Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-John Reel
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
JOHN REEL, residing on section 20, Hayes
Township, Dickinson County, is one of the
respected and worthy farmers of this community.
He was born in Stark County,
Ohio, July 6, 1843. His parents were both natives
of Germany. His father was Jacob Reel and his
mother was Sarah Simmons before marriage. They
were early settlers in Stark County, Ohio, where
they lived until the death of the father early in
the '50s. By this union eight children were born,
of whom our subject was the fifth in order of
birth.
John was reared to manhood on his father's
farm, following the usual pursuits of a farmer lad
and receiving such education as the district school
afforded. On the breaking out of the war, he desired
very much to enter his country's service,
and in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E,
One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Infantry. He participated
in the routine and hardships of a soldier's
life from that time until the close of the war. He
took part in the Atlanta campaign, in all of its
many skirmishes and battles, and was in the front
ranks in many important engagement.
On the 9th of September, 1863. Mr. Reel was
with Gen. Burnside when he took Cumberland
Gap. He was at Knoxville, Tenn., when Longstreet
had Burnside surrounded for two weeks, in
November, 1863. November 30. 1864, he participated
in the battle of Franklin, and in January of
the following year was with Gen. Thomas in the
battle of Nashville; he also took part in the battles
of Ft. Fisher and Wilmington, N. C. He was
dangerously wounded in consequence of a minieball
which passed through both thighs while engaged
in a battle near Dallas, Ga., and as a result
he was unable to engage in the service
for three months. As a soldier he displayed great
bravery and fortitude and he merits the distinction
of being one of the Nation's stanch defenders
in her time of peril.
When the war was over Mr. Reel returned to
Stark County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming,
and remained there until coming to Kansas. In
the spring of 1878, he purchased eighty acres on
section 20, Hayes Township, where he is still living.
He now has his farm under a high state of
cultivation and has built a good residence and commodious
farm buildings. Since his arrival here
Mr. Reel has given his entire attention to agricultural
pursuits, and as the result of his effort has
attained a good competency and a valuable farm.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated in
Stark County, Ohio, on the 29th of October, 1868,
Miss Sarah J. Oberlin becoming his wife. She is a
daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lutz) Oberlin,
and was born in Stark County, Ohio, January 16,
1848, being the second of a family of five children.
Her father was born in the Keystone Slate and her
mother was a native of Ohio. They were
numbered among the early settlers of Stark County,
where they lived for many years and made it their
home until death. Mr. and Mrs. Reel have been
blessed with six children: Henry F., who died
when four and a-half years of age; Charles E.; Don
W.; Edward J.; Bertha E. and Lottie I.
Mr. Reel has won the well-merited esteem of his
fellow-citizens, and was elected by them to serve
as a member of the School Board, as he is well
known to take a warm interest in all educational
matters. Politically, his sympathies are with the
Republican party, to which he gives his support.
He is numbered among the leading and prosperous
farmers of this section, and by honest, industrious
methods and strict integrity has won the esteem
of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP