Jacob I. Reed, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie County, first came to Council Bluffs in 1854, when the town contained only log houses. His great-grandfather, Jacob Reed, came from Scotland, and settled in South Carolina long before the Revolutionary War. His son, Jacob Reed, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that state, and was a captain in the War of the Revolution, and received a land warrant. He was married in his native state to Mary Smith, and to them were born nine children: Enos, Rebecca, Wilburn, Harper, Francis, Jackson, Joseph, Mary and Ozie. After these children had reached maturity Mr. Reed moved to Rush County, Indiana, about 1817, and settled on a farm near Rushville. In 1842 he moved to Mercer County, Illinois, where he died in 1853, at about eighty years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a devoted christian. He was also an educated man, and taught school intil he was seventy-four years of age, having taught in one building for five years.

Enos Reed, the father of our subject, was born in South Carolina, and was twenty-three years of age when his father moved to Indiana with his large family. He was married in Rush County, that state, to Elizabeth Rishling, daughter of Fredrick and Catharine (Bouseman) Rishling. The father was of German descent, and was an old settler of Rush County. He was the father of six children: Fredrick, Catherine, Elizabeth, George, William and Samuel. After marriage Mr. Reed settled on a farm in Rush County, and was the father of nine children, namely: Emily, George, Jacob, Edner, Mary, Enos, Marion, Emeline and Elizabeth. The father was county judge of his county for several years. He removed to Illinois and settled on a farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and held several church offices. At one time he had a handsome property, but lost it all in the cattle business. He lived to the age of fifty-four years, dying in Mercer County, Illinois.

His son Jacob I., the subject of this sketch, was born November 26, 1930, in Rushville, Indiana, and was but eleven years of age when his parents removed to Illinois. He remained on a farm in Mercer County until 1861, when he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He lived two years south of Oakland, and then came to the northeast corner of what was then Big Grove, where he remained nineteen years. In 1882 he settled on his present farm of 200 acres.

He was married in Mercer County, in 1851, to Hannah J. Sherer, daughter of Robert Sherer. He was the father of three children: Eunice, Margaret and Hannah J. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born ten children, namely: Adaline, May S., Margaret, Robert, George, John, Albert, Irvin, Harry and Jennie M.

The mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois, but joined the Methodist Church in Iowa. She died in March, 1890, at the age of fifty-eight years, and was a faithful and devoted wife and mother. She was a helpmate to her husband, having labored with him to build up a home in the wilderness of Iowa. Robert Reed, their eldest son, died very suddenly in August, 1890, at the age of twenty-eight years. This was a sad blow to Mr. Reed, following so closely the death of his wife. Mr. Reed is a man of honor and integrity, and has done his full share toward building up and developing this township. He has taken an active interest in the schools, having acted as school director and trustee. Socially he is an Odd Fellow.