William James Reid was born August 17, 1834 near the town of Argyle, Washington County, NY. He was not attracted to farming in his early manhood, but rather delighted in books. His education began in the little country schoolhouse near this home and continued at Argyle Academy. Subsequently, he entered Union College in Schenectady, NY, being graduated in 1855 with the highest honors in his class. From Union College, he went to Allegheny Theological Seminary, and upon the completion of the full course, was licensed by the Presbytery of Argyle, April 2, 1861. A large share of the cost of his education was met by his own efforts. For three winters, 1851-52-53, he taught district school, and in 1855-58-60 taught mathematics and ancient languages at Whitestown Seminary at Oneida, NY. In 1858 Union College bestowed upon him the degree of Master of Arts. On April 7, 1862 he was ordained and installed in the pulpit of the First United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, and there served until his death, which occurred Sept. 22, 1902.
Dr. Reid was a man of remarkable personal charm and a natural leader of his fellows. He is noted to have been tall, heavy-set, jovial, well-liked, and much loved and respected by his congregation.
Dr. Reid was a voluminous writer. He compiled the minutes of the General Assembly of which he was principal clerk for twenty-seven years. Among his books were "Unseen Battles of Youth," "The Nation's Duty to the Nation's Dead," "Lectures on the Revelations," "United Presbyterianism," and the "United Presbyterian Digest". For many years he wrote and published the United Presbyterian Handbook, and for the last fifteen years of his life he was editor of "The United Presbyterian," the church magazine.
Among the many positions to which he was called in the church organization were those of membership on the Board of Church Extension, 1864-71, the Board of Freedman's Mission from its organization until 1876. He was also Corresponding Secretary of the Home Board from 1868 to 1872, and remained a member until his death. From 1867 to 1893, he was financial agent of the Monongahela Presbytery, and from 1866 to 1878 was Clerk of the Synod of Pittsburgh. He was a trustee of Allegheny Theological Seminary from 1869 to his death. Monmouth College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1874, and in 1901, Westminster College conferred on him that of Doctor of Laws. From 1872 until his death, Dr. Reid taught a class in Bible Study every Saturday at the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1873, he was elected President of Westminster College but felt obliged to decline.
On October 29, 1862 Dr. Reid married Mary Bowen of Troy, Bradford County, PA. She died in 1904. Of their four children, two died in infancy, and a daughter, Anna, died at the age of nineteen.
Dr. Reid was a man of remarkable personal charm and a natural leader of his fellows. He is noted to have been tall, heavy-set, jovial, well-liked, and much loved and respected by his congregation.
Dr. Reid was a voluminous writer. He compiled the minutes of the General Assembly of which he was principal clerk for twenty-seven years. Among his books were "Unseen Battles of Youth," "The Nation's Duty to the Nation's Dead," "Lectures on the Revelations," "United Presbyterianism," and the "United Presbyterian Digest". For many years he wrote and published the United Presbyterian Handbook, and for the last fifteen years of his life he was editor of "The United Presbyterian," the church magazine.
Among the many positions to which he was called in the church organization were those of membership on the Board of Church Extension, 1864-71, the Board of Freedman's Mission from its organization until 1876. He was also Corresponding Secretary of the Home Board from 1868 to 1872, and remained a member until his death. From 1867 to 1893, he was financial agent of the Monongahela Presbytery, and from 1866 to 1878 was Clerk of the Synod of Pittsburgh. He was a trustee of Allegheny Theological Seminary from 1869 to his death. Monmouth College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1874, and in 1901, Westminster College conferred on him that of Doctor of Laws. From 1872 until his death, Dr. Reid taught a class in Bible Study every Saturday at the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1873, he was elected President of Westminster College but felt obliged to decline.
On October 29, 1862 Dr. Reid married Mary Bowen of Troy, Bradford County, PA. She died in 1904. Of their four children, two died in infancy, and a daughter, Anna, died at the age of nineteen.
