The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-01-26
ENERGETIC FIGURE DIED AT
GLENCOE SUNDAY
He Was Positive Force In the UpbuiId-
ing Of the Northwest: Assisted in the
Construction of Railroads; Once Was
Candidate For Congress; Life of
Energy; Story Told

udy dlleTuOOu dC GieHCO6, uedIu IS-
moved one of the most vigorous, pos
tive, energetic figures in the history
of Minnesota. Though more than so
years had passed since he really was
a captain, his military title endured
as the best familiar description of
the man, for he was captain in his
community all his mature years, and
he earned recognition over the state.
One of the intense interests of his
later years-and all his interests
were intense-was the writing of
genealogical record, in which he tells
part of the story of his life.
He does not picture his political
activities, which, although defeated
for congress, nevertheless made him
a wholesome force in public life.
He neglects to relate his pioneering
in behalf of ship canal to connect
the Mississippi river with Lake Super
Tor. He leaves out, too, his work as
railroad builder which entitled him to
fame as lesser builder of empire; like
many a pioneer Minnesotan, he built
many North and South railroads, on
paper, in Central Minnesota but like
no other, he actually built part of such a
road, known at first as the Duluth st.
Cloud, Glencoe, Mankato & Southern,
"the Alphabet road" and constructed
from Albert Lea to Mankato becoming
part of the Milwaukees system.
He omitS mention except in formal
manner of his medal of honor. voted him
by congress in recognition of service in
the course of which he broke arrest, went
to battle, lost his right arm and on re-
covery refused to accept discharge and
went on fighting till the war ended.
1t may have been this survival which
| led him to keep on fighting all the rest
d9VS-fiQhtincr hpc1nSa hn
. honest man to compromise, and too
! courageous in his convictions to keep
2 still. This was the reason he became a
I positive, wholesome force in politics. and
{ in lesser measure but no less whole
somely in other affairs.
This is Captain Reeds own story of
his life:
"Axel Hayford Reed, son of Sampson
Reed and Huldah Bisbee; born at Hart
ford, Maine, March 10, 1885, the young
est of family of seven, three brothers
and three sisters. His mother dying
when he was seven years of age, caused
scattering of the children from home,
all except young Axel who remained on
the farm life until nineteen years of age.
He was continuously urging his father
to let him go for himself until nineteen
years of age, when the father gave his
consent and S. with this admoniton: I
predict you will always be poor
HE at once struck out for the west,
which from maps studied at school he had
concluded was the best place for a per-
in November, 1855. He obtained work in
the woods at $40 a month the first win
ter, and in the spring of 1856 took a con-
tract of making 100000 brick at a new
town just started called Glencoe In this
venture he sank the savings of two
years. but it made him a permanent set
tier in Glencoe, where he preempted 160
acres of land.
when the Civil war began in 1861 he,
enlisted and served on the fighting line
until the close of the war in 1865, partici-
fivarr ayya 1of& l. slit, IL,
siege or campaign in which his regiment
took part, including Sherman's march to
the sea and through the Carolinas to
Washington, He served in the following
southern states, viz: Kentucky, Ten
nessee Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia,
South Carolina North Carolina and Vir-
GINA, marching on foot nearly every step
of the way, counting miles by the thou
sand.
i"Being mustered out of the service in
4 pmpany K, Second MINI. Vol. Infantry,
Armed to Glencoe, from where he had en-
z Ssted and in company with an army
s. omrade, who had served with him in
he same regiment, bought out a mer-
merchandise and grain trade for more
than thirty years.
"He contributed to procuring the To-
cation and building of the first railroad
grain elevators and other buildings at
Glencoe and Bird Island organized the
f1rSt NatlOnal. Bank or Glencoe in 1881,
and was its president ten years; pur-
chased the Hutchinson Enterprise in 1873,
and named it at first The Mcleod County
Enterprise, but finally The Glencoe En-
terprise, which has continued publication
under other management. He largely in
terested himself in farming and horticul-
ture, being one of the oldest members of
the Minnesota State Horticultural society.
He grew one, of the first and largest
apple orchardslin the county, and at one
time was the largest producer of wheat.
He belonged to the following military as
sociations: Army of the Cumberland,
Grand Army of the Republic. Military Or
der of the Loyal Legion of the United
States, Medal of Honor Legion, United
Veterans union and Union Veterans
league"
Captain Reed is survived by his widow.
a daughter, Miss Cora, and two sons,
Axel H, Jr., and Frank E. Reed, the
latter a resident of Minneapolis.
The funeral will be held Wednesday at
10 a. m. from the home in Glencoe.