Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 102

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 102

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After having lived seventy-four years of active usefulness, on August 4, 1891, in the city of Natchez, where he had so long resided, Major Reed passed from his earthly dwell- ing-place to his eternal home in heaven. During his last sickness he was tenderly cared for by his family and many friends. The great esteem for him by the people was shown at his funeral, when every class of persons was largely represented, besides the attendance in a body of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Con- federate veterans. He had been for nearly half a century a member of the I. O. O. F., and was the oldest living past grand master of the order.

He also took an active interest in the two other associations named. He was a good man, a patriotic citizen, a consecrated Christian. His life was an honor to his state, and the beneficial influence therefrom will be felt for long years to come. The following is a portion of a notice of Major Reed's life, published a day or two after his demise in an influ- ential Southern newspaper: "Major Reed has from early manhood taken a great interest in politics. Though he was never an officeseeker he always took a prominent part in the

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councils of the democratic party. During the Mexican war he was appointed to the rank of major on General Quitman's staff, but the war closed before he saw any active service. He served in the late Civil war in aid of the Confederate cause. He was, at the time of his death, the oldest living past grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state. For more than forty years he had been a prominent member of this order. From early boyhood he was a member of the Methodist church, and he lived a sincere and faithful Christian life. One who knew him well said to the writer this morning that he made it a rule never to allow anything to stand in the way of church duties. He said further that he had never seen him absent from Sunday-school in the Jefferson Street church until he was taken sick two weeks ago. Major Reed leaves a devoted widow and a family of three sons and one daughter, all grown, to mourn his death. To them and his numerous relatives and friends we tender our sympathy. The funeral proceeds from the Jefferson Street Methodist church at five o'clock this evening. The Mississippi lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows will attend in a body."

W. S. Reed, Free Run, was born in Yazoo county, Miss., in 1847, and is the son of J. H. and Elizabeth L. (Hurst) Reed. The father was born in Adams county, Miss., and is a son of the Hon. Thomas B. Reed, United States senator, of Adams county, who settled in Mis- sissippi about the year 1816. Senator Reed died in 1829. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Thomas Hurst, a pioneer of Adams county. J. H. Reed was educated in Kentucky at Center college, and settled in Yazoo county in 1837. He opened up and improved a large plantation near Benton, where he was an influential and honored citizen. He died in 1874, but his wife still survives. They reared a family of four children, two of whom are deceased. Ella E., wife of J. W. Waterer, and Betty, wife of W. E. Philipps, are not living; Mary C., wife of Dr. J. E. McGehee, and W. S. are the other members of the family. The maternal grandfather was a native of Virginia, from which state he removed to Mississippi in the year 1806. Mr. Reed spent his boyhood and youth in Yazoo county, where he received his education. In 1864 he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in company K, Woods' Mississippi cavalry. He was at Gainesville, Ala., at the time of the surrender in 1865. After the close of the war he engaged in farming. In 1860 the family had settled on the place which he now occupies. It now covers an area of four hundred and forty acres, two hundred being under cultivation. Mr. Reed was wedded in 1869 to Miss Florence Hurst, a daughter of Chatham and Ann (Gaskins) Hurst, who were from Vir- . ginia. Six children have been born of this union: I. Shelby, John H., Chatham, William and Pearl (twins), and Dudley. Mrs. Reed and the eldest son are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Reed belongs to the Knights of Honor, and is reporter of his lodge. He has always discharged his duties of. citizenship faithfully, and is a man who has the entire respect of the community.

Among the representative, thoroughgoing and efficient officials of Prentiss county, Miss., there is probably no one more deserving of mention than . Hon. W. H. Rees, chancery clerk, ' Booneville, Miss., for his residence within this state has extended through his entire life, his birth occurring in . Tishomingo county (now Prentiss), near Rienzi, in 1847. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Whitaker) Rees, and grandson of John Rees, a native of Virginia, who was one of the early settlers of Lincoln county, Tenn. The Whitaker family were originally from Kentucky. . Grandfather Whitaker was a wealthy planter and a very active member of the Baptist church, taking great interest in all religious matters and building churches where he lived. The parents of W. H. Rees were natives of Lincoln county, Tenn., and came to Mississippi about 1834 or 1836, settling in Tishomingo county, where the father became one

