SAMUEL REED - Editor and publisher of the Macoupin Enquirer, was born in Clark County, Ohio, September 15th, 1826. Isaac Reed, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and emigrated to Ohio in 1818. He was a tanner by trade, and carried on the business. He married Lodema White, who was a native of Massachusetts, and was a direct descendant of the pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. She was a resident of Cattaraugus county, New York, at the time of her marriage. She died in Indiana in 1872. Seven children were born to Isaac and Lodema Reed, two of whom are still living, a daughter and the subject of our sketch. The father removed his family to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in 1828. He died in 1830. When the subject of our sketch reached his twelfth year he went to school at Springfield, Ohio, where he remained the greater portion of the time until he was nineteen years of age. He commenced teaching school when he was but sixteen years of age, and taught during the time that he was not in attendance at the academy, at the place above named. He continued teaching in Indiana, and afterwards made a tour of the southern states, teaching at different points. He remained in the south until 1850, when he returned north and settled in Morgan county, Illinois, where he followed his profession until 1854, when he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and engaged in stock dealing, in which he continued until 1862, when he removed to Logan county, Illinois, and engaged in farming and stock raising. His time was so occupied until 1874, when he quit farming. He then purchased the Central Illinois Weekly Statesman, and in December of the same year purchased the Logan County Journal, and combined the two offices and name it the Lincoln Times. He remained editor and publisher of the Times for one year, when he sold out and came to Carlinville, where he leased the Enquirer office of the stockholders, and continues the publication of the paper up to the present time. In politics he was originally what was known as a "Henry Clay" whig, and cast his first vote for Zachary Taylor, in 1848, for president. He remained a whig until Stephen A. Douglas wrote some letters and articles upon the tariff, published in the Illinois State Register in 1852, and from that time forward he has acted with the democratic party. On the 11th of April, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Cassel. The fruits of this marriage are four children living.

On the 9th of October, 1879, Mr. Reed was married to Mrs. Clara A. Weer, of Carlinville. She is an accomplished lady, and a member of one of the old and respected families of this county.