Harrison & Eliza (Cordell) Reed
Harrison Reed
Eliza Reed
their home that they came to in October 1865
(picture taken in the 1890's)
the same home in the 1920's
the same home in the 1990's
Harrison Reed's probate, affidavit of death
It is unknown how Harrison and Eliza Reed met. Rumley, Ohio and Centerville,
Ohio were approximately 50 miles apart. Harrison and Eliza were married at
Rumley, Ohio in 1839, and Harrison's brother Sanford married Eliza's sister Mary
in 1841. In 1845 they moved to a farm southeast of Littleton, Illinois in
Schuyler County. The majority of Eliza's family, her parents, and all but one of
her brothers and sisters also moved to the area. Harrison's brother's Nathan and
Sanford were practicing the trade of cooper in Brooklyn, a small burg a few
miles west of Littleton. By their move to Illinois Harrison had given up the
trade of cooper and was farming.
In 1850 they purchased 160 acres from Osamus and Milly Ferrington for five
dollars an acre or $800. In 1845 Schuyler county was on the edge of
civilization. Indian lands were just being opened up for settlement in Iowa and
the western edges of Illinois. By the 1850's Iowa and Missouri had been settled
and the Indians who had barely gotten settled in Kansas territory were on the
verge of losing their land and being resettled in Indian Territory in present
day Oklahoma. The Sac and Fox were among those Indians with a reservation in
Eastern Kansas. They were placed there by a treaty in 1848. The famous Indian
Chief's Black Hawk and Keokuk were members of this tribe. Black Hawk never lived
in Kansas but the Indian chief Keokuk came to Kansas, died and was buried at the
Indian mission at Greenwood, in 1848 (his remains were removed to Keokuk, Iowa
in 1892).
In 1859 the Secretary of the Interior, Jacob Thompson sent A. B. Greenwood,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Sauk and Fox Agency to negotiate a treaty.
At the council of October 1, 1859 the treaty was presented for the signature of
the chiefs and head men.
The Indians ceded in trust to the government a strip of six and one half miles
wide from the eastern side of the reserve, embracing all of their lands in
Franklin County, and all their lands west of the east line of range 16, Osage
County, comprising in all 300,000 acres. The Sauk and Fox trust lands were
offered for sale late in 1864.
Harrison and his sons ventured to Kansas in 1864 and on December 2, 1864 he
purchased from Mary Means three hundred and twenty acres for $1,900. Harrison
purchased an additional 320 acres all lying on the south bank of the Marais des
River in 1867. Harrison's brother Sanford had moved to Franklin County, Kansas
in 1858, and was living there when Harrison came west.
Leaving one son, probably William, to farm a part of the land he returned to
Illinois. William's two older brothers were deceased prior to 1864. Presley was
killed in a tree accident and Aim having died from injuries suffered in military
service. On July 28, 1865 Harrison and Eliza sold their land in Schuyler county,
Illinois to John Wheat for the sum of $4,000.
Loading up his family and household goods in a covered wagon he started the long
overland trip to the newly formed state of Kansas. It is said that Washington
walked the entire trip. They arrived in October 1865. They brought with them a
yellow rose bush which they planted in Kansas. This rose bush was still blooming
as late as the 1940's. The family transferred their church letter from the
Baptist church in Littleton, Illinois to the First Baptist Church, Ottawa,
Kansas. Harrison was ordained a Deacon and began immediately to hunt for
Christian's so they might organize a church in the Greenwood community. Deacon
Reed gladly opened his home to the community and sunday school was held there.
Later preaching services were begun. When weather permitted they held it under
an oak tree west of their home.
A description of their home would be in order. Upon the land which the Reed's
had purchased was what was called an old Indian house. This home still stands in
1997. It was a long low wooden structure of four rooms all in a row, and each
room opening out onto an open porch. There were no connections whatsoever
between the rooms. Each room having its own chimney and open fireplace. Harrison
made improvements as the years passed. He made openings between the rooms.
Closed the fireplaces, divided some of the rooms, and put in extra windows, and
had a cistern and well dug and equipped.
In 1870 Greenwood Baptist Church was organized. Harrison donated the land for
the church and cemetery and the church building, still standing in 1997, was
erected. It was built with mostly volunteer help and from native lumber which
was sawed a short way up the river at a sawmill. Besides donating the ground for
the church the Reed's paid the preachers salary until the group grew to be self
supporting.
Harrison kept a post office in his home for about two years until a postoffice
was established in Pomona and it was moved there. The first seats in the church
were home-made, a sort of box affair with straight board backs and were set on
either side of the church, leaving a wide aisle down the center. A big stove set
well to the back in the aisle space and a flue hung from the rafters by
brackets. The church was lit by kerosene bracket lamps, set along the walls by
the windows on either side. As long as Harrison Reed lived, he took care of the
lamps and the fire.
In 1957 a grandaughter of the Reed's recalled, "on Sunday's the Reed barnyard
was filled with horses eating out of the wagons while the people were attending
the worship services in the church. After church crowds went to Grandmothers for
dinner. Then there was an afternoon service, after which all went home to do the
chores.
After Harrison's death in 1885, Eliza lived with her daughter Lucinda Studebaker
in Pomona until her death at the age of 96 in 1911.
Life in early day Kansas was trying for many a soul. Kansas had never really
been tested as to what were the best crops to raise in the Kansas climate. If
farming the ground it took about fifteen years to build a farm the way you liked
it. If you settled in tree country as Harrison did it could take 25 years. Corn
was a typical pioneer crop. The sod was cut with an ax and the corn dropped down
in the crevices. Many natural hazards ate away at the courage of the Kansas
settler. Settlers succumbed to the grasshopper plague of 1874 which literally
wiped out all crops planted that year. Many a family packed up and moved back
east in 1874, it taking Kansas several years to make up the population drain
suffered from this hardship.
