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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Lewis
D. Reid Prominent
among the businessmen of Jasper County is Lewis D. Reid, who was born July 18,
1860, in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, his father, DeWitt C. Reid, being a
native of Erie County, Pennsylvania, and his mother, Delia (Lewis) Reid, a
native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The father died in Crawford County, in
1883, at the age of fifty-two years; the mother still lives, making her home
with the subject of this review.
Mr.
Reid's father was a farmer and was quite a local politician in his day, being a
Republican after the birth of that party in 1856. After the death of his father, Mr. Reid left his home in
Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1884, coming at once to Newton, Jasper County,
where he rented land and began farming, his mother coming with him. At the end
of three years, he bought a farm of his own and continued thereon until 1896,
when he sold it and came to town, engaging in the livery business.
In this business he continued for five years, after which he opened a
real estate and insurance business, which business he has continued in every
since. He makes a specialty of
farms and farmlands in Jasper County, arid also deals quite extensively in
Canadian land and south Minnesota lands, conducting excursion parties to these
regions. Mr. Reid is one of the
best judges of soil in the County and enjoys the confidence of all his neighbors
and friends. Aside from his
extensive dealings in lands, he deals considerably in city property values and
general investments and conducts a general fire, tornado and lightning insurance
business, his office being located at this time at No. 114 West McDonald street
in the City of Newton. Mr.
Reid was united in marriage with Nettie R. Drake, daughter of Horace and
Catherine (Berminghoff) Drake, in September 1884, in Cambridge, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Reid's parents were both natives of Venango County, Pennsylvania.
Her father died in 1906, and her mother in 1883. Mrs. Reid's grandfather,
John Berminghoff, was a well known figure in the early history of the
Pennsylvania oil fields, and was the victim of what was known at the time as the
Berminghoff Robbery, being robbed of over three hundred and sixty thousand
dollars, which he was keeping in his house, not caring to trust the unstable
wild-cat banks of that time, he having lost heavily by them on three occasions.
The prime mover in this robbery was never caught.
To
Mr. and Mrs. Reid have been born six children, five of whom are living, one
dying in infancy, named as follows: Lyle F., born December 13, 1885, is a
traveling musician and electrician with the Chase Theatrical Company, with which
company he has been connected for four years; Ida Pearl, born December 3, 1888,
resides at home, and is toll operator at the Newton telephone exchange; George
M., born January 21, 1894, Hazel L., born January 13, 1896; Gladys G., born
August 1, 1902. Mr.
Reid is a member of Central Lodge No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of
Newton, being also a member of the encampment and Uniform Rank.
Mrs. Reid is a member of the local Rebekah lodge and also member of the
First Christian Church of Newton, and the Ladies Aid Society. In politics Mr.
Reid is a Republican. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 653. |
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