Tag Archives: James Thomas Reeder

Thomas Reeder vs. James Thomas Reeder

Known Information

Two Thomas Reeders lived in DC after the Civil War.

Sources

Freedmen’s Records

District of Columbia, Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8937-FP18?cc=2333782&wc=9J3J-SPX%3A1069293302%2C1069293906 : 3 August 2016), Assistant inspector general > Roll 1, Letters sent, Mar 21, 1866-Sep 7, 1868 > image 41 of 146; citing NARA microfilm publication M1902 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

City Directory

Washington, District of Columbia, City Directory, Various

There were two Thomas Reeders who lived in DC after the Civil War. James Thomas Reeder, who alternatively went by James and Thomas, married Clara Woodland and they had one son, John V. Thomas Reeder, married to Martha, lived in Jackson Alley for the bulk of his life in DC.

  • Freedmen’s Records

    Clara Reeder claimed that she and Thomas Reeder had selected two lots in Barry Farm and was inquiring in the case.

    James Reeder, from Anne Arundel County, and Clarissa with their son John V, are living in Freedmen’s Village.

    Thomas Reeder, with John and Benjamin Fountain, received goods from the Superintendent at the Kendall Green Barracks.

  • 1870 Census

    James T. Reeder is listed in the household of Mary Woodland and her daughters, including Clara Woodland. He is listed as Thomas Reeder. John V. Reeder is listed as his son. They are living in Ward 3. Other surnames in the household include Chesley.

    Thomas Reeder is living with his wife, Martha and his infant daughter Mary E. Reeder. They are living in Ward 3.

  • 1871 City Directory

    James T. Reeder is living at 1214 3d NW.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 1417 1st NW.

    This address is consistent with the tax records in the newspapers addressed in a different post.

  • 1873 City Directory

    Thomas Reeder is living at 813 L NE. He is a porter

    Thomas Reeder is living at 811 L NW. So is James Reeder.

  • 1877 City Directory

    James T Reeder is living at 1622 2d Street.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 1419 1st NW.

  • 1879 City Directory

    James T Reeder is living at 43 Pierce.

    Thomas Reeder is living at Pierce Street Alley NW

  • 1880 Census

    James T. Reeder is listed as head of a household that includes Mary Woodland. His wife is named a Clarissa Reeder and his son, John V is listed. He is also living with his niece, Mary Reeder, age 24. They are living on N Street NW. Other surnames include Chisley

    Thomas Reeder is living with his wife, Martha and his three children, Mary, Joseph and Georgiana. They are living on Jackson Alley.

  • 1883-4 City Directory

    James T & Thomas Reeder is living at 418 N NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 71 Jackson Alley. He is working as a laborer

  • 1885 City Directory

    James T Reeder is living at 418 N NW. He is working as a laborer.

    Thomas Reeder is living at Jackson Alley. The address is unnumbered. He is working as a laborer

  • 1893 City Directory

    J Thomas Reeder is living at 444 Ridge NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at Jackson Alley. The address is unnumbered. He is working as a laborer

  • 1894 City Directory

    J Thomas Reeder is living at 444 Ridge NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 34 Jackson Alley. He is working as a laborer

  • 1895 City Directory

    J Thomas Reeder is living at 462 Ridge NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 36 Jackson Alley. He is working as a laborer

  • 1898 City Directory

    James T. Reeder is living at 462 Ridge NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 50 Jackson Alley. He is working as a laborer

  • 1900 Census

    Thomas Reeder is listed as head of a household with his wife Clara, their son John and his wife. John is a musician. They are living on Ridge NW

    Thomas Reeder is living with his wife, Martha and his two children, Joseph and Charles. They are living on Jackson Alley.

  • 1901 City Directory

    James T. Reeder is living at 462 Ridge NW. He is working as a laborer. His son is also listed as living here.

    Thomas Reeder is living at 50 Jackson Alley. He is working as a laborer

  • 1910 Census

    James T and Clara W are living in the household of of John V on Ridge St NW. It indicates that John V is their only child.

    Thomas Reeder is the Home for the Aged and Infirm. He is living as a widower.

  • 1920 Census

    James T and Clara W are living in the household of of John V on Ridge St NW.