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of the most prosperous and successful planters of the county, a model farmer in every respect. He died in 1859 at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a democrat in politics, was never an officeseeker, but took a very active part in political matters, and was influential in the politics of the county for some time. He was a member of the Methodist church, and socially was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Previous to his death his wife had received her final summons. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are yet living: Mrs. Anna Bynum (of Rienzi), Mrs. Mary Bynum (of the same place), R. A. (resides in Lincoln county, Tenn.), Hardy W. (makes his home in Prentiss county) and W. H. Those deceased died young, with the exception of the eldest son, Jordon L., who was killed in the storm that swept over the county in 1875. W. H. Rees was the sixth in order of birth of the above mentioned children. He espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and at the break- ing out of hostilities between the two sections he enlisted in company A, Thirty-second Mis- sissippi regiment infantry, and served until the 8th of October, 1862, when he was wounded at the battle of Perryville, losing his left arm from the shoulder from the explosion of a shell. He was the first one of his company injured, and was captured by the Union soldiers. He was confined at Louisville but a short time, and was then exchanged at Vicksburg in Decem- ber of the same year. After this he served in the quartermaster's department at Montgomery, Ala., until the close of the war, being paroled at Columbus, Miss., in May, 1865. Return- ing home he entered school at Oxford in 1868, and graduated from the law department of that institution, in a class of twenty, in 1869. He subsequently located at Booneville, Miss., and practiced his profession until finally ill health drove him to his farm. When he returned to his profession he was elected a member of the legislature for Atcorn and Prentiss coun- ties as a floater, serving two terms, and in 1883 he was elected chancery clerk, and re-elected in 1887 without opposition. In politics he is active for the interests of the democratic party, and the very efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties of the different official positions he has held and is holding, testifies to the wisdom of the people's choice. The con- fidence they have in him is intelligently placed, for they have known him from boyhood and have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications. He was married in Hinds county, Miss., to Miss Mary Farris, a native of Tishomingo county, and the daughter of A. J. Farris, who is a near relative of the Sivleys of Hinds county. Mrs. Rees was edu- cated at Jacinto, and in a select school near Iuka, Miss., taught by Mrs. Brame. Mr. and Mrs. Rees are the parents of these children: John Jordon, Louise, William H., Jr., Mary Annie, Hamilton Sivley and Jefferson Davis Boone. Mr. Rees is a Knight of Honor, and he and wife are members of the Methodist church. ... Mr. Rees' house, with most of its contents, was burned in 1891. They had a beautiful and pleasant home:

Jesse J. Reeves, of Summit, was born in Pike county, Miss., November 14, 1820. He is the eldest of nine children born to John and Martha (Price) Reeves, both natives of South Carolina. John Reeves came to Mississippi in 1811, when the place was a territory inhabited by the Indians and wild beasts. He engaged in planting, which he continued until his death, which occurred in 1861. He was well known as one of the pioneers of the state. Jesse Reeves' paternal grandparents were Lazarus and Elizabeth Reeves, natives of Vir- ginia. His grandfather settled on a farm about one-half mile from the present residence of Mr. Reeves. His maternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Price, natives of South Carolina. Our subject was reared and educated in Mississippi, attending the private schools near his home. He is now a planter and owns four hundred and forty acres of land, about two hundred and fifty acres of which are under cultivation. ,In 1848 he was married to Miss Olive McCollough, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of William

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McCollough. To them have been born twelve children: Mary A., Sarah J. (now deceased), James R. G., Tabitha, William H. C., Vashti P., Jasper M., Hannah E., John E., Martha A., Reuben W. (also deceased) and Dolly. Mr. Reeves and his family are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Reeves did not start out in life for himself until the age of twenty- eight years, and when he did begin for himself he had no means, but by close application and careful management has succeeded in collecting enough of this world's goods to live very comfortably the rest of his life. He is descended from one of the oldest families in the state, who were of English-Irish origin. Mr. Reeves is a Mason and a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He is deeply interested in all enterprises tending to the public good, and is a liberal contributor to the same.

