A Brief… Life History of Isaac “Ike” Reed, Sr.
Born 1823 • Native of France • Of Mixed Heritage (White Mother, Black Father)
A Legacy Rooted in Strength, Family, and Community
Around the age of 21, Ike is believed to have come to America, possibly arriving with an employer. While some accounts suggest this relationship resembled servitude, there is no official documentation confirming enslavement or emancipation. He may have entered through a Virginia port, later traveling through Georgia before eventually settling in southern Louisiana. Much of his early life (1844–1868) is preserved through oral history rather than written records.
Ike eventually made his home in Lisbon, Louisiana, where he became an American citizen and built a lasting foundation. He was a landowner of approximately 150 acres near the Friendship Community. His property included: Horses, mules, cows, sheep, and pigs Geese and turkeys A syrup mill that served the local community Wagons, buggies, and other equipment. His success reflected both hard work and strong community ties.
Ike Reed was married at least five times: Eliza McGhee Copes Reed, Mittie Penton Reed, Eliza Davis Reed, Mary Etta O’Guinn Reed and One unknown spouse.
From these unions came a large and growing family. Today, there are at least eight generations of descendants connected to Ike Reed, Sr.
Ike played an important role in his community beyond farming and land ownership. Member of Beech Hill Baptist Church. Among the earliest local schoolteachers who helped teach children how to read and write alongside George Davis, he was widely known as an industrious and resourceful man who contributed to the growth and education of his community.
Ike’s name appears in multiple forms across official records, including Reeves Reed Read. He is documented in U.S. Census records from 1870 (Claiborne Parish), 1880 (Bossier Parish), and 1910 (Union Parish). These variations reflect both his movement across Louisiana and inconsistencies in recordkeeping during that time.
Ike Reed was described as: A short, medium-brown-skinned man With long, silky, curly hair, charismatic and well-known in his community. He was said to have lived a long and full life—reportedly over 100 years—passing away in 1930.