My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE HOWARD J. REEDER is one of the most prominent and worthy citizens of Easton. In political and professional circles he ranks very high, and is one of the most popular gentlemen in this city, on account of his many engaging social qualities. He is an active and leading Republican, having served in official capacities with fidelity, and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Judge Reeder was born in Easton, in December, 1843, and is next to the youngest son of the War Governor, Andrew H. Reeder. The latter was prominently identified with the side of freedom in Kansas during the troublous times prior to the war, and his history in detail is given in another portion of this work. Judge Reeder was reared in this, the city of his birth, and received the advantages of private and higher boarding-schools until 1860. That year he entered the Sophomore class at Princeton College, and in October, 1861, left his studies in the Junior year to devote his services to the cause of liberty. He enlisted in Company A, First United States Infantry, being made Second Lieutenant, and was sent to the. coast of Florida, and later to Missouri. Under the command of General Pope he took part in the battles of New Madrid and Island No. 10, being wounded at the former place. Returning home, he resigned in July, 1862, but as soon as he was able re-enlisted, during the invasion of Pennsylvania the same year. He went out as Adjutant of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment, and was Captain of Company G. With his command he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, leading his company at both of those very noted and important engagements, though he was then only a youth of nineteen years. His military service, considering that fact, was valiant and heroic to a remarkable degree. He was always to be depended upon by his superiors, and manifested great ability, both in the control of his men and in spirited and intelligent maneuvers.

On his return to Easton Judge Reeder began the study of law, taking a course in the Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass., graduating in 1865 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in January, 1867, after which he engaged in practice for about four years, and then became a partner with Gen. Frank Reeder. In the spring of 1881 he was appointed to serve for one year as Judge in several courts of the Third Judicial District, being appointed by Governor Hoyt to fill a vacancy caused by the passing of the bill creating an additional Judge in the Third Judicial District. When his time had expired he returned to his general law practice, in which he was occupied until January, 1885. In the fall of 1884 he was elected to serve as Judge, his duties to begin in April, 1885. This was a splendid victory for the young man, as he was the only Republican elected on the ticket. He received eleven hundred votes, though the Democratic majority was about thirty-five thousand.

In his early manhood Judge Reeder served as a Councilman for twelve or thirteen years, ably advancing the best interests of his fellow-citizens. In 1872 he was appointed by Governor Hartranft on the first Fish Commission of Pennsylvania, and continued to serve on the same for the succeeding ten years, resigning in order to become Judge. It consisted of three members, who did the preliminary work and settled and organized the hatcheries in different parts of the state. Judge Reeder was very active in this work, drafted the bills, wrote the reports, and much through his influence the Bill for Appropriations was carried in the Legislature. When the state convention met in 1872, in which Governor Hartranft was nominated, Judge Reeder was chairman of the meeting, which was one of the largest ever held in Pennsylvania. In 1876 he was sent as a delegate to the national convention at Cincinnati, where Hayes was nominated, and four years later went to the Chicago National Convention which nominated Garfield.

In this city, in 1867, Judge Reeder married Helen Burke, who was born in this city and here received her education. Mrs. Reeder is a daughter of the late William Burke, who was a native of Easton, and one of the old settlers and well known citizens of the place. A daughter and son have been born to Judge Reeder and his estimable wife, their names in order of birth being Leila and J. Knight. Mrs. Reeder and her family are members of the Episcopal Church, and move in the best and most cultured social circles of the city.

Judge Reeder is a Grand Army man, belonging to Bell Post, of which he was the first Commander, and is now a member of Grand Army Post No. 2, of Philadelphia. In 1871 he was Commander of the Department of Pennsylvania. While serving on the City Council he was President of that organization for several years.