Guide to the Papers of Casper Reel, 1769-1835
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of Casper Reel
- Creator
- Reel, Casper
- Collection Number
- MSS#104
- Extent
- .25 cubic feet (1 Box)
- Date
- 1769-1835
- Abstract
- Casper Reel, prominent early European settler of northern Allegheny County, was born in Frankfurt, Germany on May 11, 1742 and immigrated to the colonies as a young child. These papers include day books, account books, a farm book, and other sundry materials. The books document Reel's financial dealings with well-known early Pittsburgh figures, including John Campbell, George Croghan, George Girty, Simon Girty, James Ross, Thomas Smallman, and John Turner (who frequently used the name of his stepbrothers, Girty), as well as other early settlers of northern Allegheny County, such as Balthazar Good, Barnabas Hilands, Robert Hilands, and Christopher Rineman.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of Casper Reel (1742-1824)
Casper Reel, prominent early European settler of northern Allegheny County, was born in Frankfurt, Germany on May 11, 1742 and immigrated to the colonies as a young child. According to family tradition, Reel's father died at sea and the rest of his family settled near Baltimore, where Reel's mother and two of his siblings were killed in a Native American attack. Details concerning Reel's early life are sketchy and inconsistent, but he was apprenticed to a tanner, either in Maryland or Lancaster, Pennsylvania. By 1774, he had settled at Fort Pitt, on Fifth Street near Wood, where he conducted business as a fur trader and storekeeper. After serving in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, Reel married Elizabeth Wise (1760-1843) in 1784 in Lancaster and together they returned to Western Pennsylvania. In 1791, he acquired land in Pine Township (present-day Ross Township and West View Borough), where he built a cabin in 1792. As the first Euro-American landowner in this area, he was the victim of several attacks by Native Americans and abandoned the frontier for a few years. Returning to this area to settle permanently in 1795, Reel continued hunting, tanning, and trapping and also became a prosperous farmer, fruit culturist, constable, and the first tax collector north of the Allegheny River. The first recorded Christian marriage in this district took place on Reel's farm in 1795 between his employees Charlotte Zimmerman and Christopher Rineman. As he prospered, Reel built an estate called Reel Hall in 1813. Along with another tract called Caledonia, Reel owned over 800 acres and was widely considered to be the wealthiest man in the region. Later, he was instrumental in the founding of Hiland Presbyterian Church in Perrysville, Ross Township, Pennsylvania.
Casper and Elizabeth Reel had ten children: Mary Johnston (1785-c1880); Jacob (1787-); John (1789-1813); Daniel (1791-); Conrad (1794-1870); Casper (1798-1887); David (1801-) and William (1801-); Elizabeth Quaill (1803-); and another daughter who died in infancy. Casper Reel died on October 10, 1824 and is buried in the Reel Family Cemetery, located near the eighteenth hole of Highland Country Club's golf course (Ross Twp.). The fourth son, Conrad Reel, married Rosanna Good (1806-1886) in 1826 and they had four children: Jacob G. (-1913); John A. (-1892); Annie Eliza McGuire (1834-1911); and William H. (-1901). The first postmaster of Perrysville, Conrad succeeded his father as tax collector and in 1824, established woolen mills in Perrysville. In 1841, the woolen mills were moved to Allegheny City and continued there until 1890.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers include day books, account books, a farm book, and other sundry materials. The books document Reel's financial dealings with well-known early Pittsburgh figures, including John Campbell, George Croghan, George Girty, Simon Girty, James Ross, Thomas Smallman, and John Turner (who frequently used the name of his stepbrothers, Girty), as well as other early settlers of northern Allegheny County, such as Balthazar Good, Barnabas Hilands, Robert Hilands, and Christopher Rineman. Although the books are in poor condition and some are difficult to decipher, they provide an invaluable reference for the lives of early northern Allegheny County settlers. Reel's day books are not consistent in format and include other information; the 1796 day book includes poems, song lyrics, and accounts of Reel's business in Maryland, while the Allegheny River Day Book (1774-1803) approximates an account book. The account books record the exchange of goods for labor as well as more conventional transactions and the 1774-1807 account book is indexed. Of particular note is the 1793-1799 day book that contains financial records for Reel Hall. Included in the miscellaneous papers are a lease, receipts, promissory notes, public sale announcements, and the index to an 1816 account book, that may be linked to the 1815-1818 account book. The Conrad Reel Papers include sight drafts and accounts pertaining to the Perrysville Post Office and two account books for miscellaneous transactions in Perrysville.
Arrangement
The Casper Reel Papers are housed in one archival box and are arranged alphabetically by folder title, with Conrad Reel's papers arranged to the rear.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in four accessions and combined into one body of papers in 1994.
Acc# 1914x Gift of Mrs. R. A. McKee, (Account books. Mrs. McKee was the great-granddaughter of Casper Reel).
Acc# 1919x Gift of Mrs. R. A. McKee, (Lease).
Acc# 54 (1930) Gift of the Pennsylvania State Museum, (Public Sale Announcements).
Acc# 1948x Gift of Katherine E. Smith, (Receipts).
April 4, 1994
Preferred Citation
Papers of Casper Reel, 1769-1835, MSS#104, Historical Society of Western Pennyslvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Susan J.E. Illis on April 4, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Lisa Sheets on November 23, 1999.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Fort Pitt (Pa.)
- Campbell, John
- Croghan, George, -- d. 1782.
- Girty, George, -- 1745-.
- Girty, Simon, -- 1741-1818.
- Good, Balthazar, -- d.1795.
- Hilands, Barnabas, -- d. 1795.
- Highlands, Robert.
- Reel, Conrad, -- 1794-1870.
- Rineman, Christopher.
- Ross, James, -- 1762-1847.
- Smallman, Thomas, -- d. 1792.
- Turner, John.
- North Hills (Allegheny County, Pa.) -- Social life and customs.
- Perrysville (Pa.) -- Social life and customs.
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- History -- 17th century.
- Ross (Allegheny County, Pa. : Township) -- Social life and customs.
- West View (Allegheny County, Pa.) -- Social life and customs.
- Farms -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County.
- Postal service -- Pennsylvania -- Perrysville.
- Tanning -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.