James David Reid was born near New Burnside, Johnson County,
Ill., January 22, 1864, and passed away at his residence in Golconda,
Ill., June 10, 1926, aged 62 years, four months, and 28 days.
He was married to India E. Holloway and to this union were born
seven children, five boys and two girls. Of the latter, one, Mrs.
L. Mernice Kromphardt, of Peoria, Ill., survives. The other daughter,
Mary Loudene, died Dec. 27, 1914. The sons all survive him. They
are Harley A. Reid, St. Louis, Mo.; W. Loren Reid, Springfield,
Ill.; C. Leslie Reid, Peoria, Ill.; J. Rue Reid, of Eddyville,
and Carl D. Reid, whose address is unknown.
The deceased was married the second time to Mrs. Ella Hazel on
November 11, 1916. The wife survives him.
Mr. Reid was converted early in life and united with the Eddyville
M. E. church, later in 1917, transferring his membership to the
M. E. church at Golconda. The deceased has always, since his conversion,
lived an exemplary Christian life, and one beyond reproach from
any point of view.
Besides his own immediate family he leaves three brothers; R.
Wesley Reid and John T. Reid, of New Burnside, Ill., Wm. Y. Reid,
of St. Louis, Mo.; another brother, Hugh F. Reid, has preceded
him into the great beyond. Of the three sisters, two survive him.
They are Mrs. Namcy E. Chitwood, of Chicago, Ill., Mrs. Bettie
K. Rushing, of Ozark, Ill. The two preceding him in death were
Mrs. Mary Jane Holloway and Mrs. Matilda Holloway, and two sisters
who died in infancy.
It was the happy association that the writer has had with the
deceased throughout the few short months that drew us to Mr. Reid
and found him to be a real man among men. If he had an enemy in
the world they are unknown. To illustrate this, the deceased was
again a candidate for re-election to the office of county clerk
without opposition. The opposition ticket was intending that the
field be cleared and Mr. Reid be re-elected.
He has made one of the best officers Pope County ever had. There
has never been a finger of suspicion pointed toward his office
nor toward his life as he lived it. He was a consecrated Christian
and loved to be in the church pew at every service. How often,
in these last days, he has confided to his pastor that he would
love to come to church more, but the condition of his health and
that of his wife compelled them both to remain at home when they
would have been in church.
He was a patient , loving father, and husband, and a friend that
when once gained, never forsook any who might call him such. There
are altogether too few citizens of the David Reid type __ men
who are men. But he has now gone to that bright home of which
he so often spoke, where there are no more suffering, nor tears,
nor partings..
He was initiated into Eddyville Lodge No. 615, I.O.O.F. March
11, 1887. In this order he lived an honored and faithful member,
having not a single reprimand.
( lengthy poem omitted)
Funeral services were conducted from the late home to Eddyville
Friday where they were held in the M. E. Church. Rev. C. L. Phifer,
pastor of the Golconda M. E. church preached the sermon and was
ably assisted by Rev. T. J. Isaac, of Joppa, and Rev. J. H. Davidson,
of Sesser, Ill., former pastors to the deceased.
The Odd Fellow very ably put on their beautiful work at the grave.
"Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past,
The battle's fought, the race is won
And thou art crowned at last."
_Herald-Enterprise, 17 June 1926