"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 275.  Baker County.

JOHN A REID

     It is with as especial pleasure that we are enabled to present here a few
of the salient points in the highly interesting career of the worthy pioneer and
estimable gentleman and prominent citizen whose name appears above and whose
life of activity and faithfulness has been passed for nearly forty years in this
place, during which long period there has emanated from him an exemplary
manifestation of those virtues and abilities that are the component part of the
typical man.
     Scotland is the place and April 19, 1834, the date of his birth, his eyes
first opening to the light near the bounds of old ocean's realm and amid its
thundering roar.  Two years later he was transported to the United States by his
parents, John and Margaret (Bennett) Reid, who located in Philadelphia, where
they remained for a number of years, then removed to Michigan, where his father
was engaged in ship-building, and then later they went to Canada.  In that
country and in Detroit our subject received his education and in 1861 he sailed
from New York to encounter the adventures of and seek his fortune in the wild
scenes of the Pacific coast.  He had previously made himself master of the ship
carpenter trade and to this he devoted himself on the "Old Herman" until he
reached Washington territory, when he went to the Cariboo mines in British
Columbia, where he operated for two years, and then paid a visit to his brother
in Elk City, Idaho.  He spent one summer with his brother in work on the
latter's claim, then repaired to The Dalles and engaged with the O.S. & N.
Company until the following spring and then came to Baker county with a pack
train, where he and his partner, James Fletcher, engaged in mining and
carpentering.  He gained possession of two very valuable mines, the Gordon and
the Collateral, which he afterwards sold.  In 1866 he built the old Western
house in Baker City and operated it for a number of years, also taking charge of
the stage company's business at the same time.  He was a member of the first
city council and has always been very active and prominent in the upbuilding of
the town.  He now owns the whole block where he lives and has just completed an
elegant residence at the corner of Fourth street and Auburn avenue, still owning
the old Western hotel property, and considerable other city property and also
valuable interests in Michigan.
     The marriage of Mr. Reid and Miss Annie, daughter of Captain Duncan and
Sarah (Coutts) McEachen, was celebrated in Canada, September 25, 1871, and it is
of note that they started for their western home on the day of the beginning of
the great Chicago fire, October 8, 1871.  They have become the parents of six
children:  J. Gordon, married and living in Chicago; Pearl L., teacher in the
public schools; William E.; Andrew D.; Sarah V. and Robert A.  Mr. Reid is an
active member of the First Presbyterian church and has ever been prominent in
the advancement of the interests of all that was for the welfare of the people.
He is the fourth in a family of eight children and seven of them are still
living.  It is of note that he is a relative of the well-known Gordon Bennett of
New York.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.