History of Bucks
County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
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DR.
WILLOUGHBY H. REED Dr. Willoughby H. REED was born in Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1856, and was educated in the public schools of Norristown township. He learned the trade of printing; graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1879, and from Jefferson Medical College in 1882. He practiced medicne (sic) for several years at Cape May Point, New Jersey, and at his home at Jeffersonville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. After his marriage to Annie R. Jarrett, November 8, 1884, he engaged in the drug business at Norristown, Pennsylvania. Dr. REED's ancestors were among the prominent and early settlers of the province of Pennsylvania. His ancestor, Johann Philip RIED (RIETH, RIEDT, REED) was born in Germany, January 26, 1698, and emigrated from Mannheim, Palatinate, on the Rhine, Germany, and landed at Philadelphia, in the province of Pennsylvania, in the ship "Friendship," October 17, 1727. He settled on a tract of land in Marlborough township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) county. He was a farmer and one of the original (1730) enrolled members of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church located in Upper Hanover township. He married Feronica BERGY, who was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, on February 13, 1702. Her folks fled in the early part of the eighteenth century into Germany on account of religious persecution, and afterward Philip REED and his wife fled Germany to this country for the same cause. Philip REED died in Marlborough township, Philadelphia, September 3, 1783. His wife died at the same place December 13, 1792, and both are interred side by side in the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church burial ground. They had children: Jacob, married to Magdalena LEIDY; Michael, married Anna Maria MOWERY; Andrew, married Anna Maria LEIDY; Catherine, married Abraham ARNDT; Eve, married (first) Valentine DICKENSCHEID and (second) Joseph KOCHEN: Margretha, married Theobold Wink; Anna Maria, married Michael Welker; Elizabeth, married John Eberhard. Jacob, eldest son of Philip and Feronica (BERGY) REED, was the great-grandfather of Dr. REED. Jacob REED's active part for the American cause in the Revolution made him conspicuous and prominent in his day. He served as an officer in the Philadelphia county Militia as lieutenant-colonel and major of a battalion of troops. In the "Pennsylvania Correspondent and Farmer's Advertiser." published in Doylestown, under date of November 21, 1820, appears the following; "Died, in New Britain township, on the 2d instant, Colonel Jacob REED, in the 91st year of his age. He served his county faithfully during the whole of that eventful period of the Revolution, and before the close of the war he was honored with a colonel's Commission." Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob REED in his youthful days received a liberal education in German and English, and was reared a farmer. Early in manhood he located on the farm in Hatfield township, Philadelphia county, and about 1755, married Magdalena LEIDY, daughter of Jacob LEIDY, an immigrant, and one of the founders of the Indian Creek Reformed church, of Franconia township, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania. This Jacob LEIDY, the elder, is also the ancestor in this county of the late eminent naturalist and physician, Professor Joseph LEIDY, of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1793 Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob REED removed with his family to a farm he already owned in New Britain township, Bucks county, where he died November 2, 1820, in the ninety-first year of his age; and, his wife having died previously at the same place August 5, 1804, both are interred side by side in the old LEIDY'S burial ground in Franconia township, Montgomery county, nearby the present borough of Souderton. Jacob and Magdalena (LEIDY) REED had nine children: Philip, Jacob, Andrew, Margaret, Elizabeth, Catherine, Magdalena, Eve and John. Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob REED was a man of prominence in his day. He was active and influential as a citizen, and filled a number of positions of public trust. He was a member of the Reformed church in which he took a deep and active interest. He was instrumental in founding the Reformed church at Hilltown. He was a prominent and active defender of his country during the Revolutionary struggle, and served during the whole war as an officer in the militia service. He was lieutenant-colonel and major of the first battalion of the Philadelphia county militia. He actively participated in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, etc. He escaped unhurt on the field of battle, but on one occasion, when at home visiting his family, he was waylaid by Tories, who first shot him through the leg, then tied him to a tree, tarred and feathered him, and commenced digging his grave in which they purposed burying him. Before completing this last act they were discovered and fled, and he was released from his perilous situation. The parties engaged in this transaction fled the country, and their property was subsequently confiscated. On another occasion, while passing along the highway, he was shot at by a Hessian who lay concealed in a fence corner, the bullet grazing his head. As a token of esteem and respect for their honored ancestor Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob REED, Franklin P. REED and Dr. W. H. REED (brothers); had erected over his grave a handsome granite sarcophagus, bearing the following inscription:- In Memory of Lieutenant Colonel Jacob REED, Hatfield Twp., Phila. Co., Pa., A Patriot and Soldier of the Revolution. An Officer of the Philadelphia County Militia, Served his country actively during the Whole war. Participated in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, etc., The Monument was dedicated by the Montgomery County Historical Society on October 8, 1901, with appropriate exercises. The addresses and papers read on this occasion are in press and will soon appear in a separate volume. Andrew REED, grandfather of Dr. REED, was the youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob and Magdalena (LEIDY) REED. He was born in Hatfield township May 14, 1781, and died June 10,1869. He was a farmer by occupation, and remained and farmed his father's place in New Britain until his death in 1820. April 21, 1807, he married Mary HARTMAN, daughter of Henry HARTMAN, of Lykens Valley, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and to whom five children were born: Jacob, Michael Hartman, Julian, Abigail and Sarah. Andrew REED, after the death of his father, removed with his family to a farm that he already owned in Hilltown township, adjoining New Britain. Here he lived until advanced years, when he removed to Hatfield township, Montgomery county, and soon thereafter died. For some years previous to his death he was totally blind. During his life he was strictly honest in all of his dealings, devoted to his family, and much beloved by his neighbors. Both Mr. and Mrs. REED were consistent Christians, early Reformed and latterly were members of the Church of the Evangelical Association at Hilltown, Bucks county, in whose graveyard their remains are interred. Michael Hartman REED, father of Dr. REED, was born October 24, 1809, at the home of his grandfather, Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob REED, in New Britain township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the nearby Mennonite district school. When he was but a lad he was indentured with Henry SHELLENBERGER at Line Lexington to learn the trade of hatting. After completing his trade he worked for a while as a journeyman in SCHAFFER's hat factory at Germantown. In 1830 he located at Skippackville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and conducted the "hatting" business. Two years later he sold his hat business at Skippack and located in Philadelphia at the same business. After a successful business he retired in 1847, and removed to Doylestown, Bucks county, where on February 15, 1852, he was married to Mary Ann ROCKAFELLOW, eldest daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (PROBASCO) ROCKAFELLOW, of Hilltown township, Bucks county. In 1855, with his family, he removed to Norristown, Montgomery county, where the subject of this sketch was born; in 1857 he removed to Jeffersonville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. At this latter place he resided until his death, January 17, 1898. Dr. W. H REED, besides filling a number of position of honor and trust, is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association: the Pennsylvania Pharmacentical (sic) Association, and was its president in 1894-95; is a member of the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College; and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia Botanical Club, Pennsylvania-German Society, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, Montgomery County Historical Society, of which latter he is treasurer; and is also a member of Norristown Lodge, No 620, Free and Accepted Masons; Norristown Chapter, No. 190, R. A. M., and Hutchinson Commandery No. 32, K. T. Dr. REED has been a contributor to medical, pharmaceutical, historical and general literature. He is at present engaged writing a "History and Genealogy of the REED Family." Test taken from page 467-469 of: Davis, William W. H., A.M., History
of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1905] Volume III Transcribed November 2003 by Joan Lollis as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html Published December 2003 on the
Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/ |
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Page was last edited:
11/15/2008