Surnames: Reid, Carson, Watson
Jesse Reid, the present Burgess of Uniontown, was born March 1, 1821, in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Penna. He was educated in the common schools and at the age of eighteen learned the milling business in Webster where he worked at the same business for about ten years.He was married in 1846 to Miss Sarah A Carson of Webster. He came to Fayette county in 1847 where he followed milling the greater part of his time up to 1874. In 1874 he was elected county commissioner on the republican ticket and was probably the first republican ever elected to that office in the county, overcoming a democratic majority of about 1,000 or 1,200. he was elected for three years; his term of office having expired, he was engaged in farming till 1885 when he came to Uniontown and in 1886 was elected Burgess. Re-elected in 1887, 1888, and 1889.
He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for about thirty five years and is a stewart of the church. He joined the Odd Fellows in 1859, is about as high in the lodge as a member can go and has been twice representative to the Grand Lodge.
He has five living children: James H Reid; Ann Maria Reid; Samuel C Reid; Martha Jane Reid; and William G Reid. His parents were Samuel Reid and Marie Watson Reid. The former a native of Washington county, Penna, and was a blacksmith by trade; his death occurred some fifteen years ago.