Northumberland-Schuylkill County PA Archives Biographies.....Reed, Jacob H. 1857 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 1, 2005, 10:20 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. JACOB H. REED, justice of the peace in Mount Carmel and one of its best known and most popular residents, is a member of one of the pioneer families of Eastern Pennsylvania. He is a son of John B. and Catharine (De Freighn) Reed, and was born June 21, 1857, in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pa. The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Reed, was a son of Thomas Reed, a native of Schuylkill County, but early removed to Pottsville, being among the first settlers in that town. He was a Whig politically, and soon after settling in Pottsville was elected a justice of the peace. He was twice re-elected and, having served three terms, was entitled according to the law which then prevailed to the office for his lifetime. He held the office for about fifty-five years, performing the duties thereof up to within ten days of his death. When he located at Pottsville the hamlet was in the midst of wild country, and family tradition has handed down a very interesting story of an encounter, which Jacob had with a panther, in which he narrowly escaped being killed. The grandfather took an active part in the construction of the Schuylkill Canal, and for a number of years ran a line of boats on it. His wife was Rebecca Bittle, and to them were born these children: Rebecca, who married Jacob Bittle, a widower, now living in Ashland at the age of about eighty years; Mary Ann, who was the wife of Quill Marsh, now deceased, and who now resides in Northampton County; Morgan, deceased, who was a justice of the peace in Pottsville for several years; George H., who was a breaker contractor and who died when a comparatively young man; and Tillie, deceased. Jacob Ree:l spent the latter part of his life in Williamsport, Pa., where he served as alderman for twenty-five years, and was quite prominent in politics and business. John B. Reed, father of the subject of this sketch, was a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Bittle) Reed, and was born in what is now Minersviile, Schuylkill County, April 16, 1819. He was reared and educated in his native county and went into the mines when quite young and followed mining in its various branches for forty years as miner and superintendent of collieries. He resided at St. Clair, Schuylkill County, for fifteen years, during ten of which he was justice of the peace. On the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Reed enlisted, in July, 1861, in Company A, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was commissioned by Gov. Curtin as quartermaster, ranking as lieutenant. He had served eighteen months in that capacity when he was informed by a superior officer that no such rank in the army discipline existed and that, in reality, he had no official title. Mr. Reed returned to his home, and after a few days' rest returned to his troop with a bona fide commission as regimental quartermaster, acting in that capacity until the troop re-enlisted in 1864, when he was detailed as chief clerk in the quartermaster-general's department. Mr. Reed was captured by the Rebels and was held a prisoner for twenty days in the celebrated Andersonville Prison, escaping from it and returning to his headquarters. He was never wounded, but his nose was broken by a sabre cut. He was a thorough business man and excellent penman and during his service in the army was detailed much of the time to important clerical work. He was clerk in the commissary department under Gen. Thomas of Ohio, and after the close of the great struggle remained with that officer for a year at Nashville, Tenn., winding up the accounts of the department. During the war, vouchers received by Thomas H. Rickert, a quartermaster now residing at Pottsville, Pa., which showed that $25,000 had been disbursed properly, were captured by the enemy. The loss was of vital importance, as subsequently developed, for twenty-five years after the war ended the government sought to recover the sum from Mr. Rickert, alleging that no vouchers existed showing that he had disbursed the money. Fortunately Mr. Reed was alive and Mr. Rickert was able to communicate with him. Mr. Reed was a witness in behalf of Mr. Rickert and he testified to having made out the reports of the disbursing of the large sum and forwarded them to the secretary of war, thus substantiating the claims of his former superior officer. Upon the testimony of Mr. Reed, the case was dismissed by the judge before whom it was heard without being given to the jury. Upon his discharge from the army, in September, 1865, and after his service in Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Reed returned to Mount Carmel and resumed mining operations. He was superintendent at several mines in the vicinity of Mount Carmel. In 1879 he removed to Mahanoy City, where he was actively engaged as mine superintendent for over three years. He then returned to Mount Carmel, where he continued mining operations until his death, on Feb. 18, 1890. In politics Mr. Reed was a Republican. He was a candidate for clerk of the quarter sessions at Schuylkill early in the 50's and was defeated by but one vote. He served as a justice of the peace in Mount Carmel at different periods, about twenty years in all. He was the first secretary of Mount Carmel Lodge No. 378, F. & A. M., and was once vice-president of the supreme body of the P. O. S. of A. of this state. He was an ardent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Reed was the first free-school teacher in Schuylkill County, and second burgess of Mount Carmel. The father of our subject was twice married. His first wife was Catharine De Freighn, who bore him eight children, as follows: Emma Eliza, who is Mrs. David Huffman of Shamokin, Pa.; Sarah Jane, unmarried; Mary, wife of John Stahl of Philadelphia; George H., who died in infancy; Rebecca E., the wife of William Curnow of Mount Carmel, and who survives him; Carrie, deceased, who was the wife of William Umpleby; John Edgar, general manager for Collins & Co., railroad contractors; and Kate Irene, who is Mrs. H. P. Helwig and resides in Alexandria, Va. His second wife, Eleanor F. (Teague) Adams, survives him. The subject of this review, Jacob H. Reed, was educated in the public schools of Mount Carmel. At the age of eleven years he went to work as a slatepicker at a mine with which his father was connected, working steadily except in winter, when he pursued his studies in school. When nineteen years old Jacob determined to seek his fortune and he worked in the mines for some time. Then he secured a position with the Adams Express Company, which he held for about nine years. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace, which position he now fills with ability and dignity. In politics he is a Republican and has been variously honored by his party. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, has served two terms as director of the poor and has held other minor offices. Mr. Reed is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a leading member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 378, F. & A. M. He also is a member of Washington Camp No. 116, P. O. S. of A., of Mount Carmel. On June 21, 1889, our subject married Mary E. Wightman, daughter of Charles Wightman of Mount Carmel. She was for several years a teacher in the public schools of Mount Carmel. Their children are: Edith, Estelle, Miriam, John Edgar, and Charles W., Katharine, a younger child, having died in infancy. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 8.0 Kb