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Acton Memorial Library |
Obituary for George A. Reed
Boston Daily Globe, May 12, 1923
GEORGE A. REED
DIES SUDDENLY
Retired B. & A. Conductor
Civil War Veteran
Ex-Selectmen of Framingham--Had
Served in Legislature
Special Dispatch to the Globe
FRAMINGHAM, May 11 --George A. Reed, Civil War veteran, retired passenger conductor of the Boston & Albany Railroad, ex-Selectman, ex-Representative and ex-State Senator, and prominent in fraternal organization activities, died suddenly this afternoon in his home, 110 Danforth St., Saxonville, from an attack of acute indigestion, complicated with heart trouble, from which he suffered for a few years past. A physician was hastily summoned, but Mr. Reed expired shortly after his arrival.
Mr. Reed was born in Concord, Mass. Sept. 10, 1842. His elementary education was obtained in the schools of his native town, Littleton and Framingham.
In 1861 Mr. Reed volunteered in the old 6th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was with the regiment at Baltimore, April 19, 1861, when it was attacked by a mob.
At the termination of his first enlistment Mr. Reed reenlisted in the 26th Massachusetts Volunteers, seeing service under Gen. Benjamin F. Butler at New Orleans. Reenlisting a second time, Mr. Reed served under Sheridan in the Shenandoah campaign. He returned to Framingham with the rank of lieutenant.
In June, 1866, Mr. Reed entered the employ of the old Boston & Worcester Railroad, later absorbed by the Boston & Albany system, as a switchman. He became a trainman, then baggageman and conductor of the train on the Saxonville branch, to and from Boston daily.
Mr. Reed was a Selectman of Framingham for three years, and in 1889, was elected to the lower house of the General Court. In 1895 he was elected Senator in the old 4th Middlesex District, being reelected the following year.
He was enrolled in the Meridian Lodge, A.F.& A. M., Parker Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Natick Commandery, Knights Templars of Natick. He was also a noble of Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine. He was a member of the Massachusetts Minute Men of '61, Old 6th Massachusetts Regiment Association, Republican Club of Massachusetts, Natick Council, R.A.; Middlesex Club, Saxonville Lode and Refuge Rebekah Lodge, I.O.O.F.; Orient Chapter, O.E.S. of Framingham; Order of Railroad Conductors, Fair Oaks Command, U.V.C.; 38th Massachusetts Regimental Association, and was commander of Gen Burnside Post 142, G.A.R., for several years.
Oct 12, last year, Mr. and Mrs. Reed observed their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Reed died last December.
His sole surviving relative is Dr. Wilham R. Reed of Nashua, N.H., medical referee in Hudson County.