[p. 431] a prominent agriculturist of North Beaver Township, residing on his well improved farm of sixty acres, which is situated on the Mt. Jackson-New Galilee road, about one mile south of the former place, was born one mile south of his present farm, in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1837. His parents were William B. and Jane (Johnston) Reed.
The grandfather was John Reed, who was born in Ireland, and came to North Beaver Township with the earliest settlers, and here he reared his family. He was one of the rugged pioneers, who with others, started the development of this part of Lawrence County. William B. Reed was born and reared in North Beaver Township and later married Jane Johnston, who was a daughter of Edward Johnston. She was born and reared on the farm on which Silas Reed now lives. Both William B. Reed and wife died in North Beaver Township.
Silas Reed was not afforded many educational advantages in his boyhood, but he attended school for a few months each year, and as he approached manhood, learned the carpenter trade, as his services were not needed on the farm, there being four other sons. The family consisted of five sons and five daughters, namely: Harriet, wife of Henry Inman; Harvey, who died in infancy; Nancy Hannah, deceased, was the wife of James Hanna; Silas, Joseph, Peter L., Ruth, wife of B. F. Jones; Amelia, deceased, was the first wife of B. F. Jones; Benjamin Douglas, of Pittsburg, and Anna B., wife of James Miller.
In 1851 Mr. Reed moved on this farm and with the exception of five years which he spent in Little Beaver Township, has lived here continuously ever since. He carries on a general farming line and has met with the success that usually attends industry and good management. He has erected all the buildings now standing on the place since his marriage.
In 1871, Mr. Reed was married to Emma Robison, who was born and reared in North Beaver Township, and who is a daughter of James and Mary (Copper) Robison. Her grandfather, William Robison, was born in County Down, Ireland, and when he came to America he settled in Little Beaver Township, where his son James was born. James Reed married a daughter of Alexander Copper, of North Beaver Township, and five children were born to this union, namely: Sylvester Scott, Emma, James Calvin, William Wallace, who was killed during the Civil War, and Mary Ann, deceased. Both the Reeds and Robisons are old and respected families in Lawrence County.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 22 Oct 2001