Histories

Obituary

Died, in this city, May 2, Mrs. Cinda T. Reed, relict of the lateDr.Daniel Reed, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-two years.

The death of Mrs. Reed removes from our midst a familiar face known to all, young or old. Retaining to a remarkable degree her mental and physical faculties to the last, she was a connecting link between the past and the present.

Born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, that mother and school of distinguished men and women, she illustrated the New England traits of character through her long years of active pioneer life. Coming to Fulton in 1838, among the first settlrs of this section of the state, where most of her life has since been passed, and assisting her husband in his professional duties in providing for and nursing the sick, while rearing her family, her life was one of great activity and usefulness, amid the privations and want of the early and sparsely settled country. Fertile in resources, fond of adventure, social and entertaining, never deterred from duty by sunshine or storm, in those early days she was ever on call to administer at the bedside with her kindly presence and knowledge, or prepared with her deft hands the wedding feast. Her home was ever open to th estranger or friend, where she delighted to bestow her hospitality, and where the sick and needy could always find shelter and care.

From the rugged and varied experience of her life, her memory was stored with reminiscence, anoecdote and incident of the early settlement of Fulton, which she could related with vivid interest and humor to the delight of her listeners -- tales well told. Though for a few years retired fromthe more active duties of her mature years, attending to her home and flowers, she retained a lively interest in passing events, greatly enjoying the society and attentions of her friends and neighbors, young or old.

Until within a few weeks, it was confidently hoped, from her elastic step, youthful appearance, mental vivacity and young old age, she would be spared to round out the century. But the alloted years by reason of strength had been filled and after a brief illness, surrounded by loving children and friends, who smoothed her passage to the tomb, the light of her life went out, burned to the socket.

Her funeral was attended from her late residence on Wednesday afternoon, and her remains deposited in the cemetery plot, which it was her annualcustom to tenderly care for with her own hands.

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Died, at her home in this city at 1:30 o'clock Tusesdy morning, May 2, 1893, Mrs. Cinda T. Reed, aged ninety-oneone years, eleven months and eighteen days. Mrs. Cinda T. Reed was the widow of Dr. Daniel Reed. She was born at Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Connecticut, May 13, 1801,was a daughter of Dr. Jesse and Hannah Meigs and a cousin of ex-Governor John R. Meigs, of Ohio. She was married at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, New York, May 1, 1828, to Dr. Daniel Reed, and they moved to Fulton in 1838. Mrs. Reed was one of the oldest setlers in Flton and was esteemed and known by everybody in this vicinity, a woman who had courage which is the gift of only a few.

An adventure that befell Mrs. Reed many years ago deserves mention. She had been with her husband visiting Dr. Basset and family at Lyons. It was in early spring before the breakup of ice began. They were returning in the evening on the ice on foot to Fulton. Her husband carried a pole with which to test the ice, but in spite of caution, when about two-thirds of the distance had been traversed, the ice gave way and they found themselves in the river and in imminent danger of being carried under the ice with strong current. Mrs. Reed worked herself around to the strongest part of the ice where by a desperate effort she succeeded in raising herself upon it, then by aide of the pole with her husband had carried she pulled him out. Mr. Reed was in favor of returning to the Iowa side, but Mrs. Reed had left a family of children at home and was determined to make the crossing which they did in safety.

During the late war Mrs. Reed was President of the soldiers aid society of this country and did noble service in the sanitary cause.

She was the mother of six chilren, three of whom are now living, James Reed of Clinton, Mrs. Kate Hall of this city and Mrs. Jennie Baldwin of Lyons. Mrs. Reed was a member of the Methodist church and can be credited with doing a great deal of christian work. The funeral was held Wednesday at 2 o'clock p.m. at her late residence, corner of Base and Wall street.

-- Clipping from unnamed Fulton, Illinois, newspaper, May 1893.