The subject of this sketch has well earned the honor to be addressed as
one of the progressive, public-spirited men of Marion county, since from the
beginning of his residence here he has been conspicuously active, securing
for himself the comforts of life and home and an ample competence for his
declining years. Mr. Reed's home is at Centralia, where he is engaged in the
drug business and wherever he is known he is held in the highest esteem
owing to his life of honor and industry.
Lewis H. Reed was born in
Vermilion county, Indiana, December 20, 1849, the son of John W. and Sarah
(Ralston) Reed, the former having been born August 3, 1822, in Stokes
county, North Carolina. He came to Indiana in 1832 with his parents, whose
family consisted of six children, five boys and one girl, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. His mother was born
February 7, 1827, in Brown county, Ohio, near Georgetown, and she came to
Indiana when quite small, her family having located in Vermilion county. She
was one of a family of five children, being the youngest child. John W. Reed
was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Protestant church. His wife
was a Presbyterian in her youth, having been so reared, but later in life
became a Methodist Protestant. There were eight children in the family of
the parents of our subject, six boys and two girls, the subject being the
oldest in order of birth.
Lewis H. Reed was educated in the public
schools of Vermilion county, Indiana. He worked on his father's farm until
twenty years old. He then entered Ascension Seminary in Sullivan, Sullivan
county, Indiana. After obtaining a good education, having made a splendid
record for scholarship in the last named school, he began teaching, which
profession he followed with great success for a period of ten years, during
which time he became well known as an able educator and his services were in
great demand, having taught many successful terms in both Illinois and
Indiana.
Believing that a better field for his talents was to be
found in the drug business he entered the same on March 28, 1879, in St.
Bernice, Indiana. He continued in the drug business at St. Bernice until
1888, having built up an excellent trade and making a success of the
business from the first. During that time he held the office of postmaster
under President Rutherford B. Hayes, having begun in May, 1881, and
continued the same with much credit to himself and to the entire
satisfaction of all concerned for five years, five months and fifteen days,
when he resigned and moved to Mississippi, having remained one winter at
Ocean Springs. In 1889 he removed to Centralia, Illinois, and held the
office of Town Clerk for two terms, in a manner that elicited praise on
every hand.
Mr. Reed is still in the drug business, having one of
the best equipped and neatest stores in Centralia and he has an excellent
patronage numbering many customers throughout the county. Owing to his
courteous treatment of customers and his intimate knowledge of the drug
business his trade is always all that could be desired.
Mr. Reed
united in marriage to Isabella Benefiel on July 13, 1881. She is the
daughter of Robert and Mary (Ingram) Benefiel, of Carlisle, Indiana. She was
educated in Edgar county, Illinois. Her father met an untimely death by
being killed by a horse.
Mrs. Reed is a member of the Pythian
Sisters, Lotus Temple No. 8, having passed all the chairs. She is a teacher
in the First Methodist Episcopal church Sunday school, having been
identified with Sunday school work for many years. She is a member of the
Ladies' Aid and the Missionary societies of the church. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Reed are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Politically our subject is a loyal Republican and he takes a great interest
in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, Queen City No. 179, having been identified with the same for the
past twenty-five years and having passed all the chairs. He has been
representative to the Grand Lodge twice at Springfield, Illinois. He is also
a past chief patriarch of the Centralia Encampment No. 75, having
represented the Encampment twice at Springfield. He is also a member of
Helmet lodge No. 26, Knights of Pythias, and has passed all the chairs in
the same.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 559-561.