William S. Regan (deceased). Among the earliest settlers who came to Marion county, Miss., and endured the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, was John Regan, a native of North Carolina. He was married and reared a family of five children: Stephen A., Joe, William S., Nancy P., and Mary A. Stephen A. Regan married Elizabeth Apple- white, and they had thirteen children born to them, ten of whom grew to maturity: Ralph, Sarah A., John A., Mary J., William S., Nancy P., Rebecca E., Joe R., Melissa, and Thomas G. William S. Regan married Catherine Pittman, and they had a large family of children: Robinson, Rufus, Henry P., Elizabeth, John, Sarah, William P., Stephen A., Willis, and Nancy P. William S. Regan, son of Stephen A. Regan, was born April 27, 1832, and in 1851 he was married to Sarah A. Loe, by whom he had five children: Elizabeth, James K., Corinne, Abigail, and Caroline. The mother of these children died in 1863, and the father was married a second time, being united to Mrs. Susan Luter, widow of John Luter, and daughter of Daniel Scarborough. Eight children were born of this marriage: Mary J., Joseph, Willy, Nettie, Thomas G., Stephen A., Laura, and William H. Mr. Regan was an excellent business man and accumulated a considerable amount of property. At the time of his death he owned a large tract of land six miles south of Columbia. He was an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and being possessed of many sterling traits of character, he had won an enviable position in the community in which he had resided so many years.

Judge H. P. Reid (deceased), was born April 28, 1839, at Greensboro, Ala., and was a descendant of an old and much honored family. He was left an orphan at an early age and was adopted by an uncle, Harrison P. Maxwell, who was one of the leading farmers of Tippah county. The Christian name of the uncle was given to young Reid. About the year 1854 or 1855 he was apprenticed in the Ripley Advertiser office, and before the war, and when still quite young, he worked on the Bulletin and other Memphis papers. When war was declared between the states he promptly entered the Confederate army and served with credit and ability throughout the entire struggle. He afterward entered the political field, served in the legislature and in party conventions, and was the means of accomplishing a great deal of good for the democratic party and the state of Mississippi. He was very con- servative, and by his course set a good example in the community by which he was honored as a public servant and esteemed as a citizen. Judge Reid removed to Friar's Point before the war, and returning to that point after that eventful period he was almost without means. He started the Coahomian and conducted that paper for several years. During that time he studied law and was admitted to the bar in his county, afterward practicing in the courts of his own and adjoining counties and in the supreme court of the state at Jackson until the time of his death on the 3d of March, 1884, when but forty-five years of age. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary S.

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Robinson, who now resides in Friar's Point, and to this union were born the following children: James Baxter, Alexander Morton, Frank Rochester, Harry Patton, Louie Wortham (died at the age of six months) and Samuel Warren (who also died in early boyhood). The Judge received his final summons at his home, from the exposure suffered on his trip to Jackson, Miss., to defeat a county site removal bill before the legislature. At his death he left a widow and five sons, one child having preceded him. He was the nephew of Dr. Bryan, a Presbyterian minister of Memphis, but he and his wife were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South. He was tall and well formed, with dark brown hair, fair complexion and blue eyes.

