Reed.W.L.1840.BIO Page 612 W. L. REED, one of the merchants of Orleans, was born in Orange County, Ind., April 17,1840, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Wilson) Reed. His paternal grandfather was George Reed, a native of Virginia, who was one of the earliest settlers in Kentukcy. His son Jesse was born November 28, 1798, and during his life was a farmer and blacksmith, and married his wife in Bourbon County, Ky., her place of nativity. In 1832 they came to Orange County where his death occurred December 25, 1851, and hers June 1, 1858. W. L. Reed enjoyed but moderate advantages for education, and for six years followed the avocation of his father, that of blacksmithing. He then began clerking for T. B. Walker in the mercantile business at Orleans, and in 1861 went out as sutler in the Twenty-fourth Indiana Regiment where he continued until the close of the war. In 1866 he attended commercial college at Indianapolis, and the same year began his present business. Mr. Reed is now considered one of the most successful and energetic merchants in Orleans. April 17, 1867, he was married to Nancy C. Walker, a native of New Albany, Ind., and by her he is the father of these five children: Thomas L., Fannie L., Jessie W., Sarah R. and Esther. "HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, ORANGE & WASHINGTON COUNTIES INDIANA" GOODSPEED BROS. 1884 Submitted by: Diana Flynn Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997