Thomas Reid

Thomas Reid, my grandfather, was born in Kirkmichael Ayrshire, Scotland in 1813. His first wife, Marion Bone, died there in 1841, leaving Thomas with three small children, James, Jessie, and Thomas Jr. He came to America in 1843, accompanied by his mother, Jean Gemmel Reid, two sisters, Agnes Reid Grassom and Mr. Grassom, and Jane Reid. They settled near the mouth of Turkey Foot Creek on the east side. A brother of Thomas, Matthew and wife, Susan, had come in 1841 and settled west of the Turkey Foot Creek, near the Maumee River.

Thomas' mother, Jean, died in 1851, and in 1854, he married my grandmother, Almira Crockett, daughter of James and Mary (Haskell) Crockett of Maine. They had six children who grew to adulthood: Knott, Mary, William, Charles, Edwin, and Agnes. Thomas Reid died in July, 1862, and with his mother and many of this family, is buried in the River Cemetery, west of Turkey Foot Creek. He had been a farmer.

Mr. Rankin and Mr. Lane owned a water-powered saw mill on Turkey Foot Creek, about one-quarter mile from the Maumee River. When a dam was put across the river at Providence, near Grand Rapids in 1843, the mill was made useless. The sawmill had a capacity of 30,000 board feet per week.

The Reids were Presbyterian but when they came to Henry County, there was no Presbyterian Church near and Thomas Reid helped organize a Methodist Church about a mile south of his home. It was called the Bethel Church.

Knott Reid married Emma Pratt and their children were: Guy, Matthew and Horace and Arthur.

Thomas Reid Homestead (1885). Almira (Crockett) Reid, seated; standing, left to right: Jennie (Fast) Reid with baby Ethyl, Will Reid, Agnes Reid, Edwin Reid, James, Frank, Kitty and Mary (Reid) Jennings.

Mary married Frank Jennings and they were the parents of James, Kitty, and Frances.

William married Jennie Fast. Their children were Ethel, John, Ruth, Alice, and Thomas.

Charles married Myrta Myers and their children were Glen, Eva, and Grace.

Edwin took Bertha Shepard as his wife. Their son was Bruce. Other children died in infancy.

Agnes, mother of Jessie Rayle, married Irven Myers and their children were Albert, Nellie, Jessie Warren, Corinne, and Martha.

Thomas Reid's children who came from Scotland were James who married Amanda Crockett and Jessie Janet who married Edwin Crockett.

Mrs. Rayle's paternal grandparents were John Wesley Myers and Martha Jennings Myers. John Wesley was born in 1833, and died in 1919. Martha Myers was born in 1833 and passed away in 1906. He was a farmer and a minister, marrying many couples and conducting funerals. Their home was also in Damascus Township about one mile from the home of Thomas Reid. They had nine children, three of whom died at a young age. Their four sons and two daughters were: Henry, who married Margaret Paulus. Their children were Carrie, Claude and Hazel. Jacob, who married Phoebe Warner and were parents of Coy, Clyde, Clifford, and Violet. Sherman married Sannah March. Their children were Orilla, Gay, Kathryn, Abbie, Joe, Charles, and Mildred. Irven E. married Agnes Reid and were the parents of Albert, Nellie, Jessie, Warren, Corinne, and Martha. Della married Charles Garster. Their children were Florence, Paul, Helen, and Hayes. Myrta married Charles Reid and their children were Glen, Eva and Grace.

Submitted by Mrs. Arthur Rayle