Santa Barbara County Biographies

A. S. REED

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


A. S. REED, the efficient Postmaster of Carpenteria, was born in Ontario County, New York,
 in June, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm, and remained there until twenty-one years 
of age, when in 1865 he went to Kent County, Michigan, where he again engaged in farming. 
Two years later he sold out and returned to Ontario County, where for a time he sold stump-
pullers; but, not meeting with success, he returned to Hastings, Michigan, and bought an
 interest in a general merchandise store, carrying on the business under the name of Fuller & 
Reed. One year later he sold out and went into the livery business. Soon after this lie left for 
Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he was engaged as book-keeper for nine months. He next 
returned to his old home and was employed in a warehouse, and also bought grain. In addition 
to this he purchased ties for the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad. 

In December, 1884, Mr. Reed came to Santa Barbara, and in the January following 
he located in Carpenteria, bought a small house and lot, and rented and worked land. 
In September, 1888, he rented H. J. Laughlin's hotel, but after a nine-months trial he 
found the patronage was insufficient to make the business profitable. He then bought a 
half block and erected his present residence, and also engaged in cultivating prunes, 
nectarines and peaches, in a small way. Mr. Reed was appointed Postmaster in the spring 
of 1889; was also appointed Deputy Sheriff about the same time, by R. J. Broughton, of 
Santa Barbara, then acting as Sheriff. 

Mr. Reed was married in Livonia, New York, in 1860, to Miss Frances E. Risden, a native 
of New York State. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.