Their son, John I. Reed, was the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children and was but a boy about thirteen years of age when left an orphan. He had but limited advantages in his youth, attending school but a short time and putting aside his text-books after his father's death. At the age of seventeen years he began a life of varied activity, spending some time as a cowboy upon the Texas plains and working also in California. He was likewise employed in the central and eastern states but did not locate there permanently. Still considering Bolivar his home. His life was one of constant change and diversity of occupation until his marriage, after which he settled upon a farm in Polk county. After renting a few years he purchased land, which he continued to cultivate until 1888, when he engaged in the poultry and egg business. Ship ping carloads of produce at a time. He still retains possession of the farm and supervises its operation. In February, 1912, he sold his poultry and egg busi ness although he is at present interested with his son in a wholesale produce firm at Nevada, Missouri. In 1912 he organized the Farmers State Bank of Bolivar and became its president, in which capacity he is still serving. He is a most capable official, being an expert in the handling of administrative detail and manifesting a wide knowledge of financial conditions and excellent judgment in determining the larger policies of the institution. He is an extensive landowner, owning more than one thousand acres of land in 'polk county, including thirty-one acres adjoining the corporation of Bolivar, the cultivation of which tract he personallv supervises.