Early Pioneer and Founder of Village
Passed Away Last Friday Evening.
Daniel Reeder, founder of the village of Lake City, died Friday evening at nine o’clock at his home on North Main St. in this village after an eight months’ illness, the greater part of which time he was confined to his bed. Death was due to a general breaking down in his advanced age.
Daniel Reeder was born in Whitchurch township, Ontario, June 24, 1833, making his age at death 78 years, 10 months and 2 days. When but a few years of age his family moved to Mariposa, Ontario, where he lived until coming to Michigan in 1867.
After spending about a year in Lapeer and Mecosta counties, he came to Missaukee county May 18, 1868, where he has since continuously resided, his life being closely identified with the history and development of this village and county.
He was one of the first four to make homes in the then unbroken territory at present included in the boundaries of Missaukee county. For fourteen miles a road had to be chopped through the forest from the termination of the Big Rapids – Falmouth road to the present site of Lake City. Here he erected a log house very close to the site of the present residence of Chas. L. Ostrander. This was the first house erected in Lake City.
Mr. Reeder became at once the owner of 320 acres of land described as the north half of Section 6, homesteading 160 acres and purchasing 160 acres. The west portion of this tract is now included in the corporate limits of the village.
Supplies and mail in those early days were brought at irregular intervals from Traverse City but in 1872 a postoffice was established in Lake City with Mr. Reeder as the first postmaster. Mail was then secured regularly once each week from Cadillac, the postmaster acting as the carrier.
Mr. Reeder was the chairman of the first county board of supervisors which met at a farm two miles from Falmouth in 1871. He was the owner of the first saw-mill erected in Lake City, its location being near what is now known as the Arbuckle mill site.
In the somewhatclose and exciting contest which marked the removal of the county seat from Falmouth in 1873, much of Lake City’s success was due to the energy and perseverance of Mr. Reeder.
In 1888, he established the local water works system which he managed and owned until 1894 when he sold to F. N. McClellan. Later the property again came into his hands at different times until sold to the present owner. For some years he was also one of the principal stockholders in the Missaukee Co. Bank.
For seventeen years, the condition of Mr. Reeder’s health had compelled his spending his winters in the south where Mrs. Reeder accompanied him each year. The past winter, however, he was unable to make the trip.
Mr. Reeder was first married to Elizabeth Bateman and to this union were born five children, three of whom, Mrs. Agnes Ransom and Mrs. Orilla J. Ostrander of this place, and John C. Reeder of Ontario, California, survive him. George E. was killed in a railroad accident at Duluth in 1901 and Miss Elizabeth died at the age of thirteen years.
Several years after Mrs. Reeder’s death he was again married, Feb. 29, 1872, to Miss Mary A. Quick. To this union were born two children, Martin D. Reeder and Mrs. William H. White, both of Boyne City, who, with the widow, survive him.
Mr. Reeder had been a consistent and faithful member of the local M. E. church and one of its leading officials practically the entire time since its organization. He was always greatly interested in church work.
He was a man of utmost rectitude of character, signally true and sincere in all the relations of life and well merited the great affection and high esteem in which he was held by family and friends. His name will ever appear on the honor roll of sterling pioneers who contributed so much to the upbuilding of our county.
Funeral services held at M. E. church Sunday afternoon at three o’clock with interment in the local cemetery. The services were conducted by Rev. Jenkins, assisted by the Rev. Jenkins, assisted by the Rev. Sidebotham.
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Card of Thanks
To the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church:
We want to thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent to us in sympathy. It was a great comfort to know our friends remembered our loved one and ourselves.
Very sincerely,
Mary Reeder
Martin D. Reeder
William Reeder
Orilla Ostrander
Agnes Ransom
Mary Louise White