Biography of Rev. James Reid ( 1838-)
Portrait and Biographical Record:  St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren Counties, Missouri. (Chicago, Il.: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895) page 200.

REV. JAMES REID has been pastor of the Second Street Baptist Church of St. Charles for the past six years. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred near Auburn, Lincoln County, February 18,1838. The father of our subject, James REID, Sr., was born August 4, 1799, in Virginia, and when about ten years of age removed with his parents to Kentucky. His education was limited to that of the primitive schools of the day, and from his youth he engaged in farming operations. The management of his estate was usually left to an overseer, while the proprietor pursued the occupation which he preferred, that of surveying and civil engineering. In the spring of 1830 he removed to Lincoln County, Mo., where he had purchased a farm the previous fall. Going back to Kentucky, he was married, January 7, 1830, to Miss Lucy, daughter of George and Amy (NEWLAND) ROBINSON, natives of Virginia. His bride was born in Kentucky, July 25, 1808, and was called to her final rest April 21, 1886. The demise of James REID occurred February 1, 1871.

Of the seven children born to James and Lucy REID, our subject is the fourth in order of birth. The others are as follows: Amy Jane, deceased, formerly the wife of N. A. HARVEY, a farmer and merchant of Lincoln County; Ann Isabella who died in infancy; Thomas ROBINSON, connected with the Keokuk & Northern Railroad; Frances E., wife of William FINLEY, a farmer near Auburn, Mo.; a twin of Frances E., who died in infancy; and George ALEXANDER. The latter was killed by a mob when about twenty-one years of age, while attending A political meeting in the 'Southern Methodist Episcopal Church at Troy, Mo., in 1864.

The primary education of Rev. James REID was secured in the schools of his native county. At the age of fourteen years he entered Prairieville Academy, an institution which was founded by his father and a few neighbors, and was placed under the charge of Judge E. M. BONFILS. In 1856, after a four-years course, the youth was graduated, and subsequently, until 1864, taught school in Pike County; then going to Nebraska, he engaged in teaching for a year in Cummings City, Washington County. The following year he returned to this state and, in company with M. S. GOODMAN, opened a high school at Clarksville, teaching mathematics and the higher branches.

In March, 1868, Mr. REID went to Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, where he filled the pulpit of a Baptist Church, and instituted the Fairview Female Seminary, of which he was not only superintendent, but Professor of Mathematics. At the end of eight years, or in 1876, he returned to Pike County and preached for country congregations for four years.   In 1880 he was called to the pulpit of the Baptist Church at Vandalia, Mo., where he remained until the spring of 1888, being then sent to his present charge by the State Mission Board. Reared in the faith of the old Covenanters, he united with the church in1858, but in August, 1867, identified himself with the Baptists, and in the following October was ordained to the ministry. His first charge was at Jackson, where within a year or less he baptized seven young men who subsequently entered the ministry of the denomination. Since coming to St. Charles lie has baptized a German Methodist Episcopal minister, who is now building tip a Baptist congregation in southern St. Louis.

January 19, 1869, Mr. REID married Mrs. Betty A. (ENGLISH) RODNEY. Her parents, Albert G. and Nancy (RENFRO) ENGLISH, were natives of Louisiana and Georgia, respectively. Their eldest child, Arthur, is deceased, as are also Sinai and Nancy, next younger than Mrs. REID. Alberta became the wife of James W. SMITH, a farmer of Howard County, MO. Columbia Obannan, a half-sister, was a child of Mrs. ENGLISH by a former marriage.

The wife of our subject was born in Jackson, Mo., August 20, 1838, and received her education in Washington Female Seminary, of Cape Girardeau, and in St. Vincent's Convent, which she entered at the age of fifteen years. In 1856 she married John P. RODNEY, whose death occurred May 10,1865. They became the parents of two children: Albert, who died in infancy; and Anna, wife of James W. SHAW, who has been for thirteen years bookkeeper for the Kinsley Tobacco Company, of Louisiana, Mo., August 10, 1870, there was born to Mr. and Mrs. REID a son, James A., now a practicing physician near Jackson, Mo. He was educated in William Jewell College of Liberty, Mo., which lie attended for five years. In the fall of 1889 he taught one term of school, and then entered the Marion Simms Medical College, of St. Louis, where he graduated in 1892. The following year lie was an instructor in Barnes Medical College, where he pursued a supplementary course of study. In 1893 he graduated from that institution and was soon afterward offered electorship on myology in the college. However, lie preferred to follow his chosen profession, and opened an office in Fruitland, near Jackson, this state, where lie is meeting with merited success. October 25, 1894, he married Miss Clara MITCHEL, who was born July 1, 1870. in Pike County, Mo., her parents also being natives of this state.

Though reared as a Whig, Mr. REID never affliliated with any party, preferring to
be independent, but since the organization of the Prohibition party he has been one of its most enthusiastic supporters. Mrs. Agnes BALTON, the great-grandmother of Mrs. REID, was the first person immersed west of the Mississippi, The following appears in the old church book of Bethel Baptist Congregation: "In 1798 Rev. Thomas JOHNSON, of Georgia, visited and preached at the house of Thomas BULL, and baptized Mrs.Agnes BALLOU in Randall's Mill Creek, just below the mill, and gave her a certificate of baptism." The church was organized in 1806 the building being constructed of hewed poplar logs. It was demolished during the war, and the material used for a granary on the adjoining farm. Mr. REID has a photograph of the old building, and has a cane made from one of the logs. His paternal grandfather, Maj. Alexander REID, was born April 28, 1766, and was of Scotch parentage. On coming to America lie first settled in South Carolina, thence removed to Virginia, later to Kentucky, and finally came to Missouri, dying in Lincoln County during the '30s. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane SHANNON, and who was born April 22, 1769, died in Lincoln County about 1852. George ROBINSON, our subject's material grandfather, was born in Virginia, October 12, 1771, being of Scotch descent. He removed to Kentucky at a very early day, and there his death occurred during the winter of 1861-62. His wife, Amy (nee NEWLAND), was probably a native Virginian, and died in Kentucky.

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Michael Parker, 4 Apr 1999.  Link change or update: 23 May 2000

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