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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ALBERT TURNER REID.
Albert Turner Reid, proprietor of the Reid-Stone School of Art, at Topeka, and part owner and proprietor of the Leavenworth Post, is one of the best known newspaper illustrators of the day, in addition to being a composer of popular music. Mr. Reid was born August 12, 1873, at Concordia, Kansas, and is a son of the late William E. and Jean (Turner) Reid.

The late William E. Reid was a man of versatile talent. He excelled in almost everything he attempted, business, law, music and painting. In early life his artistic penmanship led to his employment as a teacher of the same, at Milwaukee, and the city adopted his beautiful Spencerian system. He was a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was successful in his profession. Later he became known as a capitalist and financier, owning and operating two banks in Kansas, one at Mankato, Jewell County, and the other, now the First National Bank, at Smith Center, Smith County. Each was known as Reid Brothers’ Bank. His death occurred April 8, 1887, at the early age of 45 years, and his interment was at Clyde, Kansas. Had he lived, it is more than probable that Kansas would have had one more name to add to her long list of talented musicians and artists.

William E. Reid was survived by four sons and one daughter, all of whom have inherited more or less of his artistic nature. These are: Albert T., George S., Frank A., Lew A., and Jean L. George S. is in business at Miami, Florida, as an importer. Frank A., of Leavenworth, is associated with our subject in the ownership of the Leavenworth Post, a new venture which has a promising outlook. Lew A., student, musician and artist, is a resident of Topeka, well and favorably known in artistic circles. The one sister is still pursuing her studies in the Topeka High School.

Albert Turner Reid was liberally educated, enjoying the advantages of the Clyde and Concordia high schools, the Kansas State University and a business college at Milwaukee. His business training was obtained in one of his father’s banks. As indicated above, our subject, like his father, has been very successful along musical and artistic lines, and is well known as an illustrator all over the country. Prior to settling at Topeka, he was on the staff of the Kansas City Star for three years and then was on the staff of the old Chicago Record, where he had many admirers. Later he went to the New York Herald, and he continues to be a regular contributor to Judge, the Kansas City Journal, the Bit and Spur, McClures and the Topeka Mail and Breeze.

When demands became insistent that he teach his method of drawing, Mr. Reid arranged his affairs so that he could give his personal attention to pupils and opened the Reid-Stone School of Art, at Topeka. This institution accommodates more than 50 students and its graduates have no difficulty in finding first-class positions. Two of these now hold remunerative positions on Topeka papers.

Two of Mr. Reid’s musical compositions may be said to be famous: one of these—“Guardians of Liberty”—being a standard piece of band music all over the country. The other—“Dat Meddlin’ Coon”—was sung through every amusement center for two years by that prince of entertainers, Lew Dockstader.

On October 22, 1902, Mr. Reid was married to Vera Low, who is a daughter of M. A. and Diantha (Hovey) Low, of Topeka. Mr. Low is general attorney for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company. To this union one daughter was born, named Marian.

Politically, Mr. Reid is a stanch Republican. During the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1904, he attended in the capacity of illustrator for a number of the leading journals of the country. Mr. Reid is a member of the Elks, belonging to Concordia Lodge, No. 286.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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