James Reed was born Nov 12, 1821 TN. Names of his parents is unknown. He was first married to Sarah Elizabeth Smith, in 1843 & they lived in GA, AL & TN. Sarah was born 1822 GA and died about 1854 TN. It's believed that James moved to AR shortly after her death. Their children were:
1. Joseph born 1844 AL, died before 1860 AR.
2. James M. born 1845 AL, died before 1870 AR.
3. William W. born Jul 1848 Summerville, Chatooga Co GA. He married his first wife, Reecca Lacy, Feb 12, 1870 in Van Buren County AR. She was the daughter of Allen Lacy & Elizabeth Epperson. He married his second wife, Sutha Halbrook, Nov 30, 1876 Conway Co AR. She was the daughter of Joseph Erwin Halbrook & Malinda Rebecca Hilburn. On Oct 3, 1878 he married his third wife, Eliza Jane Mahan, in Conway County. She is the daughter of James Mahan & Emily White & was born 1859 AR. Their children were: Henry Melton, Sarah Lula, John & Betty.
4. Aug 1850 George W. born in Summerville, Chatooga Co GA.
5. Nancy Elizabeth born May 5, 1853 TN. She married Robert Bolen Gordon & their children were James A. "Jim", Mary Ann "Molly", William Robert, John W. "Red", Joseph Lucian, Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie", Ira Austin & Lonnie Houston.
6. Melvina born Dec 11, 1855 Conway Co AR. She married Alexander Bruce Gordon & their children were Nancy Ann "Nannie", Lucian R. "Luce", Louisa Jane "Jane", Lewis, Lucinda "Cindy", Sarah, John Bruce, Emma Jeannette, Elmer Alexander, Rosa Narsis "Aunt Sis", Sreathie Ethel & Allie Melvina.

The Reed's lived in TN, GA & AL and about 1857 James moved his family to Arkansas settling first in Van Buren County. He married his second wife, Anna Fuller, in 1857. The 1860 Van Buren County census shows them farming in Peter Creek township with real estate valued at $500 and personal property valued at $300. Their children were:
1. Rosa Ann born May 5, 1859 AR. She married Thomas W. Scroggin & their children are James Allen, William Columbus, John Franklin, Thomas Chester, Joseph Henry, Robert, George Lewis & Edward Shafter.
2. Martha born 1867 AR.

James served for three months in the army & fought in General Price's raid into Missouri and then he finally settled in Conway County where he remained the rest of his life.
His third wife was Mary Moody & they were married Jul 15, 1875 in Springfield. She was born 1845 TN.
Their children were:
1. Mary M. "Maggie" born 1877 AR. She never married.
2. Robert A. born 1878 AR, died probably before 1900 AR.
3. Charles Elmore born Nov 17, 1882 AR. He married Emma May Stobaugh Nov 4, 1900 Van Buren Co AR. She was born Oct 9, 1886 & their children were Cora May, Arlie Jefferson, William Vernon "Willie", Zelma Nora, Esther May, John Orville, Glenna Sarah, James Harold & Carl Eugene.

James settled in the Pleasant Hill community located in Conway county. He was a farmer and the first person to own & operate a Gin and was also the first Baptist preacher to preach in that community. He & his family were members of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
James died Apr 3, 1887 Conway Co AR & is buried with his second wife at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. His son, William W. Reed, was the administrator of his estate.