History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Henry Milton C. Reed

west virginia edition 195 He believes that the white American should be willing for the Negro to have the opportunity for highest and best physical, mental, social, and spiritual development. Dr. Prillerman has done his work in such a way as to make friends for himself and for his work among the leaders of both races. In 1912 that other race leader, Dr. Booker T. Washington, who was also a personal friend, when on a visit to the Institute said: “I am glad not only to come here to receive your hearty words of welcome; but, I am, in a peculiar sense,glad to come again to this institution. I want to repeat to the Superintendent of Education, that I am gratified beyond measure to note the evidence of growth and order and system that have taken place at this institution as I see them here. I am glad that the Board of Regents, in their wisdom, saw it fit to place at the head of the institution the man they have placed there. I have known your principal for a number of years. I have always admired and loved him. I admire and love him first, because of his modest bearing. He is one of the few men who have learned that the sign of true worth, the sign of true greatness, is in modesty and simplicity; and I want to congratulate you that you have such a principal for this institution.” Henry Milton C. Reed Whoever reads this volume must be impressed with the number of West Virginia leaders who came from Virginia. Among these must be mentioned Rev. Henry Milton Cornelius Reed, of Carbon, W. Va. He was born in Nelson County, Va., on November 5, 1876. His father, Paul W. Reed was a railway construction foreman, and was the son of Rev. Williams Reed and his wife Amelia. They mother of our subject was, before her marriage, Miss Mary Ann Green, daughter of Jesse and Martha Green. Mr. Reed was married on December 20, 1899 to Miss Maggie Early, daughter of John and Eliza Early. They have four children; henry milton cornelius reed west virginia edition 197 Emma E., a graduate of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, H. Milton Carlisle, now attending Garnett High School, “Senior Year,” John Paul and Mary Eliza Reed. As a young boy Reed attended the public schools of Virginia. Speaking of his career he says, “I came to this state (West Virginia) in the spring of 1893, having attended the public schools of my neighborhood under two white and several colored teachers. Having reached the highest ambition at that time of the people of my acquaintance, that of getting enough education to teach public school, I soon found out that the pay in other lines was better than that of the country school teacher, which I had selected for a career. I came to West Virginia in ’93, and began work for the Mt. Carbon Colliery Co., Ltd., Powellton, W. Va., in 1893. When I began at the bottom, I secured employment as a charger, or assistant on the charging car. Being diligent I soon worked my way up. In 1895 I had advanced to the position of coke burner. From that position I was promoted to that of stationary engineer, and later to locomotive fireman. At intervals I held the position of yard foreman, stock clerk, office boy, delivery man, and railway engineer. In March 1896, I received my third degree in the order of Knights of Pythians and in the month of September, 1897, having received the Grand Lodge degree in the month of July, I moved to Rushrun, W. Va., was commissioned a Deputy Grand Chancellor, and in January 1898, I, with the Grand Chancellor, Sir S.W. Starks, and Past Chancellor S. M. Boyd, instituted by first K. of P. Lodge. From that time until now I have been interested in fraternal work and have advanced in the K. of P. lodge, U. R. K. of P. to the rank of Brigade Chaplain, Past District Grand Lecturer of the Most Wonderful Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of West Virginia, Grand Chaplain of District Grand Lodge No. 31 G. U. O. of O. F., of West Virginia, and Past Worthy Counselor of the order O. O. C. of West Virginia.While in the Quinnimont District, Fayette County, where I lived from September 1897 to September, 1907...