ABRAM REED, 85
DIED AT HOLLY
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Aged Alcona County Pioneer Reached Ripe Old Age.
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Word was received here that Abram Reed passed away Saturday morning at the home of his nephew, F. S. Bisbee, at Holly, Mich. Mr. Reed was 85 years of age. He visited here several weeks ago and at that time was in very feeble health, and his friends were not surprised when news of his death came. He realized that he was failing and arrangements for his funeral were made according to his wishes.
The remains were brought here Monday afternoon and were taken to Carle's undertaking parlors, in charge of members of the Masonic Lodge. The funeral services were held there Tuesday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. F. A. Andrews, assisted by Alcona Lodge No. 292 F. & A. M., of which the deceased had long been an honored member. Burial was made in the family lot at South Harrisville.
Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee of Holly, and Mrs. Geo. S. Gynn of Cleveland, a niece of Mr. Reed, accompanied the remains to Harrisville.
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Abram Reed was born in Canandaigna, N.Y., in 1830 and when he was five years old removed to the state of Ohio with his parents. At the age of 25 years he came to Michigan and settled in Saginaw, later removing to Genesee county. While in Saginaw Mr. Reed made the first pair of bobs used for carrying passengers on the ice between Saginaw and Bay City.
In the fall of 1859 Mr. Reed was married in Genesee county to Miss Harriett Beebe and in 1868 they came to Harrisville. He had previously visited this section looking over lands. On arriving here he cleared the land and built the mill at South Harrisville, later known as Springport. He was a millwright and builder and had operated two mills in Genesee county; took the machinery from one of them to put in the mill at South Harrisville. He remained at South Harrisville two years and then removed to Harrisville. In 1876 he purchased 131 acres of land south of town, cleared it and made a farm. Here he lived until a few years ago when, his wife and two children having passed away, he sold the property and after that lived intermittently at Harrisville, Birch Run, Cleveland and for a year or more past made his home with his niece, Mrs. Beebe of Holly, Mich.
In his active days Mr. Reed was prominent in county and town politics, having held the office of supervisor several terms, was highway commissioner nine years and also was county surveyor at one time.
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The passing of Abram Reed strikes another name from the ever-lessening roll of our old settlers. Eighty-five years is a ripe age and perhaps in such a death there is really no cause for sorrow, yet there are many who will feel a pang of regret over the passing of this old friend and neighbor.
He was a man of excellent habits, fine moral character and sturdy constitution, and he continued to be active in his accustomed pursuits till long past the age at which men ordinarily drop out of the ranks of workers. To this end there is no doubt that his even-tempered, cheerful disposition largely contributed. He met most of the conditions and situations of life with a joke. He was a straight forward, matter-of-fact man, and he had his own peculiar views. Although he was a member of no church, he exemplified by a pure and honorable life, the teachings of the golden rule and professed a profound belief in the Great Architect of the Universe--in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.