Son of David Reeder and Lydia Balls

Married Mary Ann Craghead, 9 Apr 1857, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah

Children - Mary Elizabeth Reeder, Susan Ann Reeder, George David Reeder, Harriet Jane Reeder, Eliza Matilda Reeder, Robert Henry Reeder, William Francis Reeder, Daniel Lorenzo Reeder, Phoebe Eugenia Reeder, Thomas Eli Reeder, Charles Hyrum Reeder

Married Caroline Madsen, 31 Mar 1866, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - James Wilford Reeder, Joseph Martin Reeder, Lydia Maria Reeder, George Leslie Reeder, Jesse Cornelius Reeder, Clara Orilla Reeder, Martin Luther Reeder, Millie Caroline Reeder, Adolph Madsen Reeder, Artensia Ruth Reeder, Howard Chase Reeder

History - George's father, David Reeder, was born Dec. 21, 1801 at Rumburgh, Suffolk, England. David is the son of Robert Reeder and Mary Davy. David is the 5th child in the family. No doubt it was necessary for all of them to learn to work hard to sustain the family. Few poor people at that time were able to attend school in rural England, except through being apprenticed to a trade.

David grew to be a strong vigorous young man as most of the farm work was done by hand. The scythe and cradle were the popular harvest tools and the flail required strength and endurance on the threshing floor. In that day, the world was fed with a flail and the fishermen nets from boats in the North Sea. Their homes were thatched.

David married Lydia Balls at Chediston, Suffolk, England, Dec 26, 1828. She was born April 24, 1803 in Chediston, Suffolk, England. She is the daughter of John Balls and Sarah Sones of Chediston. In family records, Sarah Sones is spoken of as Grandmother Balls of England.

Lydia was 25 years old when she married David Reeder. They went to live at Linstead, Suffolk, where David was a chief farmer for a Mr. Thomas Reed. David and Lydia were provided with a duplex laborer's cottage in the bottom of the hollow near a little brook where water was available for culinary use. David remained there for 27 years and they spoke of it as Lower Linstead. The open fireplace provided heat and the brick oven in the wall was used for baking.

David and Lydia had three sons and three daughters. Eliza married James Hurren. George Balls Reeder was the oldest and was born in 1828. David was born in 1832 and he died very young. Mary Ann was born in 1835 and she moved to America with George. Robert was born in 1837 and he came to America when he was 19. Carline (Caroline) was born in 1839 and she died on the plains of Wyoming.

Lydia Balls Reeder died very young, at the age of 36, soon after Caroline was born, on October 10, 1839 and was buried in the little churchyard in Linstead.

It was the oldest son, George Balls, who first joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became the first convert in East Suffolk and in a short time was baptized by Elder Robert Winter in a pond on the Chidiston green. Others baptized with him were James Hurren and Lydia Daines Wilkinson. This took place June 28, 1851.

David Reeder and his other children all joined the church also. All the family, Eliza, (who married James Hurren), Robert, Mary and Caroline were soon baptized and a branch of the Church was organized at Chediston with James Hurren as branch president.

George Balls and Mary sailed to America first and David and the rest of the family came later. It was George's goal to get things ready in the Valley for his family who was to come later.

August 15, 1856, David Reeder and his family started to the Valley first in a sailing ship, then by rail and boat and later by handcarts under the direction of Captain James G. Willie. Baggage and provisions were to be loaded on the carts which were pushed or pulled by the walking immigrants. It was late for handcarts to start on this dangerous journey and some of the company doubted if the journey could be made before the bad weather set it. Others argued that they could manage.

It was getting late in October, 1856 and the word that came from the company was brought by returning elders. It was that they were traveling slowly. Many of the leaders in Salt Lake were getting uneasy about the companies. Another company was following the Willie Company, led by Captain Martin.

David Reeder died October 1, 1856 near Laramie, Wyoming. Robert, David's son who was about 19 said of that time, "My father, David Reeder would start out in the morning and pull his cart until he would drop on the road. He did this day after day until he did not arise early Oct 1, 1856. He was found dead in his bed and his fellow bed mate had not heard anything all during the night.

"Sister Eliza wrapped a cherished sheet around him and we placed him in a shallow grave, hoping wolves would not disturb. We must be on our way in silent mourning and in a weakened condition."

Caroline Reeder, aged 17, also died two weeks later, Oct 15, 1856, at Three Crossings, Sweetwater, and was buried there in Wyoming.

When the Willie company arrived in Salt Lake George B. Reeder was on hand to greet his relatives. James Hurren expressed his gratitude that so many had been able to endure the hardships and reach the valley. He told of the death of David Reeder on October 1, and of Carline Reeder on October 15. He described the severe storm that overtook them near the summit of the Continental Divide. Presently George inquired, "What is this odor I can smell?"

"Little Mary's legs are frozen", replied James.

Mary was placed on a bed in the Tithing Office and a doctor was sent for. He examined her frozen limbs and said he could do nothing for her as mortification had already set in. He returned the next morning with his instruments expecting to amputate her legs. "She will die easier", he said.

Her father protested, "This little [girl] didn't walk a thousand miles to have her legs cut off. If she dies, she will die with her legs on."

The family was loaded into a wagon and taken to Brigham City (Box Elder). A pioneer nurse, Mrs. Snyder, looked at the limbs and recommended trying fresh raw-beefsteak on them. Fresh meat was not obtainable at Box Elder so her father walked to Ogden and obtained some round steak. This was placed on the frozen parts and in several days the rotten flesh dropped off. They trimmed the sinews and applied a home-made ointment to assist in the healing. She was able to walk again in two years. When she grew up she married Joseph Wight and became the mother of ten children. She was a great nurse in Brigham and surrounding areas.

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Claudius V. Spencer Company (1853)