Short Biography of Daniel Reid

Daniel Reid, deceased, was a son of Daniel Reid, Sr., who was of Scotch-Irish extraction, a native of Virginia, where he matured, lived and died. His wife was Margaret Patterson, of Lancaster County, Pa., but died in Richmond, Ind. at an advanced age. Our subject now in question was born in Rockbridge County, Va., Feb. 5, 1799, and was one of a large family, most of whom settled near New Paris, Preble Co., Ohio, where Daniel settled in 1821. Having acquired a fair education in his minor life and, together with his natural ability he commenced teaching school in the pioneer days of Preble County, Ohio. In the fall of 1823 he removed to Richmond, Ind., and became clerk in the store of James McGuire, and later filled the same position in the store of Robert Morrisson. Having had several years experience and acquired some means, in 1828 he associated himself in bnsiness with Joseph P. Strattan and for ten years was a pioneer merchant in Richmond. One year after associating with Strattan he was appointed Postmaster of Richmond, which position he filled in connection with his store, until his appointment in 1838, by President Van Buren, as Register of the Land-office at Fort Wayne, Ind., which position he filled with credit and honor, but about 1843 he settled on a farm in Allen County, Ind., and in 1855 returned to Richmond, where he engaged in the grocery business with his son, William S., and N. S. Leeds, until the firm changed to Reid & Vanneman, where he was employed, and while thus engaged moved to his farm one and a half miles west of town, and up to the time of his death was living on his farm, but in the employ of Reid & Beeler. His death occurred March 3, 1873. He died as he had lived — happy, having been for many years a member of and Ruling Elder in the United Presbyterian church at Richmond. He was twice married; first, to Letitia, daughter of William Scott; who was born in the North of Ireland and came to America when sixteen years old, and died in Allen County, Ind., in 1851. This union had born to them seven children — William Scott, of whom further notice is given; Mary Ann, who died in infancy; Mary Ann, wife of Franklin P. Randall, an attorney of Fort Wayne; James P.; Margaret, unmarried and died February, 1883; Hannah M., who died in 1833, and Robert Morrisson, who emigrated to California in 1852. Our subject, Daniel, married for his second wife, in October, 1851, Mrs. Ann Dougan, then living in Niles, Mich., and a daughter of Isaac Gray, an early pioneer merchant of Richmond. This union had born to them two children — Daniel Gray, now of the Second National Bank of Richmond, and Emma Virginia, wife of Oliver Bogue, both graduates of Earlham College and now residents of Wabash, Ind., where he is practicing law. William Scott, the elder of the above family, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., Dec. 10, 1818, and was brought by his parents to Preble County, Ohio, when three years old. When five years old his father settled in the village of Richmond, where he matured and acquired a fair education. For a time he was clerk in his father's Land office at Fort Wayne, Ind., during which time, May 7, 1839, he married Sarah Jane Mansur, by whom he had nine children, of whom two, the fifth and ninth, only, are now living. William S., subsequent to his marriage, devoted twelve years on a farm in Allen County, thence returned to Richmond and was for three years in the drygoods business; then in the grocery and grain trade for many years; subsequently he became one of the prime movers in the establishment of the pork-packing business in Richmond, as is elsewhere soon, in which he is still engaged. He, as was his father before him, is a member of and Ruing Elder in the United Presbyterian church of Richmond, and of him most of the history of that church was obtained. Mr. Reid has been well and favorably known as a business man of honor and integrity for many years. He is willing to assist in all on enterprises tending to elevate mankind and the upbuilding of society.

Source: "History of Wayne county, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches" ³⁸

Daniel Reid Was City's Second Postmaster

Daniel Reid was the second postmaster of Richmond. He succeeded Robert Morrisson who was postmaster from 1818 to 1829. Reid was postmaster from 1829 to 1836. Morrisson opened the first post office in a frame building on the southwest corner of Main and Front (Fourth) streets, where he kept his store. It was afterward removed to the northwest corner Main and Pearl (Fifth) streets, a structure that later was moved to North Fifth street opposite the present City hall.

When President Jackson appointed Reid as postmaster in 1829, he conducted the office on the north side of Main street between Fourth and Fifth streets where he operated a store with Joseph P. Strattan. Whether Reid continued the office there after he and Stratton dissolved their partnership, Oct. 5, 1833, is not known.

Reid was born in Rockbridge county, Va., Feb. 5, 1799, and in 1821 settled near New Paris, Ohio. He came to Richmond two years later. He taught school in Preble county until the fall of 1823 when he became a clerk in the store of James McGuire and later in the store of Robert Morrison in Richmond. In 1838 Reid and Joseph P. Strattan became partners in a store, and upon his appointment as postmaster conducted the post office in the store.

President Van Buren appointed Reid as registrar of the land office at Fort Wayne in 1838, an office which he held for five years. He purchased a farm in Allen county in 1843, but returned to Richmond in 1855 to engage in the dry goods business for three years. Then he entered the grocery business with his son, William S., and N. S. Leeds. When the firm changed to Reid and Vannemen, he remained with the store but made his home on his farm, one and one-half miles west of Richmond where he died Mar. 3, 1873. He was a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian church.

Twice Married

Reid was twice married: first to Letitia, daughter of William Scott, who died Sept. 3, 1854 when the family lived in Allen county. Their children were: William Scott, Mary Ann, wife of Franklin P. Randall, a Fort Wayne attorney; James P.; Margaret, who died in 1883; Hannah M, who died in 1833; and Robert M., who went to California in 1852. In October, 1856, he married Mrs. Ann Dougan, then living in Niles, Mich., a daughter of Isaac Gray, an early merchant of Richmond. Their children were Daniel G. Reid, who became vice-president of the Second National bank, and later with William B. Leeds helped to establish the tinplate industry in this country; and Emma Virginia, who was married to Oliver Bogue, an attorney at Wabash, Ind. and later a Richmond resident.

William Scott Reid, the oldest child of Daniel Reid, was born in Rockbridge county, Va., Dec. 10, 1818, and came to Preble county with his parents when a child. He spent he boyhood years in Richmond. While a clerk in his father's land office at Fort Wayne, he married Sarah Mansur. They were the parents of nine children.

Mrs. Sarah Reid Myrick, 326 North Eleventh street, is a daughter of William S. and Sarah Mansur Reid. She is the last survivor of nine children. The house in which she lives was built by her father 82 years ago.

Source: "Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram" ⁶⁵²²