The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 399

KELLEY E. REED is senior partner in the firm of Reed &
Lapsley, general contractors, with headquarters in South
Charleston but with a business that reaches to all parts of
the state and to outside states. Mr. Reed is an experienced
and successful builder of railroads, sewers, tunnels and other
heavy forms of construction, and it is said by his associates
that he has never undertaken a contract without carrying it
through with credit to himself.

The firm of Reed & Lapsley began operations in 1914.
They handle railroad, street paving, general road work and
also structural steel work. They did a great deal of busi-
ness for the United States Housing Corporation during the
war. This firm built a part of the interurban line between
Charleston and Cabin Creek Junction. They have all the
facilities for standard gauge railroad construction, and
excavation machines for sewer and similar work. Many of
their contracts with railroads are outside the state, but
chiefly with the Chesapeake & Ohio.

Mr. Kelley E. Seed was born at Clay Court House in
Clay County, West Virginia, in 1881, and as a lad took up
railroad work. In 1907 he organized the firm of Board &
Reed, contractors, and they built twelve miles of railroad
in Tyler County. This piece of construction included two
tunnels. They also handled a heavy job of construction for
the Calina & Clinchfield Railroad through the breaks of the
Cumberland Mountains, on Big Sandy River. There was
one mile they built through the mountains which cost $360,-
000, and was a twenty-four months' job. Mr. Eeed con-
tinued handling railroad work for six years, finally selling
his interest to Board & Duffield, and then did some indi-
vidual contracting until he joined A. J. Lapsley, former-
ly of the firm Patton & Lapsley, general contractors.
This firm was dissolved with the death of Mr. Patton, and
since then Mr. Reed and Mr. Lapsley have been associated.
Each is a practical contractor and superintendent of con-
struction, and they give the closest personal attention to all
their work.

Mr. Reed is interested in real estate in South Charleston
and Charleston, and also coal production. He is vice presi-
dent of the First National Bank of South Charleston.

He married Miss Rosa L. Layden. They have two chil-
dren: Virginia Lee and Kelley E., Jr. Mr. Reed lives in
South Charleston, and has taken an active part in the
upbuilding of that industrial community.  In fraternal
circles he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.


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