Overview Simeon (1830-1895) and Amanda (1832-1904) Reed were the founders of Reed College. Simeon Reed was a business magnate in Portland, having arrived from Massachusetts and worked his way up from shop jobs to owning the Oregon Steam and Navigation Company, several mines, and many other enterprises. Amanda inherited upon his death and, having no children, bequeathed their money to establish The Reed Institute in 1904, which was accomplished with the help of T.L. Eliot, their nephew Martin Winch,...