    Thomas Reeder is the Home for the Aged and Infirm. He is living as a widower.

  • Death

    The Evening Star ran the obituary of James Thomas Reeder. It names his son, John V, and his daughter in law as well as their home address on Ridge NW. His death record lists his parents: Barnes Reeder and Henrietta Reeder. He was born in St. Mary’s County, MD.

    A Thomas Reeder, without identifying information died in 1929. This is consistent with a death in an institution where there is little information about his background.

    Another Thomas Reeder is listed with a death in 1924, however, an obituary lists family members not consistent with either Reeder and his age places his birth year in the 1880s. His death records lists his address as 2nd Street SE which is not consistent with City Directories or Census Records.

related posts

the Reeders | hod-carriers

Known Information

James Reeder is listed as living on in Pierce Street Alley in the 1880s.

Sources

Birth Return

Reeder, Baby, 9236, 20 Nov 1876 | DC Archives

Map

A Complete Set of Surveys and Plats of Properties in the City of Washington, District of Columbia is a real estate atlas published by G. M. Hopkins and Co. in 1887.  | DC Public Library

Newspapers

National Republican 
Washington, District of Columbia
06 Jul 1881, Wed  •  Page 2

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
01 Dec 1876, Fri  •  Page 2

The Critic 
Washington, District of Columbia
27 Aug 1881, Sat  •  Page 3

National Republican 
Washington, District of Columbia
04 Mar 1884, Tue  •  Page 6

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
15 Mar 1884, Sat  •  Page 1

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
22 Mar 1884, Sat  •  Page 2

The Critic 
Washington, District of Columbia
20 Mar 1889, Wed  •  Page 4

Evening Star 
Washington, District of Columbia
04 Apr 1889, Thu  •  Page 1

Print

Mydans, Carl, photographer. Untitled photo, possibly related to: Hod carriers at Greenbelt, Maryland. , 1936. [July] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017715805/.

The hod-carrier’s song. Air.- Villikens and his Dinah. H. De Marsan, Publisher, 60 Chatham Street, N.Y. Monographic. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/amss.as201350/.

In the 1880 Census, James H Reeder is listed as living at 141 Pierce Street, with his family including his wife Emeline. His occupation is listed as a junk dealer. There are six families living in the home. This suggests that it was a larger apartment style home.

The map shows Pierce Street in 1887 and its alleys.

The 1876 birth return for the daughter of James and Emeline lists James’ occupation as laborer “hard career”, or hod-carrier.

Hod-Carriers

Hod-Carriers were tradesmen who supported bricklayers in the construction of buildings. They brought the supplies to the site. Details from an Evening Star article about a Hod-Carrier Strike in 1884 describes the work as strenuous. They carry the hod with bricks which can weigh up to 116 pounds. In the 22 Mar 1882, article, the Evening Star reported that six brick-layers with four hod-carriers could lay 9,000 bricks a day.

In 1881, James H Reeder and J. T. reeder, in connection with others, established “the Hod-carriers’ Society” for the mutual benefit of each other and to stop interference from their bosses. The 1887 Plat Book shows the Hod-Carrier’s Association building on Pierce Street, where James Reeder was living in the 1880s.

In 1884, there are numerous articles detailing tension between union and non-union hod-carriers and the strikes for better wages (from $2.00 to $2.50 a day). Thomas Reeder was charged with assault of a non-union man and charged $5 for hitting him on the back of his head with his open hand.

Due to the nature of their work (outside), laborers only worked for seven months of the year. There was competition between Irish laborers, “colored” laborers and “imported” laborers for the work. The National Republican ran an article in 1884 in which their sources described Northern Cities already paying $2.50/day and southern laborers as being “slow and uncertain”.

In 1889, there was a split in the Hod-Carrier’s Society. J. T. Reeder and others were charged with using the corporations name, banner and other insignia. Some of the articles names him as John T Reeder, others as J. F. Reeder. In May, Thomas Reeder (at times cites as James Thomas Reeder) filed suit claiming that the hod-carriers committed conspiracy by preventing him access to work as he was non-union. It is unclear whether this refers to Thomas Reeder, brother of James H Reeder, or James Thomas Reeder who lived on Ridge NW and unrelated to the Reeder brothers.

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