My Genealogy Hound

John J. Reed, planter, Saline Township. John J. Reed, a native born son of Hempstead County, Ark., has become one of its enterprising and reliable citizens, and, although young in years, is yet old in experience, and has done much in a quiet, unassuming way to promote the advancement of its interests. His birth occurred on October 4, 1855, he being a son of Carson and Elizabeth (Beard) Reed. His father was born in Tennessee in 1827, and when he was three years of age his parents moved to Hempstead County, Ark., where he grew to manhood. Upon starting out in life on his own responsibility he chose farming as his occupation, and pursued that calling with success all his years. He was united in marriage in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Beard, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of John and Vina (Jenkins) Beard, by whom he became the father of six children, four of whom are still living, viz.: John J. (the subject of this sketch), Richard D., Elizabeth (the wife of D. W. Dove, now living in Howard County, Ark.) and Joseph A. The mother died in 1865; she was a member of the Baptist Church. The father married his second wife, nee Miss Sarah Beningfield, of Hempstead County, Ark., in 1866, and by her became the father of three children, viz.: Edward, Fines W. and Price. The father enlisted in the late war in 1862, and served in the commissary department until 1865. He died in 1873, leaving a widow who makes her home in Hempstead County. The subject of this sketch was wedded to Miss Dora Landers on March 28, 1880. She was a daughter of John and Theodocia (Moren) Landers, natives of Missouri and Virginia, respectively, and both born in 1809. They were married in Hempstead County, Ark., in 1830, and became the parents of eight children—five sons and three daughters—five of whom are still living, viz.: William A., Elmo M., Benjamin L., Mary J. (the latter is now the wife of B. F. Smith, of Nashville, Ark.). They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and died in 1872 and 1879, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of four children, three of whom are still living, namely: William A. (deceased), Lelia, Robert C. and Erma I. Mrs. Reed belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Besides a good farm of 231 acres of tillable land, all of which is well improved, Mr. Reed is the owner of a large steam cotton-gin and grist-mill, and is looked upon as one of the most prosperous planters of this section.