William Reed
REED, HON. WILLIAM, attorney at law, of Milleresburgh, Ohio, is one of the most widely known attorneys of Holmes County, and comparatively few men placed under the same circumstances have attained to similar prominence and reputation. Although not gifted with flowing eloquence, few men in the profession excel Judge Reed in ability, clearness of expression, profoundness of thought and judgment, and in his acquaintance with Blackstone. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, 1823. His father, William Reed, was a native of Adams County, Penn., and a son of William Reed, who was of Scotch descent, and was a farmer of Adams County, but who, when his son William was twelve years old, moved to Washington County, same State. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The father of Judge Reed was reared in Adams and Washington Counties, and was given good educational advantages, attending Jefferson College one year, and then entering Washington College, from which he graduated in 1815. Choosing, soon after, the ministry as his life work, he began the study of theology, and in due time was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. He had two charges for many years, but about 1850 he resigned one, continuing in the other until a few years prior to his death. He died in October, 1867, aged eighty-two years, having served in the ministry nearly fifty years. He married Maria Cooke, of Washington, Penn., daughter of David Cooke, a prominent merchant of the town of Washington, and a trustee of Washington College. To this union seven children were born, six of whom are living. D.C., a minister of the Presbyterian Church, now of New Castle, Penn.; William, the subject of our sketch; Margretta; Samuel, a farmer residing on the old homestead; Maria, now Mrs. Wolgamot, and Dorcas. The third son, James H., died while a student at the Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, Penn.
Judge William Reed spent his early life in Columbiana County, Ohio, receiving his rudimentary education in the public schools. He later entered Washington College, from which he graduated in the class of 1845. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, his able instructor being C.L. Vallandigham whose reputation is so widely known. He was admitted to the bar in 1847, and at once began the practice of his profession in the town of Millersburgh, where he has since lived, and, with the exception of ten years, when he was Judge of the Third District of Ohio, he has been in active practice. He was elected to this position by the Democratic party, of which he is a stanch supporter, and served with marked ability, his decisions always being the result of thoughtful consideration and bearing the imprint of profound judgment. From 1855 till 1859 he was prosecuting attorney of Holmes County, in which capacity he served to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of that county. Judge Reed has attained a prominence second to none in Holmes County, and is respected by all who know him for his purity of thought and honorable dealings, no one, not excepting those who differ with him in political judgment, having aught but praise for his integrity and uprightness.
Judge Reed was married in 1854 to Maria D., a daughter of S.S. Henry, of Millersburgh, Ohio, and they have two children: William C., and Jennie M., now Mrs. Doak, of Indiana. The Judge and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889