Benjamin Michael Reed
CRISMAN, FOSTER, GROVE, KALE, LARIMER, MINNIS, REED, SELLERS, SLUTTS, WALLACE
Posted By: Madison County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/30/2015 at 15:53:57
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Reed was born July 25, 1801, near Sunbury, Pennsylvania, in the Susquehanna Valley, Northumberland County. The sixth son of John Frederick and Mary Eve (Grove) Reed. He was married at Cadiz, Ohio, October 31, 1824, to Rebecca A. (Sellers), (1803-1844). Benjamin and Rebecca had children John (1825); Elizabeth "Eliza" (1826), married Theophilus Slutts, 1846; Frederick (1828); Martha (1829); married twice, Fred Crisman, 1849, and Wilson Minnis, 1862; Sarah (1831), married Wm. C. Larimer, 1851; Ashford (1833); Franklin (1835); Jacob (1838); Daniel (1841); and Benjamin, born 9 May 1844. Rebecca died in September 1844.
Benjamin was again married, at New Philadelphia, Ohio, November 25, 1851, to Rachel Ellen Foster (1829-1926), daughter of Moses Bradford Foster (1802-1881), and wife, Mary Priscilla "Peree" (Kale), (1807-1890). Benjamin and Rachel had children Austin Benoni (1852); Moses Bradford (1856); and Priscilla Luella "Lulu" (1868), married Patrick Wallace, Peru, Iowa, February 11, 1888.
Benjamin lost three sons in the Civil War. They died at various places. Jacob (d. Mar. 4, 1862 )and Daniel (d. Jun. 29, 1863), died in hospitals; and Franklin (d. Feb. 5, 1864), died in a Rebel prison. They are all buried at Zoarville, Ohio, in the Bisel Church Cemetery, next to their mother, Rebecca A. Reed. Franklin and Jacob were schoolteachers in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
Benjamin migrated with his family from Fairfield Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio to Madison County, Iowa in 1864. Upon arrival he purchased many acres of the prized limestone land. He owned 200 acres in Section 29 and 32 of Scott Township; 78 acres in Section 10, Walnut Township; and 40 acres in Section 11, Walnut Township. He also owned land in Grand River Township. For the first 9 years in Iowa, they lived on their land in Scott Township.
In 1875, they relocated to Section 10, Walnut Township, west of Peru, Iowa, where he passed away, October 21, 1894. Rachel, continued to make her home there until their son, Austin B., passed away, June 18, 1918. She then made her home at Truro, with son, Dr. Brad Reed where she passed away January 12, 1926. Both Benjamin and Rachel are buried in the Peru Cemetery.
________________________Authored by Robert Leo “Bob” Reed and Myrtle Berniece (Smith) Reed
Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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