Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-24

This alumnuS, trustee, and life
long friend Of Washington College
in it's growth and progress from
Liberty Hall Academy to Washing
ton and Lee University, was born
In Rockbridge county, Va, October
Il, 1870. He grew 10 manhood at
Mulberry Hill," the home OF his
parents, situated north west of Lex
ington, and short distance beyond
the present corporate limits OF the
town. He was the seventh child
and youngest son of Andrew Reid
and Magdalene Mcdowell, his wife;
who wei blessed with three SONS
and eight daughters, all of whom
reached maturity except one son
who died in infancy.
Andrew Reid was the third OF
that name in regular descent in
this country; his great-grandfather,
Andrew, originally from Scotland,
having come over from County
Down, in Ireland, and settled near
the present site OF Lancaster, Pa,
with two brothers, Thomas and job n.
Andrew Reid was the first clerk
OF Rockbridge county, and discharg-
ed the highly honorable and i'm
portant duties of that Office for moro
than half century.
Magdalene Mcdowell, the mother
of Samuel Mcdowell Reid, was a
great-granddaughter OF Ephraim
Mcdowell, who distinguished him
self at the siege OF Londonderry
and at the battle of Boyne; and az
forwards emigrated through Penn
sylvania into Virginia. and with HI
two sons. John and James, and his
son-in-law, James Greenlee. was the
first settler in Rockbridge county.
John, the elder son OF Ephraim
Nc Dowell, was a surveyor by pro-
fession; whose services were
brought into requisition by Benja-
min Borden in fixing the boundaries
Of his land grant, which included
the site of Lexington, and all of the
lands around, to the extent OF 100,
900 acres. He was also man OF
turn of mind and of recog-
nized courage; and, having been
by Governor Gooch
10 the command of company, he
net his death in the prime of his
manhood, at the head OF his troops,
N a battle with the Shawnee In
dams, near the site OF the present
Town of Glasgow, in December, l742.
His son, Samuel Mcdowell, the
grandfather of Colonel Reid, emf
grated to Kentucky, accompanied
oy his wife, seven sons and two
daughters, in the year 1884; leaving
Mrs. Reid alone of all his family in
He became one of the
most useful and distinguished citi-
sens of that noble daughter of Vir-
yinia, and was largely instrument
'al in the formation of that State
rom the surplus domain of the Old
Dominion; presided over nine of
.he conventions held in Kentucky
or the purpose of framing State
Constitution, was one of the first
District Judges and one of the first
Ji;cuit Judges in the State; and
vas also United States Judge by
of General Washing
on, under whom he served during
he Revolutionary War.
The Scotch records in the British |
Museum trace the McDowells back
o the twelfth century. They held |
ands in Galloway, Scotland, and |
afterwards, during the Protectorate
# Cromwell, moved to the north OF
Ireland.
From these Scotch-Irish ancestors
prang Col. Samuel Mcdowell Reid.
Ie received his collegiate educa-
ion at Washington College, studied
aw in Staunton under Judge Stuart,
nd, while there, was made adjutant
4 Col. James McDowel's regiment,
nd served as such in the war OF
812.
He was afterwards Deputy Clerk
4 Rockbridge county until 1881,
vhen his father. who held the Office
Ifty-three years, retired from active
ife, and Colonel Reid was made