Harry Reid

official U.S. Senate photo of Harry Reid c. 2009

Birth Name: Harry Mason Reid

Date of Birth: December 2, 1939

Place of Birth: Searchlight, Nevada, U.S.

Date of Death: December 28, 2021

Place of Death: Henderson, Nevada, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, as well as distant Dutch, German, Scottish, and Welsh

Harry Reid was an American politician and attorney. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Nevada, from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 2017, and Senate Majority Leader, from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2015. He was also Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, from January 4, 1971 to January 5, 1975, Chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission, from March 27, 1977 to January 5, 1981, a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada, from January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1987, and Senate Minority Leader, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007, and again, from January 3, 2015 to January 3, 2017, among other duties.

Harry was the son of Inez Orena (Jaynes), a laundress, and Harry Reid, a rock miner. He was born and raised in Searchlight, a tiny town in Nevada. He was married to Landra Gould, until his death, with whom he had five children. Their son is attorney and politician Rory Reid, who has been a Member of the Clark County Commission.

His paternal grandmother was an English immigrant. The rest of his ancestry was considerably Colonial American (English).

Harry was a member of the LDS (Mormon) church. He joined the church with his wife, who is from a Jewish family.

Harry’s paternal grandfather was John French/Reid (the son of William Daniel French and Ella Leora Mizner/Misner). John was born in Michigan, and took on the surname of his stepfather, Walter E. Reid. William was the son of John French, Jr. and Charlotte Leach/Reech. Ella was the daughter of John Mizner and Alta Jane Birch.

Harry’s paternal grandmother was Harriet Dimmack (the daughter of Ephraim Dimmock/Dimmack and Harriet Bucknall). Harry’s grandmother Harriet was English, born in Catherines Cross, Darlaston, Stafford. Ephraim was the son of James Dimmock/Dimmack and Sarah Barnsley. Harry’s great-grandmother Harriet was the daughter of George Bucknall and Mary Ann Clark.

Harry’s maternal grandfather was Frederick Delman/Delmer Jaynes (the son of Homer Warren Janes/Jaynes and Azubiah/Azuba/Azubah J. Pettingill). Frederick was born in Illinois, to parents from Vermont. Homer was the son of Chester Janes/Jaynes and Elizabeth/Eliza A. Dee.

Harry’s maternal grandmother was Ida Amanda Atwood (the daughter of Walter Henry Atwood and Julia Frances Dibble). Ida was born in Utah. Walter was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Simeon Ernest Atwood and Melissa Ann Terrell/Turrell. Julia was born in Connecticut, the daughter of John Wilbur Dibble and Amanda Bouton.

Harry’s eight time great-grandfather, Daniel Elliot, was born, c. 1662, in Scotland.

Sources: Genealogies of Harry Reid – http://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com