William James Reid was born August 17, 1834 near the town of Argyle, Washington County, NY. He was not attracted to farming in his early manhood, but rather delighted in books. His education began in the little country schoolhouse near this home and continued at Argyle Academy. Subsequently, he entered Union College in Schenectady, NY, being graduated in 1855 with the highest honors in his class. From Union College, he went to Allegheny Theological Seminary, and upon the completion of the full course, was licensed by the Presbytery of Argyle, April 2, 1861. A large share of the cost of his education was met by his own efforts. For three winters, 1851-52-53, he taught district school, and in 1855-58-60 taught mathematics and ancient languages at Whitestown Seminary at Oneida, NY. In 1858 Union College bestowed upon him the degree of Master of Arts. On April 7, 1862 he was ordained and installed in the pulpit of the First United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, and there served until his death, which occurred Sept. 22, 1902.
Dr. Reid was a man of remarkable personal charm and a natural leader of his fellows. He is noted to have been tall, heavy-set, jovial, well-liked, and much loved and respected by his congregation.
Dr. Reid was a voluminous writer. He compiled the minutes of the General Assembly of which he was principal clerk for twenty-seven years. Among his books were "Unseen Battles of Youth," "The Nation's Duty to the Nation's Dead," "Lectures on the Revelations," "United Presbyterianism," and the "United Presbyterian Digest". For many years he wrote and published the United Presbyterian Handbook, and for the last fifteen years of his life he was editor of "The United Presbyterian," the church magazine.
Among the many positions to which he was called in the church organization were those of membership on the Board of Church Extension, 1864-71, the Board of Freedman's Mission from its organization until 1876. He was also Corresponding Secretary of the Home Board from 1868 to 1872, and remained a member until his death. From 1867 to 1893, he was financial agent of the Monongahela Presbytery, and from 1866 to 1878 was Clerk of the Synod of Pittsburgh. He was a trustee of Allegheny Theological Seminary from 1869 to his death. Monmouth College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1874, and in 1901, Westminster College conferred on him that of Doctor of Laws. From 1872 until his death, Dr. Reid taught a class in Bible Study every Saturday at the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1873, he was elected President of Westminster College but felt obliged to decline.
On October 29, 1862 Dr. Reid married Mary Bowen of Troy, Bradford County, PA. She died in 1904. Of their four children, two died in infancy, and a daughter, Anna, died at the age of nineteen.
Dr. Reid was a man of remarkable personal charm and a natural leader of his fellows. He is noted to have been tall, heavy-set, jovial, well-liked, and much loved and respected by his congregation.
Dr. Reid was a voluminous writer. He compiled the minutes of the General Assembly of which he was principal clerk for twenty-seven years. Among his books were "Unseen Battles of Youth," "The Nation's Duty to the Nation's Dead," "Lectures on the Revelations," "United Presbyterianism," and the "United Presbyterian Digest". For many years he wrote and published the United Presbyterian Handbook, and for the last fifteen years of his life he was editor of "The United Presbyterian," the church magazine.
Among the many positions to which he was called in the church organization were those of membership on the Board of Church Extension, 1864-71, the Board of Freedman's Mission from its organization until 1876. He was also Corresponding Secretary of the Home Board from 1868 to 1872, and remained a member until his death. From 1867 to 1893, he was financial agent of the Monongahela Presbytery, and from 1866 to 1878 was Clerk of the Synod of Pittsburgh. He was a trustee of Allegheny Theological Seminary from 1869 to his death. Monmouth College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1874, and in 1901, Westminster College conferred on him that of Doctor of Laws. From 1872 until his death, Dr. Reid taught a class in Bible Study every Saturday at the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1873, he was elected President of Westminster College but felt obliged to decline.
On October 29, 1862 Dr. Reid married Mary Bowen of Troy, Bradford County, PA. She died in 1904. Of their four children, two died in infancy, and a daughter, Anna, died at the age of nineteen.
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