Wolf's school 
house, and the mother lived to be more than ninety years old, breathing 
her last September 28, 1886.
  Jacob Reed enjoyed the usual educational advantages of a country boy 
of his day, and the contrast between his early opportunities and those 
afforded by our present school system is marked. Realizing the 
advantage of free education to the community as well as to the 
individual, he endorses all efforts for the improvement of our 
facilities in that direction. Being the only boy, the work of the farm 
devolved upon him, as his father became too feeble to carry on his 
business, and he always resided at the old homestead until 1886, when 
he moved to Aaronsburg, and in his turn surrendered the active work of 
his states to other hands. He has four farms, 541 acres in all, and 
still looks closely after their management, doing the "head work" for 
them all to a great extent.
  In 1866 Mr. Reed was married in Haines township, Centre county, to 
Miss Lydia Winkelblech, a native of that township, born June 17, 1843, 
a daughter of Adam Winkelblech, a well-known farmer, and his wife, 
Sarah (Fisher). Two children bless this union: Sarah E., Mrs. George M. 
Homan, of Haines township, Centre county; and Amanda R., Mrs. A. 
Stover, of Aaronsburg. While Mr. Reed has gained a reputation as an 
able financier, he has not been so closely devoted to business as to 
neglect public affairs. He is not desirous of official position, but 
has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic 
party. He and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church.