ATLAS

Podcast #1 – Candace Reed

Posted on 21. Jun, 2009 by ATLAS in Arts & Culture, Famous Women, Medicine, Quincy

Madame Marie Curie once said, “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” This quote beautifully describes the life and work of Mrs. Warren A. Reed.

Mrs. Warren A. Reed, also known as Candace McCormick Reed was born on June 17, 1818 in Crab Orchard, Tennessee. Her father was Jourdain M. McCormick., son of James McCormick who was a close relative of Cyrus H. McCormick the inventor of the reaper. Much is not known of Mrs. Reed’s mother except she was the granddaughter of William A. Vardeman and of the Vardeman’s from Kentucky. Candace McCormick married Warren A. Reed in 1842. The couple had five children but only one lived to old age.

In 1848, Mr. and Mrs. Reed moved to Quincy, IL and established a gallery over the S. & E. Jonas Iron store at the corner of Fifth and Hampshire Streets, later moving to the west side of the square, and then again to a more permanent location at 403 Hampshire Street. The Reed’s advertised their business in the Directory of Dr. Ware on August 2, 1848 stating that Daguerreotypes were $1.50.

In 1858, at the tender age of 36, Warren Reed passed away. This left Candace Reed a widow with two children. After her husband’s death Mrs. Reed sold his “stand” and opened her Excelsior Gallery. She continued to raise her children while she found time to assist in the organization of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, an aid society for Civil War soldiers and their families. She served as a nurse in the army hospitals in Nashville, Chattanooga and Vicksburg where she spent nearly one year.

Mrs. Reed also worked hard while at home for the boys who were at the front. Mrs. Reed was one of the first northern women to appear on the battlefield after the terrible battle of Stone River. She was the first woman who met Col. Henry A. Castle of Quincy, IL after the fight. She is attributed to saving the Colonel’s hand as surgeons wanted to amputate it. She would not allow them, for she knew that she could save it if they would let her and she did. Mrs. Reed’s dedication to helping these men was far-reaching as was demonstrated by the love and gratitude shown to her by them at a parade after their return. Men from around the country stepped out of the parade to shake her hand and thank her for nursing them back to health.

After the war she returned to Quincy and continued to operate her gallery. Few studios enjoyed the longevity of Mrs. Reed’s business. Her pictures featured here are from the collection of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, Quincy University, and a number of private collections loaned to the Society for this project. Street scenes, wedding portraits, baby photos, a civil war soldier – all give us a tantalizing view of what life was like for those who came before us. The images include the well known, such as Quincy founder and Illinois Governor John Wood, and the unidentified as in the carte de visite of a man in boxing tights, his hands in tight fists.

Mrs. Candace McCormick Reed died on April 7, 1900 of apoplexy commonly known today as a stroke. According to her obituary, she had been ailing for ten days and on the day of her death sat up part of the afternoon and walked to her bed with assistance.