Title Major Died 1854 Role Planter | Name Rufus Reid Religion Presbyterian Parents Captain John Reid | |
Occupation Planter, businessman, politician Spouse(s) Nancy (Latta) ReidBetsy (Latta Davidson) ReidIsabella (Torrance Smith) Reid Children Mary Jane ReidSallie ReidNannie ReidBetty ReidEmma Catherine ReidJames Rufus ReidAddie Isabella ReidJohn Hugh ReidLucy Andrews ReidFranklin Samuel Reid | ||
Rufus Reid (1797–1854) was an American plantation owner, businessman and politician from North Carolina.
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Early life
Rufus Reid was born in 1797 in Catawba Springs Lincoln County, North Carolina. His father, Captain John Reid, served in the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1783 and owned much of the land in Catawba Springs. His mother was named Sara.
Career
He worked as a merchant and plantation owner in Rowan County, North Carolina. In 1831, he moved to Iredell County, North Carolina and commissioned the construction of mansion on his Mount Mourne Plantation in Mount Mourne, North Carolina. The mansion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1850, he owned eighty-four slaves and became the second largest slave owner in Iredell County. He grew corn, wheat, and cotton.
As early as 1831, he served as the postmaster of Mount Mourne. He was still serving in this capacity in 1841. He was elected as a member of the Iredell County Court. Additionally, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1842 and 1844.
He donated a stipend to the minister at Centre Presbyterian Church in Mount Mourne.
Personal life
He married three times. His first wife was Nancy (Latta) Reid, daughter of James Latta (1755–1837), owner of the Latta Plantation in Huntersville, North Carolina. They had three daughters:
After she died, he married Betsy (Latta Davidson) Reid, sister of his first wife and widow of Benjamin Davidson, owner of Oak Lawn, a plantation located in Huntersville, North Carolina, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They had one daughter:
After she died, he married Isabella Torrance Smith of Cedar Grove, another plantation located in Huntersville and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She was the widow of Franklin C. Smith. They had six children:
Death
He died in 1854 in Mount Mourne, North Carolina.