Urias Reed

Urias Reed, son of Anthony Reed Jr. and Nancy Reel was born in Roscoe, Ohio on April 13, 1840. He came from a rather large family, and was the 8th born out of what may have been as many as 14 children. At some point he made his way to Wisconsin where he met and married Cordelia Caroline Potter in Potosi, Wisconsin on January 13, 1864.

Urias appears to have had many occupations throughout his life consisting of being a hunter, trapper, blacksmith, and farmer.

About 10 months after his marriage, Urias was drafted into the army for the North to take part in the Civil war. He served as a private with Company A, 6th Regiment Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry. He served from October 1, 1864 to June 14, 1865 when he was honorably discharged. He apparently was injured shortly before the battle of Hatchers run, on Feb 7, 1865. Based on his pension records, he hurt his back while carrying a log off from the camp ground in the month of January. He was present back with his regiment in February for the battle. After the battle he did not rejoin his regiment because he was run over by something which was undisclosed, but resulted in him being taken to the hospital at City-Point. He was at City-Point about 3 months recuperating. His friends’ thought at first he was dead, but later discovered he was in the hospital.

Urias and Cordelia had 9 children in the years that followed. One of the children was Edith Leora Reed who was born September 5, 1875 and died September 28, 1845.

His first wife, Cordelia Caroline Potter was born in Cooperstown, Venango Co., Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1844. She was the daughter of Benjamin Potter and Mary A. Collins. The Potter family moved to Iowa when Cordelia was very young. I'm told Cordelia was very active in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1855, but joined the Congregational Church when they moved to Burton, Wisconsin in 1860. Cordelia died on July 3, 1889 in the village of Burton, Grant Co, Wisconsin at 45 years of age. Although now difficult to read, her headstone reads: Cordelia C. Wife of Urias Reed, Died July 3, 1889 Aged 45 Y's, 2 M's 6 D's.

After the death of Cordelia, Urias took a second wife, Samantha Brookens Seur whom he married in Wisconsin on April 2, 1890. There is a discrepancy as to whether the year is 1889/1890/1891/1892 all of which I've found on different sources. They had 3 children during their marriage.

Urias was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census Waterloo (Grant) WI.

Urias said he was a farmer when he applied for his pension at the age of 72. Urias received a $15/month pension due to an injury received during the battle of Hatchers Run which was not a gun shot injury. Urias died in Nelson, Buffalo Co, WI, on July 21, 1912 after 72 years. After his death his wife received the pension until her death.

Samantha Reed then passed away about 6 years later on April 27, 1918.

Urias was said to have been buried in the Burton Cemetery based on his obituary. However, to this date I have been unable to find his tombstone in the Burton Cemetery. According to the birth certificate for Urias, he was buried at McCartney Cemetery, located in the Waterloo Township. Unfortunately, this cemetery ceases to exist and has been converted into a farmland. We may never know for sure the exact where-abouts of his remains.

The stone of Cordelia C. has many markings on all sides, most of which is no longer legible. It’s possible this may also be his landmark?

For a list of all the children and more comprehensive dates, check out the family fact sheet for Urias Reed and Cordelia Potter.