Mrs. Robert Reid Passes Away at Age of Ninety Years - Two Sons Reside in This City.

Mrs. Robert Reid, mother of Dr. David Reid and of J. H. Reid of this city passed away Monday afternoon at her home in Murrayville at the age of 90 years. Although Mrs. Reid had been in failing health, her last illness was of but a few hours duration. The complete blockade of the railroads by the storm made it impossible for the sons to reach the bedside of their mother until after she had passed away.

Mrs. Reid, whose maiden name was Margaret Currie, was born in Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland, Dec. 29, 1823. This was near Dumfries, the home of "Bobbie Burns," whose name was a household word, and whose poems in the genuine Ayrshire vernacular, Mrs. Reid was fond of repeating. Mrs. Reid's father was a minister of the Presbyterian "Kirk" and from him she imbibed a fine religious fervor, as well as much of the stern repression and strict discipline of the established church of Scotland.

The deceased was married to Robert Reid, a promising young master mechanic, at the age of 24. The young people made their home in Catrine until they decided to try their fortunes in a new country. The choice in that day lay between Australia and America. As paying the passage of any family fortunate enough to possess them, only the fact that the two oldest children were boys, decided the hazard in favor of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Reid, on their arrival in this country, first settled in Yonkers, N.Y., where they resided for several years. In 1867 they moved to Illinois and settled in Greene county. Here the family attended the neighboring Methodist church, and Mrs. Reid has since been a devoted and consistent member of that denomination. A century ago in the Scotch home of the Reids, the Psalms in meter were the only "hymns' allowed in the church and their stately and solemn recitative was almost the last conscious utterance of this aged daughter of the church. She was a woman of strong character and a fine intellect, and an invalid in the care of a devoted daughter, she has been held in the highest respect and affection by all who knew her.

Mrs. Reid leaves five sons, Robert Reid of Hoxey, Kan.; James of Edgar, Neb.; Andrew J. of Murrayville, and Dr. David and J.H. Reid of this city. Miss Janet Reid, a daughter, who is a trained nurse, has been living with the mother in the old home since the death of the father. Another daughter is Mrs. George Stansfield, also of Murrayville, who with her husband has assisted in caring for Mrs. Reid in her last illness. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren, most of whom live in the far west.

So far it has been impossible on account of the snow for the members of the family residing in this city to reach Murrayville and all arrangements for the funeral and burying will be made and announced later.