REID, WILLIAM. - In reviewing the lists of men who served this country during the Civil war, it is remarkable to note how many were of foreign birth. Many of these soldiers had not long been in this land, when they freely offered themselves to the service of their adopted country, and among those who belong to this class is William Reid, of township 18, range 11, now one of Cass County's responsible men. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, January 19, 1840, a son of Duncan and Jane (Wilkey) Reid, who, in 1855, came to the United States, locating on a farm in Cass County. The father bought 125 acres in township 18, range 11, where he died about 1880, but the mother survives, at this time of writing having attained to the extremely advanced age of ninety-five years.

Until he was twenty-one years old, William Reid remained with his parents. His educational training was obtained in the schools of his native land, as he was engaged in hard work on his father's farm after coming here. After attaining his majority, he began working for neighboring farmers, but in 1868 moved to Philadelphia, Cass County, and was engaged in farming in that vicinity. Moving some years later to the Sangamon River bottoms, he now rents a magnificent 400 acre farm, of which he has fifty acres in a high state of cultivation, raising grain exclusively, having found by experimenting that his land is best adapted for this purpose. On February 22, 1865, Mr. Reid enlisted for service in the civil war, in Company A, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and was in Mississippi and Alabama. He received his honorable discharge at Salem, in the latter state, November 5, 1865.

In 1868 Mr. Reid married his cousin, Ann W. Reid, who was born in Scotland. She died July 9, 1901, having borne her husband the following family: Duncan J., who is of Omaha, Nebr.; William S., who was killed in January, 1914, at Hope, Kans., by the accidental discharge of a gun, resided on a farm of 208 acres of land owned by his father; and Oliver E., who lives with his father. Mr. Reid belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he has been a presiding elder since 1890. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as road commissioner and school director. For year5s he has been a member of Chandlerville Lodge, A.F. & A.M., no. 724. A quiet conservative man, he has always lived up to his convictions, and is highly respected by all who know him.