Senator Joseph Rea Reed View All Years

JOSEPH REA REED was born in Ashland County, Ohio, March 12, 1835, and died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 2, 1925. His parents were William and Rosanna Lyle Reed. He attended common school, and Hayesville Academy, alternating the latter with school-teaching. In 1857 he removed to Adel, Iowa, became a student in the law office of Dodge & Boyle, was admitted to the bar in 1859 and began practice. On August 8, 1861, he was mustered in as first lieutenant of the Second Battery, Iowa Light Artillery, commanded the battery after December 1, 1862, was promoted to captain August 31, 1864, and was mustered out June 10, 1865. The battery was engaged at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Vicksburg, Nashville, Mobile and in many other important actions. Captain Reed returned to Adel and resumed law practice. In 1865 he was elected senator and served in the Eleventh and Twelfth general assemblies. In 1869 he removed to Council Bluffs and practiced there until September 1, 1872, when Governor Carpenter appointed him a judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District. By reason of elections he served until January, 1884, when he assumed the duties of a judge of the Supreme Court, having been elected to that office the previous October. He served in this position until he resigned February 28, 1889, having been elected to Congress the previous November. He served in the Fifty-first Congress, ending in 1891, and in that year was appointed by President Harrison chief justice of the Private Land Claims, which court had jurisdiction of claims of lands received under grants from Spain and Mexico in the territory acquired by the United States from Mexico. After that service was completed he resumed his law practice at Council Bluffs. In 1901 he became president of the Commercial Bank of Council Bluffs.