Byron Reed
Encyclopedia
Byron Reed was an American
pioneer real estate
businessman and local politician in Omaha, Nebraska
. He founded the first real estate office in the Nebraska Territory
and became the foremost agent after Nebraska
achieved statehood
.
, Genesee County
, New York
. While he was attending the Alexander Classical School
, Reed's family moved to Darien, Wisconsin
. At the age of 20 he took a job as a telegraph operator, working in Warren, Ohio
until 1855. He also served at the Register of Deeds for Trumbull County
during this time.
Reed came to Omaha in late 1855, the year the city was founded. By the early 1860s he had accumulated a variety of land holdings across the city. As Omaha became an important gateway to the West and its economy boomed, Reed became very rich and assumed a prominent position in the business and political affairs of both the city and the state. In a time when correspondents were frequently targeted as targets, Reed was working as a correspondent of the New York Tribune
and traveling throughout southern Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri to cover the Border Ruffians battles.
In March 1856 he opened an office in the old State House building in Downtown Omaha
and established a real estate business. Within three years the business was incorporated, and Reed's business was regarded as successful. That year he acquired the land surrounding the Prospect Hill Cemetery, and ten years later he donated it to the City of Omaha
. Reed was instrumental in the formation of the Forest Lawn Cemetery
Association and brokered the turn over of Prospect Hill to it in 1885.
Throughout the rest of his life Reed was a surveyor, abstractor and land developer, creating many of the subdivisions that grew around downtown Omaha.
The company he founded in 1856 is still active in Omaha today.
, and in 1863 he was elected to a two-year term as County Clerk. Starting in 1871 he served on the Omaha City Council
, acting as president in 1872.
, "Byron Reed was one of the greatest collectors of the 19th century," with a reputation as a coin collector that is "largely unrecognized." His collection of colonial and United States coinage, paper money and sutlers' token
s is thought to be one of the most complete in the United States, and his numismatic library is one of the largest in the Midwestern United States
; according to experts, the library is probably the last private numismatic library formed in the 19th century to remain intact. Donated to the City of Omaha
upon Reed's death, today the collection is housed at the Durham Western Heritage Museum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pioneer real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
businessman and local politician in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. He founded the first real estate office in the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
and became the foremost agent after Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
achieved statehood
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
.
Biography
Reed was born in DarienDarien, New York
Darien is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 3,061 at the 2000 census.The Town of Darien lies in the southwest part of Genesee County, southwest of Batavia.- History :...
, Genesee County
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. While he was attending the Alexander Classical School
Alexander Classical School
The former Alexander Classical School, today Alexander Town Hall, is located on Buffalo Street in Alexander, New York, United States. It is a three-story cobblestone building erected in the 1830s....
, Reed's family moved to Darien, Wisconsin
Darien, Wisconsin
Darien is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is pronounced or . The population was 1,572 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Darien.-Geography:Darien is located at ....
. At the age of 20 he took a job as a telegraph operator, working in Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
until 1855. He also served at the Register of Deeds for Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
during this time.
Reed came to Omaha in late 1855, the year the city was founded. By the early 1860s he had accumulated a variety of land holdings across the city. As Omaha became an important gateway to the West and its economy boomed, Reed became very rich and assumed a prominent position in the business and political affairs of both the city and the state. In a time when correspondents were frequently targeted as targets, Reed was working as a correspondent of the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
and traveling throughout southern Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri to cover the Border Ruffians battles.
In March 1856 he opened an office in the old State House building in Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
and established a real estate business. Within three years the business was incorporated, and Reed's business was regarded as successful. That year he acquired the land surrounding the Prospect Hill Cemetery, and ten years later he donated it to the City of Omaha
Government of Omaha
The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....
. Reed was instrumental in the formation of the Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Omaha)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, also known as Forest Lawn Cemetery, is located at 7909 Mormon Bridge Road in Omaha, Nebraska. It was established in 1885 when the Forest Lawn Cemetery Association was donated in northwest of the city. In 1886, the first internment in the Cemetery was the donor of the...
Association and brokered the turn over of Prospect Hill to it in 1885.
Throughout the rest of his life Reed was a surveyor, abstractor and land developer, creating many of the subdivisions that grew around downtown Omaha.
The company he founded in 1856 is still active in Omaha today.
Political involvement
In 1860 he was elected City Clerk in Omaha, serving until 1867. From 1861 to 1863 he served as deputy County Clerk of Douglas CountyDouglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
, and in 1863 he was elected to a two-year term as County Clerk. Starting in 1871 he served on the Omaha City Council
Omaha City Council
The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2009. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district...
, acting as president in 1872.
Byron Reed Collection
Byron Reed found time to collect rare books, manuscripts, autographs and American coins, in which last field he was preeminent; according to numismatistsNumismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
, "Byron Reed was one of the greatest collectors of the 19th century," with a reputation as a coin collector that is "largely unrecognized." His collection of colonial and United States coinage, paper money and sutlers' token
Token coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
s is thought to be one of the most complete in the United States, and his numismatic library is one of the largest in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
; according to experts, the library is probably the last private numismatic library formed in the 19th century to remain intact. Donated to the City of Omaha
Government of Omaha
The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....
upon Reed's death, today the collection is housed at the Durham Western Heritage Museum.