CHARLES P REID, MD ARMOUR GORDON HEATH HOFFMAN KELLY POWLEY WALKER Charles P. REID, M.D., Hampshire, Illinois, is recognized as one of the best physicians in the north part of Kane Co. He was born near Kingston, Frontenac Co., Canada, Oct. 16 1848, and with his parents came to Kane Co. His father David Reid, was born near Aiken Claurie, about thirty-five miles south of Glasgow, Scotland, Feb. 13, 1813. His early life was spent in his native country, and in 1833, when 20 years of age, he emigrated to Canada, sailing from Campbellton on the vessel Margaret, of Londonderry. The voyage required three months, the vessel landing at Quebec. Two years later he was followed by his father, John REID, the family settling near Kingston, In Frontenac Co., where he lived 17 years. John REID, the father of David, bought a farm of 200 acres near Kingston, where his death occured about 1852. His wife, Martha ARMOUR, died about 1859. She was the daughter of William and Margaret ARMOUR. John REID was the son of William REID, who married a Miss GORDON, and both died in Scotland. In 1848, David REID came to Kane Co. Ill., on a prospecting tour, and liking the country pruchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hampshire township, returned home and in the spring of 1850, moved here with his family. He is now living with his daughter on the old homestead, where he spent nearly half a century. At one time he was the owner of 360 acres, forty acres of which he later sold, leaving im the possessor of the south half of section 17. He was a good farmer, a good citizen, and good neighbor, and is yet living at the age of 85 years, but in ill health from a stroke of paralysis. While yet residing in Canada, he married Olive POWLEY, a native of Frontenac Co. Canada, born in April 1813. Her death occured at the family residence on Section 17, Hampshire township in 1871. She was the daughter of William POWLEY, who attained the age of 90 years, and who married Elizabeth HOFFMAN. His parents lived in America prior to the Revolutionary war, but after the close of that struggle returned to their native Germany, but some years later again emigrated to the states. About the time of the outbreak of the war of 1812, William POWLEY moved to Canada, where he secured a good farm and passed the remainder of his life. He often related to his children how at one time in the forest he ran out of provisions, and killed, cooked and ate a rattlesnake, which he always declared was, under the circumstances, very good. Of the four children forn to David and Olive REID, three are yet living as follows: John, a speculator and banker of Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. Charles P., our subject. Martha, wife of Alexander R. WALKER, lives on the old home farm, and mministers to and cares for his aged father, in his affliction. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Hampshire and the Elgin Academy, and for one year at Clark Seminary, now Jennings Seminary, in Aurora. He then taught school during six winter terms, being occupied with farm work during the summer seasons. He began teaching at the age of 19. Previous to this he began reading medicine, reading privatley for a time and then in the office of Dr. Kelly, of Elgin. He then attended Bennett;s Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1872. He also studied pharmacy in Cicago, in the Pharmaceutical College, passing examination,and was for three years engaged in Pahrmacy in that city. In 1875 he began the practice of his profession in Hampshire, where he remained until 1888, when he joined his brother in Kansas City, Kansas, practicing there until 1894, when he returned to Hampshire. Since his first admission to practice, Dr. REID has kept abreast of the times by occasional courses in medical colleges, having attended two courses of lectures in the Chicago Medical College, and one in Hahnemann, of the same city. In the summer of 1898, he proposes to again take a post-graduate course, obtaining a knowledge of the improved methods of medicine and surgery. Dr. REID, on the 6th of Feb. 1877 married Rosamond HEATH, a native of Germany, who died in Kansas City, Kansas, Aug. 16, 1889, leaving one child, Guy, a pupil in the Hampshire High School. Two children died in infancy, Olive and Mayne. Dr. REID delights in scientific subjects, and is of an inventive turn of mind. Among the creations of his inventive genius may be mentioned an imprived electric alarm, which gives waring when wires are cut or disabled, as ewll as when the apartment is surreptitiously entered. The fault with prior inventions has been that they get out of order and give no waring as to their condition. Dr. REID is prominent in business and social circles and was for 8 years president of the village board, and for six years was a member of the school board. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Hampshire, in which he has filled all the chairs, and is a member of the Foresters and Knights of the maccabees. A genial, wholsouled gentleman, he enjoys the esteem of the people amongst whom he has lived for nearly half a century. The Biographical Record of Kane Co., Illinois S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. July, 1898 pg. 28 Transcribed by Cynthia Nelson who has no further information on the above parties. Use your "BACK" button on your browser to return to Kane County ILGenWeb pages.