Free Genealogy Biography
of William Reid
Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Civil War
William Thomas Reid
William Thomas, son of James Dunlap and Mary (Henry) Reid, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1842. He was quite young when the family came to West Newton, where he was educated in the public schools.
He became an expert in coke manufacture, and for several years was manager for the Laughlin Coke Company, later for Reid Brothers at Dunbar, Pennsylvania. In politics he was a Republican, but never held public office; was a man of quiet tastes and loyal to his family and friends. He died in 1887.
He served during the entire period of the civil war, enlisting August 15, 1861, in Company H, Forty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer First Cavalry, 44th Regiment, under Captain Bayard and Colonel Bayard. After his three years of service expired he re-enlisted and served until the surrender at Appomattox. He saw hard, continuous service with his regiment, engaging in the following battles: Drainsville, Falmouth, Harrisburg, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Thoroughfare Gap, Fredericksburg, Leedstown, Sheppardstown, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Muddy Run and Culpeper. He was taken prisoner and for three months confined in Libby Prison and four months on Belle Isle before being exchanged. He received an honorable discharge and returned to his home.
He married, in 1870, Josephine Stauffer, born in Connellsville, daughter of Martin B. and Charlotte (Hough) Stauffer, granddaughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Myers) Stauffer, great-granddaughter of Jacob Stauffer, who with his son Abraham came from Germany to the United States, locating at Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where he bought land from the Indians and lived until his death. Abraham Stauffer continued his residence in Scottdale, was a farmer, fought the Indians, and was engaged in the Whiskey Insurrection. The old Stauffer home was held in the family until quite recently. Martin B., son of Abraham Stauffer, was born February 27, 1817, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and there married Charlotte Hough, in January, 1839.
He was a farmer, but after marriage settled in Connellsville, where he was a partner in the Boyts & Porter Machine Company until his death in 1876. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the town council. Charlotte Hough Stauffer was a daughter of Paul and Katherine Hough, both of German parentage, and he born in Germany. They located in Economy, Pennsylvania, in 1778, later moving to near Scottdale, where he became a wealthy farmer and distiller. They had seven sons and seven daughters. Children of Martin B. Stauffer: 1. Elizabeth, married J. W. Moore, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 2. Katherine (deceased), married W. A. Clarke, United States Senator from Montana. 3. Anna M., married A. G. Hall, of Washington, D. C. 4. Mary A., married Robert G. Connell, a grandson of the founder of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. 5. Josephine, of whom further. 6. Margaret W., married J. H. Gilfry, reading clerk in the United States senate for thirty years. 7. William Larimer, deceased. 8. Charles C., assistant pension agent, residing at Washington, D. C. Children of William T. and Josephine (Stauffer) Reid: 1. Mae E., married James B. Hogg, of Connellsville. 2. Lulu R., born 1873, died 1903; married J. R. Rose. 3. Charlotte, born 1875, died 1906; married P. H. Pendleton, of Uniontown, children: Julia, Josephine, Elizabeth M., Reid, Constance. 4. Edward H., born 1877, now residing in Canada. 5. Frank, born 1879, died 1907; he was a veteran of the Spanish war, serving in Company D, Tenth Regiment, U. S. A., in Cuba and the Philippines. 6. William T., born 1883, now residing in Connellsville.
Mrs. Josephine Reid survives her husband, residing in her beautiful home on Wills road, overlooking the city of Connellsville and the Valley of the Youghiogheny. She shares her home with her grandchildren, the orphaned children of her daughter, Charlotte Reid Pendleton.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.
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