William Whitaker Reed
Belton, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(January 23, 1816 - August 21, 1891) A native of Tennessee, William W. Reed came to Texas with his parents, Michael and Martha Reed, in 1833 and joined Robertson's colony in 1834. His land grant was situated near his parents' land on the south bank of the Little River. The family survived "The Runaway Scrape" during the Texas Revolution, after which William W. Reed and his brother, Jefferson Reed, joined the Republic of Texas Army. William Reed was among those who buried the remains of Colonel James W. Fannin's men at Goliad. After the war he returned to his homestead and married Emeline Cobb (1825-1890); they had ten children. In 1850 Reed participated in the election of a commissioners court to organize Bell County. He was elected the first county sheriff and served two terms. Reed died in 1891 and was buried on his land. (2000)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William Whitaker Reed came to Texas from Tennessee in 1833 and joined Robertson's colony, taking land along the Little River just as the Texas Revolution swept the region. His family fled in the 'Runaway Scrape,' and he and his brother enlisted in the Republic of Texas Army, helping bury the remains of Fannin's men massacred at Goliad. Settling permanently after the war, Reed helped organize Bell County in 1850 and served as its first sheriff.
Why it matters
Reed's life traces the arc of Anglo-American settlement in Texas—from colonist to revolutionary soldier to founding officeholder of a new county.
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Related people
- · William Whitaker Reed
- · James W. Fannin
Related events
- · Texas Revolution
- · Runaway Scrape
- · Goliad Massacre
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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