William Shields Reid was born on April 21, 1778 in West Nottingham township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was the second son of Adam Reid, a farmer of moderate means, and Martha (Shields), whose fathers had emigrated about 1740 from the North of Ireland.
Deciding to enter the ministry, William studied Latin grammar during intervals of labor on his father's farm, and later by teaching a small school secured the means for a college education. He graduated from the College of New Jersey with honors in 1802.
He was instructor in an academy at Georgetown, D. C. , pursuing theological studies under the direction of Dr. S. B. Balch, organizer of Presbyterianism in that community. Subsequently, he continued these studies under Dr. Moses Hoge at Shepherdstown, in what is now West Virginia.
In 1804 he became a tutor in Hampden-Sydney College, and in 1806 he was licensed to preach by the Winchester Presbytery. About this time Dr. Archibald Alexander resigned as president of Hampden-Sydney, and Reid was put in charge of the college for the coming year.
In 1808 he took up his residence in Lynchburg, Virginia, then a town of about 3, 000 inhabitants, where he spent the remainder of his life. Here he took over a school for boys, previously conducted by the Rev. James Tompkins, and also devoted himself to the work of building up a Presbyterian church.
His efforts were successful; in 1815 the church was organized, and a two-story brick building erected on land adjoining the school, donated by Reid. After preaching for some time with little or no salary, he was formally installed as pastor in 1822. Eight years later the congregation divided as a result of the strife between the Old and New School parties, Reid continuing as pastor of the Old School majority. The most of his energies, however, were devoted to his school, which was his chief means of support. After a time it was transformed into a boarding school for young ladies. Its average attendance for many years was above sixty, and it ranked high among similar institutions in Virginia. Declining health finally forced him to abandon teaching and in 1848 he resigned his church.
His death occurred five years later.
He is described as "a handsome blue-eyed man of charming countenance, " and was considered a finished scholar and an eloquent preacher.
Quotes from others about the person
Dr. C. R. Vaughan, his successor, wrote shortly after Reid's death: "I am not aware that any man has ever lived in this community, for whom a veneration so profound was mingled with an affection so strong".
On December 12, 1807, he married Clementina, daughter of Col. Samuel W. Venable, one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Prince Edward County. He was the father of twelve children, three sons, and nine daughters, five of whom died in early life.