Joseph Reid has for many years been noted for honorable, upright dealing, and his record is a clean and worthy one. The first of his family of whom he had any definite knowl- edge was his grandfather, Joseph Reid, who was of Scotch descent but a Virginian by birth. During the Revolutionary war, with three brothers, he served in that struggle against the Brit- ish, holding the rank of lieutenant. He became a well-to-do planter of South Carolina, in which state he, for some time, filled the position of magistrate. He was also married in that state to Miss Isabella Baskin, of Irish descent, but a native of the Palmetto state. He died about 1830, and his widow in 1845, both being members of the Presbyterian church at the time of their deaths. Their son, Thomas B. Reid, the father of the subject of this sketch, was reared in Pickens district, S. C., his boyhood being spent on a farm. He was one of a family of three sons and six daughters, being the eldest son and the second of the family in order of birth. He received a common-school education, and throughout his entire life followed the calling of a planter, to which occupation he had been reared by his father. In 1823 he was married to Miss Sarah Nicholson, a native of Pickens district, S. C., and a daughter of William and Martha (Richardson) Nicholson, her father having been a planter in good circumstances, and died about 1820, being survived by his widow a number of years. In 1834 Thomas B. Reid removed with his family to Sumter county, Ala., where he remained one year, then came to Mississippi, reaching Chickasaw county December 25, 1835. He immediately purchased a section of land, and the succeeding year purchased a half section, and by the time of his death had accumulated a good and valuable property. He was in the war with the Seminole Indians, and was ensign in Captain Kelly's company. He died in 1858, his wife's death occurring in 1843, the latter being an earnest member of the Presby- terian church. They became the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters: Joseph, William R., president of the topographical and engineering corps of Argentine Con- federation, South America; Isabella (deceased), Thomas B., who was killed in Virginia dur- ing the Civil war; Samuel, who resides with the subject of this sketch; Lemuel N., who resides in Houston; Evan R., who was killed during the war at the battle of Seven Pines; Martha, widow of John G. Brooks, of Opelousas, La .; Sarah (deceased), Warren D., who resides with the subject of this sketch, and George, who was killed in the battle of Gaines' Mill, Va. The boyhood days of Joseph Reid were spent in his native state and Chick- asaw county, Miss., and up to the age of seventeen years attended the common country schools five or six months throughout the year. At the age of twenty-one he began life for himself as an overseer on his father's plantation, continuing until the latter's death, when he purchased a portion of the old home place, afterward adding an addition to his share. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of fertile and well-tilled land. He was captain of militia prior to the war, and in 1862 was elected a member of the board of police, in which capacity he served until 1868 or 1869. From 1870 to 1872 he was a member of the board of supervisors, and in the discharge of all his official duties he was intelligent, faithful and

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active. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is unmarried. His brother, War- ren D. Reid, was a sergeant in company H, Eleventh Mississippi, and while with the army of Virginia was wounded in a skirmish, from the effects of which he lost the use of his left arm. He was elected to the position of circuit clerk in 1886, the duties of which he faith- fully discharged for two years. In December, 1865, he was married to Miss Jane McJunkin, a native of South Carolina, by whom he became the father of eight children, seven of whom are living: L. B., a teacher in Palestine, Tex .; Bessie C., Joseph B., James M., Minnie, Sam- uel E. and Warren D. Lemuel N. Reid, another brother of Joseph Reid, was in the same company as his brother, Warren D., during the war, and while in the battle of Gettysburg received two severe wounds in the thigh. After remaining at home on furlough for some time he soon recovered from the effects of his wounds, and endeavored to rejoin his com- mand, but owing to communication being cut off he was unable to do so, and joined a cavalry company, with which he served in the winter of 1864-5. He was married to Miss Anna Moffett, a native of Houston, Miss., and a daughter of William Moffett, by whom he became the father of four children: William J., Harriet, Sarah and Thomas B. Samuel Reid, another brother, was also in company H, Eleventh Mississippi, and was captured at the bat- tle of Gettysburg and taken to Fort Delaware, whence he escaped with a companion, and made his way to the Confederate lines. He went to the Black Hills during the gold fever, where he remained ten years. He is now the postmaster of Ridge, Miss. He is unmarried.

D. Reinach, merchant and planter, Riverton, Miss. The firm of Frank & Reinach, at Riverton, Bolivar county, Miss., carry a stock of goods valued at $20,000, and do an annual business of about $100,000. They are live, energetic business men, and in their dealings and representations, merit the esteem with which they are regarded. In 1884 they erected their large store building, one of the largest in the county, and their stock of assorted merchandise is of a character to suit the locality. Mr. Reinach was born in Bavaria in 1842, and his parents, Samuel and Mena (Arent) Reinach, were natives of that country also. There they passed their entire lives, the father dying in 1859 and the mother in 1875 or 1876. D. Reinach was educated in Bavaria and in 1860 came to the United States, residing for a short time in New York, after which he went to Cincinnati, O., and from there to Chicot county, Ark., where he clerked in a store at Grand Lake for nearly two years. He then came to Bolivar county, Miss., followed the same occupation for a short time, and then entered the Confederate service, Company H, First Mississippi cavalry, called Bolivar troops, and served in this company under Captain Montgomery during the entire war. He speaks in the highest praise of his late Captain, and quotes him as being one of the bravest and most fearless soldiers. Mr. Reinach embarked in business at Carson's, this county, in 1865, and there remained until 1869, when he came to his present locality, then called Pride's Point, but since changed to Riverton. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and although he could hardly speak the English language when coming here, he has, by his industry, good management and strict attention to business, become one of the most prosper- ous men in the county. The business grows under his supervision and is annually increasing. He also has a large plantation interest, about four thousand acres, and has two thousand acres of this under cultivation, it being thoroughly improved with gins, good buildings, etc. He has been postmaster at Riverton for a long time and was county treasurer for four years. Although formerly quite active in politics, he gives very little attention to the political issues of the day at the present time. He is a member of the Masonic order. He has a fine residence at Riverton and one of the largest orchards in the county.

