I'm looking for my 1st cousin three times removed, James F. Reed, born June 17, 1850 in Trout Creek, St. Clair Co., Alabama (now Ragland). He allegedly died Aft. June 17, 1926 in Albertville, Marshall Co., Alabama. This is the last known place we even know of him. The following is some we do know. Father - Samuel Reed born September 22, 1818 in Georgia, died December 03, 1883 in St. Clair Co., Alabama, near Ragland. Mother - Eliza Gordon born July 30, 1809 in Maury Co., Tennessee, died August 22, 1886 in St. Clair Co., Alabama, near Ragland. They are both buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery, Ragland, St. Clair Co., Alabama. James wrote the following reminiscence in his ledger on June 17, 1926: "I was born June 17, 1850, at Trout Creek, Alabama. I remember a great deal of suffering of the Southland during the Civil War, how my mother and sisters and the neighboring women would spin and weave to make the homespun clothes for the soldier boys. My father was in that war, and I was left at home to help make the living. Although but a boy eleven years old, I wanted to go in his place. I thought he could take better care of my mother than I could. Seeing the neighbor boys fall in line when the drum and fife played "Dixie" for volunteers, I could hardly stand it; I felt a swelling in my heart that I will never feel again. I taught country schools for three or four years, merchandised some, was postmaster at Trout Creek and at Ragland quite a number of years. I have always been a Democrat, having voted in every election since I became twenty-one years old. I have had very good health, for which I am thankful, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South October 17, 1866; joined the Masonic Fraternity in 1873." He inherited the old Samuel Gordon home place in Trout Creek, Alabama (later called Ragland) from his mother, Eliza Gordon Reed. He worked as a school teacher and was said to have pretty white hair. He was always very neat and smoked a pipe and seemed to meditate and be at rest with the world when he had his pipe. In 1909, one of Jim's sons had died of yellow fever while working in the construction of the Panama Canal and his body was returned to Albertville, Alabama for burial. Another son, Sam, was said to be a railroad man on the L&N railroad between Birmingham and Anniston and Calera. His wife is buried in Methodist Church Cemetery, Ragland, St. Clair Co., Alabama. His children were: Mattie G. Reed born Abt. 1873 Lucy V. Reed born Abt. 1875 buried Albertville, Marshall Co., Alabama John M. Reed born Abt. 1877 Samuel Reed William Reed Harris Reed Clarence Reed Joe Reed Thank you very much... Ric Gordon in Texas