Inscription: CORP'L, CO. G, 80 ILL. INF.

Garret McCan Reed was the first son born to Joseph B Reed and Sarah Thompson Reed of Elizabeth, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He married Nancy Ann Lockard 23 August 1855 in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and in 1858 he ventured out to find new farmland just before his second daughter was born. It is said that he "skated down the Ohio River to Randolph County, Illinois". On Aug 13, 1862 he enlisted for 3 years of service in the Union Army. He mustered into Company "G" 80th Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a Corporal at Centralia, Illinois on August 25, 1862. In his Illinois Civil War Record, at the time of enlistment, he was described as 32 years of age, 5' 9" tall with dark hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. At the Battle of Perryville they had 14 killed and 58 wounded. He was captured by the Confederate Army, but was released shortly thereafter, and only officers in his regiment were held. He extended his service in the army, and later they participated in Sherman's Northern Georgia Campaign taking part in 7 battles and the Fall of Atlanta. Their last action was at the Battle of Nashville. He mustered out at Camp Harker, Nashville, Tennessee on June 10, 1865 following the end of the war. He was a farmer and was described by family and friends "as a quite man and profoundly religious". He had four brothers who also served military terms during the Civil War: Pvt. Thomas B Reed, 57th Regiment Ohio; Pvt. William Timothy Reed, 105th Regiment Pennsylvania & 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; John Dravo Reed, 57th Regiment Ohio; Charles Delzell Reed, 28th Regiment Pennsylvania; and, one brother-in-law, William A Milligan, 28th Regiment Pennsylvania.

In 1976 there were 13 living grandchildren out of 42, and 68 great grandchildren.

Battle History is contributed by Michael Barksdale.

Family History by Garret's granddaughter, Margaret Helen Reed-Reynolds, daughter of his son Charles Grant Reed.