John Reid (businessman)

Reid was born on October 14, 1840, in Dunfermline, Scotland. He was the son of Helen (née Arnot) Reid and Andrew Reid and received his early education in Scotland.^[1]

In 1866, Reid emigrated to the United States, and within a few months of his arrival, began working for J. L. Mott Iron Works, which was founded by Jordan L. Mott in 1828. Reid was eventually promoted to General Manager, which he held for thirty-nine years.^[2] He also served as a trustee of the J. L. Mott Iron Works and a director of the Central Foundry Company, the Central Iron & Coal Company and the Trenton Fire Clay & Porcelain Company.^[1] Upon Jordan L. Mott Jr.'s death in 1915, Reid served as executor of his estate.^[3]

He was a member of the Engineers' Club, the Fulton Club, the Society of British Schools and Universities and the Burns Society. He was also elected a member of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York, of which he served as the 38th President from 1898 to 1899, when he was succeeded by Andrew Carnegie as president.^[1]

Around 1887, he introduced and played the "Royal Scottish Game" on an improvised course near his home and was the leader of the Apple Tree Gang.^[4] On November 14, 1888, at a dinner at his house,^[5] he founded and, served as the first president of Saint Andrew's Golf Club located in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.^[6] Reid's portrait by Frank Fowler hangs in the dining room.^[1] Today, the club is the oldest golf club in the United States.^[7]