My Genealogy Hound

GEN. FRANK REEDER, a very prominent citizen of Easton, is a son of Andrew H. Reeder, the first Governor of the territory of Kansas, and a man of distinction and great ability, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. In the ranks of the Republican party General Reeder is acknowledged to be a leading politician, and he has been Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Committee. During the late war he was one of those who responded to the call for soldiers in putting down the rebellion, and served until the last foe of the Government had surrendered, or for a period of nearly four years. During this time he participated in twenty-five regular engagements and skirmishes, and his bravery was frequently officially reported to his superiors. He was only a lad when he donned the blue, and his military record was made before he attained his majority.

The birth of General Reeder occurred in Easton, May 22, 1845, and his preparatory studies were pursued at Edge Hill School, of Princeton, N. J., and at Lawrenceville, in the same state. At that early age his ability and intelligence were marked by all. In the fall of 1860 he entered the Sophomore Class at Princeton, but did not remain to finish the course, as in his Senior year, with graduation day in the near future, he threw aside his books and enlisted as a private in the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, and in October of the same year became a soldier in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Infantry. In November, 1863, he was made Adjutant, and later served on the staffs of Generals Peck and Vodges, participating in the varied operations of the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps, and also in the expedition against Charleston, under General Foster. The term of his enlistment having expired, he was mustered out in August, 1863, and almost immediately entered earnestly into the work of recruiting a regiment of cavalry to serve for three years if needed. This was organized as the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry in October, 1863, he being made Captain of a company. The regiment proceeded to Kentucky, and in the early part of 1864 joined General Sherman’s column. They were constantly engaged in active field service, taking part in raids and forced marches into the heart of the enemies’ country. On the third day of the battle of Nashville, in December, 1864, the young Captain, who was acting as Assistant Adjutant-General, was wounded in the right side, and had three horses shot under him. His superior officers earnestly recommended his promotion for his bravery on that occasion, and his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel soon resulted. He was then transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and stationed on the borders of Louisiana and Texas. With his regiment he was mustered out, and finally discharged on the 13th of June, 1866.

On leaving the service, General Reeder entered the law school at Albany, N. Y., and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1868. On commencing the practice of his profession in New York City, he became associated with Gen. Chester A. Arthur, who subsequently became Vice-President, and later succeeded to the presidency upon the death of President Garfield. In the fall of 1869 General Reeder returned to Easton, where he has built up an extensive professional practice. On coming here he entered into partnership with his brother, Howard J., now one of the Judges of the Third Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

In 1874 our subject was appointed by Governor Hartranft Brigadier-General to command the Fifth Brigade, Second Division of the National Guards of Pennsylvania. During the railroad riots of 1877 he was in command of this body, and was ordered to proceed With his troops to Reading, which he did, and soon succeeded in restoring order. In 1881 he resigned his position as a member of the National Guards. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1888, and was one of the committee to notify Harrison and Morton of their nominations. When the Minneapolis National Convention met In 1892 he was unanimously elected a delegate-at-large, and in the state campaign of 1891 was temporarily in charge of the Republican headquarters, while Chairman Watres was presiding over the extra session of the State Senate. He succeeded Lieutenant-Govorner Watres as State Chairman in the following year. The General is a member of Post No. 217, G. A. R., of this place, of which he has been Commander several times. In 1872 he was Department Commander of Pennsylvania. In the Easton Trust Company he is a Director and their attorney. He is President of the American Bangor Slate Company, and is now Secretary of the commonwealth, under the administration of Gov. D. H. Hastings.

The marriage of General Reeder was celebrated in 1868, in Boston, Mass., Miss Grace E. Thompson then becoming his wife. She is the granddaughter of Charles Thompson, a prominent Democratic politician of Massachusetts, who was once a candidate for the position of Governor of that state. Mrs. Reeder’s father, Charles Thompson, Jr., now deceased, was an importer, and a very prominent business man of Boston. To the General and his wife have been born three sons: Andrew H., a mechanical engineer and graduate of Lafayette College; Frank and Douglas.