Abraham Reed was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1814. His parents died when he was seven years old, which threw him on his own resources at an early age, and when he was fourteen he began to learn the blacksmith trade, and was employed in that business for five years. When he was twenty-three years old he moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, to Brown county, Illinois in 1863, and in 1865 to this county and settled where he now lives. He has a fine farm, and is engaged largely in stock-raising.
Mr. Reed was married, in 1837, to Miss Eliza Sluser, who was born March 8, 1815. By this union they have had six children: Minerva, born April 3, 1839; Sarah A., born June 26, 1841; Clarinda, born August 1, 1843 is dead; John, born December 28, 1845; Mary J., born March 14,1851; and William H., born May 17, 1857-is dead.