L. W. REED, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 14, 1843, son of Dennis S. and Mary B. Reed, natives of Connecticut. In 1846, they moved to Ohio when L. W. received a business education; in 1854, removed to Will county, Illinois; when eighteen years of age, L. W. engaged with Barnes & Smith as clerk, in Rockford, where he remained until 1864, then enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-First Regiment, Illinois Volunteers Infantry, three-months men; remained in the service about six months. After the close of the war, returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Connecticut. In the spring of 1865, returned to Rockford, where he embarked in the dry goods trade as the firm of Moulthorp & Reed; in eighteen months sold his interest and started a general store in Milford; remained there two years then moved to Wilmington, taking his stock with him. In 1873, removed to Granby, Connecticut, where he embarked in the wholesale of Yankee notions; was afterwards chosen Secretary of the Granby Manufacturing Company. In April, 1880, came to Joliet, where he commenced his present business in February, 1881. He married Miss Kate J. Adams, daughter of Joseph and Emily Adams, of Will county, Illinois. By this union there are six children, three sons and three daughters. He is member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. orders; also a member of the G. A. R.