Sacramento County
Biographies
DAVID REESE
DAVID REESE was born August 7, 1849, in Llsaint, Carmarthenshire, Wales, his parents being John, born in 1817, and Elizabeth (Anthony) Reese; they were both natives of Llsaint. John Reese learned the shoemaker’s trade when a mere boy and worked at it until 1854. In February of that year, he with his wife and three children, emigrated to America, sailing from Liverpool and landing at New Orleans after a voyage of eight weeks. From there he sailed up the river to Kansas City, where he outfitted for a journey across the plains, bringing up at Utah. He bought land here and followed stock-raising for six years. In 1860 he sold out and started for California, stopping about two months in the Sierra Mountains; he arrived in Sacramento in October. He bought land in San Joaquin Township, and made his home there until his death, which occurred September 11, 1869; his wife died February 6, 1889. They had five children, as follows: Catharine, wife of John B. Brown, resident in this neighborhood; David, John, Elizabeth, wife of W. W. Kilgore, resident in Colusa County; and Thomas, who died while crossing the plains to Utah. David Reese, the subject of this sketch, made his home with his parents until his marriage in October, 1879, to Mira Kilgore, daughter of William Kilgore, who was born in Sacramento County, California, where she was principally raised. In 1878 he bought his present place of 275 acres, and after his marriage moved upon it. He owns 253 acres in Colusa County, part of which belongs to his mother’s estate. Mr. Reese has been a successful farmer. He commenced with nothing but his own energy, good judgment, and perseverance, and now owns one of the prettiest and most valuable pieces of property in this county. His vineyard of forty-three acres is in good bearing. The oldest part of it was planted in 1863, by James Hooker, of Sacramento, who was in partnership with his uncle; one of them died, however, before their plans were realized and the place was sold. Mr. Reese is a member of the Odd Fellows’ Society, Elk Grove Lodge, No. 274, and of the Florin Grange, No. 130. Mr. and Mrs. Reese have five children: Edward E., born August 2, 1880; Ethel M., September 1, 1882; Percy D., May 31, 1884; John K., December 30, 1886; and Frank L., July 14, 1889.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 587. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.