REID, GEORGE W., living retired from active farming life at 402 North Church Street, Jacksonville, Ill., was born on the farm of his late father, three miles north of that city October 21, 1853, the son of Stephen Holland and Martha (Garratt) Reid, his father being a native of Lexington, Ky., and his mother, of Cheshire, England. The latter came to America with her mother and the other children of the family, after the death of her father, in 1845, and was married to Stephen H. Reid, Jr., February 19, 1846. The father of George W. was born in Lexington, Ky., April 23, 1815, and in 1826 accompanied his father, Stephen H. Reid, Sr., to Morgan County, where the latter entered and bought land and commenced farming operations. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch died in 1827, and his father passed away November 16, 1889. Stephen H. Reid, Jr., was a successful farmer and left an estate of 260 acres, now owned by George W. and four other members of the family. The deceased was an active member of the "Underground Railway." Originally a Republican, before his death he became a radical Prohibitionist. He chose for his first wife Martha Capps, their marriage occurring January 26, 1837. She died after becoming the mother of three children, none of whom survive. His second marriage was to Martha Garratt, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are living, viz.: John G., M.D. of Oklahoma; Lydia C.; Richard W., lawyer and Justice of the Peace; Sarah E., deceased; George W.; Enoch S. and Elijah J. The estate left by the father is yet undivided.

In his youth George W. Reid attended the district schools and worked on the home farm, and in 1875, accompanied by his father, mother and his sister (Lydia Capps Reid) and his brother, moved to Jacksonville. The mother died March 3, 1876, but George W. and his sister still make their home together. Mr. Reid has served as Chairman of the Central Committee of the Prohibition party, and is a member of Grace M.E. Church, Jacksonville, his father having been identified with that denomination as a local preacher. He was well educated, obtaining his higher mental discipline in the Collage at Lebanon, this State. During his management of the family homestead the elder mr. Reid devoted much attention to the breeding of high-grade stock, and under his supervision were conducted many improvements.