["Ottawa Journal Triumph," Ottawa, KS, 31 Jan 1878, p2c5]
Pomona Items - On last Thursday evening, at Greenwood, at the residence of
Deacon Reed, a revolver lying on the table, was accidently discharged, but
fortunately no damage was done, more than making a hold through the ceiling, and
frightening several ladies who were present.
["Kansas Home News," Ottawa, KS, 09 Jul 1880]
Deacon Reed and wife of Greenwood, has gone for a visit to their old home
Schuyler Co., Ill., after an absence of 15 years in Kansas. We wish them a
pleasant visit and a safe return. The Deacon is one of our solid men that can be
depended on every time.
["Ottawa Weekly Republic," Ottawa, KS, 03 May 1906, p6c3]
Greenwood - Grandma Reed recently celebrated her ninety-second birthday. Grandma
is enjoying excellent health. She spends her time reading, sewing and helps her
daughter with whom she makes her home with the housework. She was the mother of
ten children, six of whom are still living. She has thirty-two grandchildren,
and thirty-nine great grandchildren.
["Ottawa Herald," Ottawa, KS, 09 Feb 1911, p7c2]
Eliza Cordell was born in Louden County, Virginia, April 13, 1814.
At thirteen years of age her father moved to Ohio, where, in 1839, she was
married to Harrison Reed, who died October 9, 1885.
To this union eleven children were born, six of whom are now living.
They lived at Sidney, Ohio and moved from there to Rushville, Ill. In the year
1849 she and her husband joined the Baptist church at Littleton, Ill., where her
husband was elected that capacity until they moved to Kansas in the year 1865.
They settled on the old home place near Greenwood church where, about the year
1872 the Greenwood church was organized with Elder Hetrick as pastor and Deacon
Reed and wife as charter members; he holding the office as deacon during his
life. Grandma Reed, as she was lovingly known, has not been physically able to
attend church for about ten years, but has been a very interested member of her
home church to the end.
She has made her home with her duaghter, Mrs. Lucinda Studebaker for about
fourteen years, where she passed peacefully away Wednesday, February 1st, at
6:30 oclock, aged almost ninety-seen years. A short service was held at 12:30
o'clock Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Studebaker in Pomona.
The service was conducted by Rev. Kelley and Rev. Weary of Pomona and Rev.
Jacobus of Ottawa. The remains were then taken to the Greenwood church where the
funeral service was held. The church was beautiful with its mass of flowers. The
paall bearers were: Messrs. Robert Martin, Chas. Lawson, Clark Lutton, Thomas
Graves, Isaac Pruitt and Morris Wolf.
The service was led by Rev. James Fisher of Ottawa, a former pastor of this
church assisted by Rev. Kelley of Pomona. The choir composed of Misses Stella
Rabel, Mary Davis, Minnie Lawson and Mrs. Grace Wilson and Messrs. H. A. Davis,
John Miller, George Dodson and True Ogle, rendered most beatifully the song,
"Shall We Meet Beyond the River?" "Face to Face," "The Beautiful Gate," "It is
Well With My Soul," and "The Home of the Soul."
Mrs. Reed leaves six children to mourn her loss. They are William Reed of
Washington, Kans.; Wash Reed, Mrs. Anna Shout, Mrs. Lucinda Studebaker, Mrs.
Lizzie Lutton and Mrs. Jennie Barton of Idaho.
The remains were placed beside those of her husband in Greenwood cemetery. Mrs.
Reed was one of the oldest settlers in this part of the county.
Franklin county, Kansas
Deed Book: 60/ Page 3
Grantor: Eliza Reed
Grantee: Elizabeth Lutton
Transacted: 17 Dec 1886/ Recorded:
Amount: $450
Description: 1/16 of all south of Marais des Cygnes river in the south 1/2 of
section 3, 21 acres; Also all south of river, west of mouth of Coal Creek in
northeast 1/4 of section 10, 27 acres; also all south of river in north 1/2 of
northwest 1/4 of section 10, 32 acres; also east 60 acres of south 1/2 of
northwest 1/4 of section 10; also west 1/2 of southwest 1/4 of section 10, 80
acres; also commencing at southwest corner of southeast 1/4 of section 9, north
12 rods, east 47 rods, north 68 rods, east 23 rods, south 80 rods, west 80 rods,
to beginning, 20 acres; also northwest 1/4 of northwest 1/4 of section 15,
except land already sold to church, containing 37 acres; also northeast 1/4 of
northeast 1/4 of section 16, 40 acres; all in township 17, range 18 and
containing in all 314 acres.
Franklin county, Kansas
Deed Book: 55/ Page 194/ Sheriff's Deed
Grantor: Franklin County Sheriff
Grantee: Eliza Reed
Transacted: 25 Oct 1886/ Recorded:
Description: 1/16 of all south of Marais des Cygnes river in the south 1/2 of
section 3, 21 acres; Also all south of river, west of mouth of Coal Creek in
northeast 1/4 of section 10, 27 acres; also all south of river in north 1/2 of
northwest 1/4 of section 10, 32 acres; also east 60 acres of south 1/2 of
northwest 1/4 of section 10; also west 1/2 of southwest 1/4 of section 10, 80
acres; also commencing at southwest corner of southeast 1/4 of section 9, north
12 rods, east 47 rods, north 68 rods, east 23 rods, south 80 rods, west 80 rods,
to beginning, 20 acres; also northwest 1/4 of northwest 1/4 of section 15,
except land already sold to church, containing 37 acres; also northeast 1/4 of
northeast 1/4 of section 16, 40 acres; all in township 17, range 18 and
containing in all 314 acres.