The following is a brief sketch in memory of Isaiah P. Rembert, one of the most promi-

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nent pioneers or landmarks of early Mississippi. He was born in 1826, a son of John and Sarah Rembert, natives of South Carolina, who moved to Louisiana and from there came to Mississippi in 1820. He was one of nine chlidren: George, Judith, Nancy, Andrew, Amelia, Frank, Isaiah, Melissa and Sarah, all of whom are citizens of their native state and deserving of a remembrance in the memorial pages being dedicated to the subject of this sketch, who chose for his career, in his early manhood, a farmer's life. He was reared amidst the surroundings of a pioneer life. In 1850 he married Sarah Holliday, born in Copiah county in 1830, a daughter of John Johnson and Mary (Mangum) Ainsworth Holli- day, the latter a daughter of James and Elizabeth Ainsworth. The former was a native of Georgia, the latter of Christian county, Ky., and they emigrated to this state in 1820, and here lived until death summoned them. They will be remembered as having been good citizens and useful workers in the Master's cause. At the opening of the war Mr. Rembert was a prosperous and contented man, whose large accumulations were due to his diligence and good management; but, like all true Southern men, he answered his country's call, leaving his happy home and large, splendid plantation of eleven hundred acres to the supervision of his wife and her mother, the latter, though, preferring her own home, living with her daughter, her Christian virtues, benevolence and experience rendering her capable of giving advice, such as none could fear to follow. Early in the war Mr. Rembert enlisted in Captain King's company as lieutenant, in which office he served faithfully, but, owing to his corpulency, he was considered unfit for active duty, and was transferred to the com- missary department, in which he served until the close of the war. After the war he again engaged in planting, combining with his farm occupation the raising of hogs and horses. His widow resides on the old homestead. She has no children. Mr. Rembert was a mem- ber of the Hazlehurst lodge A. F. & A. M. In religious faith he worshiped with the Methodists. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Rem- berts are of French descent, the first of the family having come to America and settled in South Carolina, before the war of the Revolution, in which they faithfully served their foster country. Mr. Rembert died April 8, 1884, after a protracted illness. His widow is a lady noted for her gentle, refined ways, and the modesty which is characteristic of her.

Isham B. Rembert, D. D. S., was born in Copiah county, Miss., July 14, 1859, the youngest of six children born to Frank M. and Sarah E. (Patrick) Rembert, natives of Mis- sissippi, the former being born and reared in Copiah county, where he obtained such educa- tion as could be had in the common schools. He was reared on a farm and trained to hard work, but in later years he turned his attention to merchandising, in which he became very successful, accumulating valuable property. He is now residing in Hazelhurst. His father, John Rembert, was a native of South Carolina but emigrated to Mississippi in early life and was one of the first settlers of Copiah county. Isham B. Rembert received a good English education in his native county and in 1881 graduated in dental surgery from the Indiana Dental college at Indianapolis, Ind., immediately after which he located at Fayette, Jefferson county, where he practiced one year. At the end of this time he became a practitioner of Natchez, but in 1883 came to Jackson, where he has since remained. He has been exception- ally successful in the practice of his profession and now controls a large and lucrative patronage, which he well deserves, for he is careful and painstaking in his work and keeps fully abreast of the times in his profession. He is first vice president of the Mississippi State Dental association and is a rising young dentist, sure to make his mark in the world. He is gentlemanly and courteous in his intercourse with his fellows, and is a worthy member of one of the oldest and best known families of the state. In 1888 he was married to Miss

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 102

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314