William Reid, a pioneer contractor and early settler, was the son of George and Elspet Rae Reid. He was born October 21, 1852 at Blackhillock, Scotland. At the age of five, he came with his parents to Canada where they settled at Aramosa, Ontario. At Aramosa William grew to manhood. On March 14, 1877, William married Miss Isabella Turnbull. Isabella was born at Gault, Ontario August 5, 1851.
In 1882 Mr. Reid came to North Dakota and took up residence in Valley City where he was engaged in business as a building contractor.
With three small sons; James, William Jr., and John, Isabella followed her husband to Dakota in 1883.
At the age of four years, Willy passed away as the result of an injury which he sustained during play with playmates.
Four children were born at Valley City; namely, Elsie, Mary, Albert and Charles.
For many years after graduating from high school, James worked with his father in the contracting business and helped build many of the old landmarks in Valley City. The "Old Lincoln School" was the last building constructed by William Reid. In 1913, James left the business to engage in farming.
The two daughters; Elsie, Class of 1903, and Mary, Class of 1905, attended the Valley City Normal and taught school. Mary married John N. Monson in 1919 at Fargo, North Dakota. They had one son, John William, born August 20, 1922.
Elsie did graduate work at the University of Chicago. She taught school in Dickinson, La Moure, Idaho Falls, Idaho and Kathryn before returning to Valley City. She was Principal of the Junior High School, retiring after 20 years in that position.
James and Pauline Starke, daughter of Herman and Paulina Starke, were married December 24, 1 904 at her home near Valley City. They had three children; Mrs. Roy (Pauline) Amundson, Mrs. Howard (Ramona J.) Haga, and James.
The Reid family continued to live here until 1911 when they moved to a farm near Luverne, North Dakota. Three sons; John, Albert and Charles, farmed with their father on the family farm.
Charles and Margaret Skaro of Minneapolis, Minnesota were married at Moorhead, Minnesota June 2, 1921. She was a teacher at the Luverne Public School. They later moved to Wenatchee, Washington. They had two daughters: Mrs. Robert (Marcia) Carlgran, and Mrs. Ted (Jane) Hartman of California. Margaret Reid of Redondo Beach, California is the only survivor.
John Reid had been in poor health for a number of years and after submitting to surgery at Bismarck, North Dakota, he passed away January 1, 1925.
In 1928, William and Isabella took up residence again in Valley City, North Dakota.
The Reid family was affiliated with the Epworth United Methodist Church.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 202