'Henry' Oliver Reed

Married to 'Sarah' Elizabeth. Assassinated by a man named Jones, who entered the house when the family were asleep, and striking Reed with a seat of a loom, knocked his brains out, at the same time severely wounding Eliza Virginia, then six months old. The blow and the screams of the child awakened her mother, who sprang from the bed, and recognizing the assassin, said, "For God's sake, Jones, spare my husband's life!" Jones said, "You know me, G-d--n you! you shall tell no tales." With this, he caught up a sugar trough and struck her on the head with it. The blow rendered her senseless. Jones, believing he had completed his work of death, then left the house. 'Sarah' Elizabeth soon revived, called upon the neighbors for assistance, and told who had committed the murder. Jones was arrested, convicted and afterwards hung for the crime.

Original documents have not been found verifying the family story, but many of the early county histories report the murder of Oliver Reed by Emsley Jones. For this crime, Mr. Jones was the first white man hung in Randolph County. From court records it is apparent this was not the first time Mr. Jones was in trouble with the law.

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