The history of the loyal sons and representative citizens of Antrim county would not be complete should the name that heads this review be omitted. When the fierce fire of rebellion was raging throughout the Southland, threatening to destroy the Union, he responded with patriotic fervor to the call for volunteers and in some of the bloodiest battles for which that great war was noted proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well. During a useful life in the region where he lives he has labored diligently to promote the interests of the people, working earnestly and with little regard for his personal advancement or ease. He has been devoted to the public welfare and in all of his relations his highest ambition has been to benefit the community and advance its standard of citizenship.
David Reese is a native of Herkimer county, New York, where he was born on the 15th of March, 1853, and is the son of Fred and Margie (Walroth) Reese, the former a native of Germany and a farmer by occupation. The subject is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his elementary education, but his acquisition of knowledge did not cease with the close of his school days, as he has by habits of close reading and observation become a well informed man on general topics. Upon completing the common school course, he apprenticed himself to the cooper’s trade and for a number of years was employed in that Occupation. In 1861 when the tocsin of war was sounded throughout the land Mr. Reese evinced his patriotism by enlisting in Company D, One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served his country for three years and one month. His command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, being under the command of General Wool, and participated in all the campaigns and battles in which that army was engaged. He received an honorable discharge from the army at the close of the war and returned to his native state. In 1867 he came to Michigan and located in Osceola county, but several years afterward removed to Kentucky, where he remained two years. In 1885 Mr. Reese came to Antrim county, Michigan, and purchased forty acres of land in Forest Home township, which comprise his present homestead. He has made all the improvements upon this tract, consisting of a neat and commodious residence, a substantial barn and the necessary outbuildings for the housing of his stock and farm products. He has thirty acres of land under the plow and raises all the crops common to this section of the state. His farm is highly cultivated and contains many improvements that reflect credit upon the proprietor and bespeak for him a familiarity with every detail of his calling. He has followed agriculture with commendable zeal and energy and his well directed efforts have yielded him rich returns.
In politics Mr. Reese casts his ballot and influence with the Republican party, but exhibits no ambition for office holding. His old army associations are kept alive through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Lethania Tuttle and to them have been born four children, namely : Flora, who is the wife of Ed Wolcott; Kittie, Jessie and Myrtle, who still remain under the parental roof. Mr. Reese and family mingle with the best society of the township and have won a great number of true and warm hearted friends.
Source: Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens; Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1905.