"John Coleman Reid was born on December 6, 1824, in Tuscaloosa County.
"His parents had come to Alabama in 1818 from North Carolina. As a child he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his parents, and it was in that city that he later studied law at the age of 19 years. Admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1843, he practiced law before moving to Marion [Perry Co. AL] in 1841.
"In 1856 ... served as the leader of a company of volunteers who explored the Gadsden Purchase (NM & AZ).... He wrote of this 10 month expedition in a book, "Reid's Tramp", published 1858.
"In April, 1861, he became a 1st Lt. of Company A, 8th AL Regiment. In October of that year, he raised a regiment of infantry, 28th AL, and became its Colonel. In 1864, he became a Brigadier-General.
"After the war, he returned to his law practice in Marion [AL], but moved to Selma in 1871....
"He was married 3 times. His first wife was Alice Caughlin [sic], of Prattville, whom he married in 1850. After her death 18 months later, he married Adelaid O. Reid at Robinson's Springs. His third wife was Mary Frances Erwin of Dallas Co.
"Reid died in Selma February 28, 1896. [end quote]
SOURCE: W. Brewer "Alabama", 1872 - Reid served AL legislature, 1855.