Samuel James Reader and Elizabeth Ellen Smith

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Husband Samuel James Reader ^{1 2}

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           Born: 25 Jan 1836 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Francis Reader (1798-1884) 3 4 5
         Mother: Catherine James (1804-1836) 1 6

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       Marriage: 17 Dec 1867 - La Harpe, Hancock Co, IL 1 7

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Wife Elizabeth Ellen Smith ^{1 7}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Mar 1898 7
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Ruth Reader ^{1 7}

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           Born: 25 Sep 1868 7
     Christened: 
           Died: 29 Apr 1885 7
         Buried: 

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2 F Elizabeth Reader ^{1 7}

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           Born: 9 Oct 1871 1 7
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 M Frederick A. Reader ^{1 7}

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           Born: 19 Jan 1873 7
     Christened: 
           Died: 6 Aug 1873 7
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - Samuel James Reader

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After their mother died, he and his sister were left in care of their aunt, Eliza James. Their grandfather James and his daughter and the two children moved to Wellsburg, Virginia, in 1839, thence to La Harpe, Illinois, in 1841, and in May, 1855, removed to Indianola, Kansas, where they selected land.

After the death of their mother, he and his sister were taken to La Harpe, Illinois, by their maternal aunt, Eliza James, in 1841, and moved to Indianola, Kansas, May 20, 1855. Here they selected claims of 160 acres of land each, for which they received U. S. patents in 1857.

He was a private in Co. G., Second regiment, "Kansas Free State Army," during the "Border Ruffian War." He joined the company July 29, 1856, and marched with it to Nemeha Falls, Nebraska, when it met the first Free State emigrant train that came into Kansas through Nebraska. Old John Brown, of Ossawatomie, was with Co, G., at and beyond the Nebraska line, and assisted and encouraged its members by his presence and advice. The name of the captain of Co. G. was Aaron D. Stevens. He went to Harper's Ferry with John Brown in 1859, and was executed March 16, 1860.
September 13, 1856, he participated in the battle of Hickory Point, Kansas, under Capt. Wm. Creitz, General James Lane commanding, and the next day returned home, his services being no longer required.
During the Civil War, Co. D, Second regiment, Kansas State Militia, was organized August 25, 1863, of which Mr. Reader was elected second Lieutenant. He was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster November 4, 1863. The regiment was called into active service October 10, 1864, and served under General S. R. Curtis in Missouri. In making a reconnoisance October 22, a battalion of the regiment 275 strong, struck the flank of the advancing Confederates, near the Big Blue river, Missouri. A desperate engagement ensued, when the Confederates gained the victory. The Second fell back across the Big Blue, losing a brass 24 pounder howitzer, 24 men killed, 20 wounded and 74 captured, Mr. Reader being among the latter. After a forced march of three days he escaped from the Confederate guards, while crossing the Marmiton river in Missouri, in the night, October 25th, and reached Kansas and the Union forces the next day at noon. The regiment was discharged from active service October 30, 1864, his discharge papers being dated at the Adjutant General's office, Topeka, Kansas, December 6, 1865.

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General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Ellen Smith

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of La Harpe, Hancock Co, IL

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914), Pg 4.

2 F. S. Reader, Some Pioneers of Washington County, Pa. - A Family History (New Brighton, PA: F. S. Reader & Son, 1902), Pg 123.

3 —, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Chicago: A. Warner & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 805.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914), Pg 2.

5 F. S. Reader, Some Pioneers of Washington County, Pa. - A Family History (New Brighton, PA: F. S. Reader & Son, 1902), Pg 96.

6 F. S. Reader, Some Pioneers of Washington County, Pa. - A Family History (New Brighton, PA: F. S. Reader & Son, 1902), Pg 122.

7 F. S. Reader, Some Pioneers of Washington County, Pa. - A Family History (New Brighton, PA: F. S. Reader & Son, 1902), Pg 124.