James Edwin Reed (1871 - 1896)

Born 22 Feb 1871 in Los Nietos, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Jennie Jane (Cochran) McDaniel — married about 1891 (to 1896) in Indian Territory, United States

Died 14 Dec 1896 at age 25 in Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

Ed Reed was an Oklahoman.

James Edwin "Eddie" Reed was born in 1871 in California to Jim Reed and May (Shirley) Reed who later was known as "Belle Starr". His early life was filled with turmoil during the post Civil War years and the death of his father in 1874 during his capture by Marshalls after a crime spree. He spent some time with his paternal grandparents until his mother settled in the Cherokee Nation, IT with then husband Sam Starr.

In his late teen years Ed was not happy with his mother due to her choice of marrying Sam Starr. He was convicted of horse theft and sentenced to serve time in an Ohio prison. It is rumored that either for abusing a horse or some other offense his mother punished him with a buggy whip. These issues created a rift which led to him being a suspect in the murder of his mother, a line of inquiry was never pursued.

After his mother's death Ed turned things around and became a deputy Marshall. One story says he was killed in a Claremore, I.T. saloon by the bartender and another story says his death was by another deputy. Ed's wife Jennie Cochran lost her lawman husband and outlaw brother Jessie, within a year.

NOTE: The Cochran Cemetery where Ed is said to be buried, was moved by the Army Corps of Engineers to its present location when Lake Oologah was built.

Sources

• Bad Man Work Overdone, Kansas City daily journal. (Kansas City, Mo.), 16 Dec. 1896. p 2 Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063624/1896-12-16/ed-1/seq-2/

• Killed by an Officer, The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 16 Dec. 1896. p 3 Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1896-12-16/ed-1/seq-3/

See also

• Find A Grave: Memorial #67173647

• “The Legend of Belle Starr - Queen of the Oklahoma Outlaws.” Ron and Sue Wall's Family History Site, 11 June 2020,