Newton B. Reed Biography


	This biography appears on pages 661-662 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	NEWTON B. REED has been actively engaged in the practice of law 
in the attractive city of Woonsocket, Sanborn county, for more than a 
score of years, and is one of the honored citizens of this section of 
the state. His was the and road. one of the first to enter the state. 
He was distinction of being the first county judge he was one of the 
most conspicuous figures in the organization of the county, which was 
originally a portion of Miner county.  

	Judge Reed and his twin brother, Norman H. Reed, now of Santa 
Barbara, California, were born at Buffalo Grove (now Polo), Illinois, 
November 2, 1848. His parents were Franklin S. and Fanny (Hicks) Reed, 
both of whom are buried at the Reed cemetery near Polo. Four children 
were born to these parents. The eldest, Charles I. Reed, a member of 
Company D, Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, was killed at the battle of 
Chickamauga, and his sister, Phebe A. Day, resides at Rome, Illinois. 
The subject secured his early education in the common schools of his 
native county and later entered the Illinois State Normal University, 
at Normal, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1872. 
Shortly afterward he entered the law department of the Illinois 
Wesleyan L university, at Bloomington, Illinois, where he completed the 
prescribed course and was graduated in 1875, being admitted-to the bar 
of the state in June of that year. He forthwith engaged in the practice 
of his profession in Bloomington, a city noted for the ability of its 
bar, and where he laid the foundations of his legal education. Judge 
Reed there continued to practice until July, 1882, when he came to what 
is now Sanborn county, South Dakota, locating in Woonsocket, where he 
has ever since maintained his home and been engaged in the work of his 
chosen profession, being known as one of the representative members of 
the bar of the state. Sanborn county was organized in 1883 and he was 
elected the first county judge. The first judicial records of the 
county are in his handwriting. The county was a part of Miner county at 
the time of Judge Reed's location here, and in January, 1883, a mass 
meeting was called to take steps for the erection of the new county, 
the assembly being held in the town of Letcher. Judge Reed introduced 
at this meeting the resolution to name the county Sanborn, in honor of 
George W. Sanborn, who was at that time the local superintendent of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail also sent by the mass meeting as 
delegate to the territorial legislature, then in session, to promote 
the interests of the new county and to secure its creation, his labors 
being so well directed as to secure the desired organization. In 
politics Judge Reed is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the 
Republican party, and he has been an active worker in its cause. His 
public spirit and his interest in the city, county and state of his 
adoption, have been of the insistent order and have been manifested in 
divers and helpful ways. He was one of the most influential promoters 
of the plan through which was accomplished the construction of the 
beautiful artesian lake which is now one of the distinctive attractions 
of the county and state. In recognition of his efforts in this 
connection the citizens of Woonsocket, through Major J. T. Kean, 
presented the Judge with a beautiful gold-headed cane.  

	On the 28th of June, 1877, Judge Reed was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Alice Stroud, of Belvidere, Illinois, she being a daughter of 
Samuel and Rachel (Merrill) Stroud and a native of the state mentioned. 
Of this union have been born four children, namely: Charles S., who is 
editor and publisher of the Woonsocket Herald, one of the most 
influential papers in this section of the state; and Amy Clare, Clara 
Louise, and Marion, who remain at the parental home, the family being 
prominent in the best social life of the community.