An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893 CHARLES C. REED, of Friday harbor, Washington, is a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, born August 2, 1824. His father, Charles L. Reed, was born in 1795, and died in 1854; and his mother, nee Hannah Beetle, born in 1800, died in 1831. Charles L. Reed was a Corporal in the war of 1812, and after the close of the war he went to sea, and was employed more or less in the whaling business. Finally retiring from the sea, he learned the trade of a hatter in his youth, and for many years kept a hat store in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Before the death of his wife in 1831, his son Charles C. made his home with an aunt until he was sixteen years old, but from the time he was nine he was employed in his father's store when not attending school. Thus early in life he acquired some knowledge of mercantile business. Tiring of indoor life, October 6, 1840, young Reed went aboard the whaling vessel China, and for five years remained on the same ship. He made two voyages to the Southern Pacific ocean and the islands about New Zealand. After his return to Massachusetts on his second voyage, he left the China and went on board the Congress, remaining on the latter vessel two years and eight months; was in the Indian Ocean in the vicinity of the East India islands and Australia, and spent two summers near, the Croset islands. From these voyages he returned to Massachusetts in November, 1848. He remained in his native State until August of the following year, when he started for California, via Cape Horn, on the Olive Branch, under command of Captain Place. Arriving in San Francisco January 27, 1850, he went direct to the mines, but after a fruitless experience of eight months he returned to San Francisco "broke." He then secured employment on the ship St. Lawrence, which was engaged to carry passengers, and their voyage south took 200 disheartened miners as far as Nicaragua, they being homeward bound. The vessel went on to Valparaiso, Chili, and from there he returned to San Francisco. He went into the California bay trade, in schooners, until he got money enough to buy a part of a schooner of his own, which he ran for fifteen years. He was also Captain of a steamer on the Sacramento river until 1871, when the Central Pacific Railroad Company bought up all boats, and he continued with the railroad company until 1873. He then quit the business, having served over thirty years on the water. That same year, 1873, Mr. Reed came to Puget Sound. Here he homesteaded 160 acres of land on Shaw's island, in San Juan county, and on it he lived until 1878, when he abandoned it and returned East. Stopping at Prior lake, Minnesota, he secured work in a merchandise store, soon afterward bought a half interest in the establishment, and for four years conducted business under the firm name of Hull & Reed. At the end of that time they disposed of their business, and he returned to Washington, settling in Friday Harbor, San Juan county, as clerk with Joseph Sweeney, in a mercantile business, in which he was engaged nearly three years. He afterward received the appointment of County Treasurer. He was afterward elected Treasurer, and altogether has served seven years. He owns a comfortable home in Friday Harbor. Mr. Reed is unmarried. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.