In 1862 he organized a minstrel company, and subsequently he traveled with John Robinson’s Circus, remaining about four years, after which, in 1866, he appeared with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels in Chicago. About 1867 Mr. Reed married Miss Ada St. Clair. He had at various times conducted theatres in Terre Haute and Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Syracuse, N. Y., and Dayton, Ohio, where for eighteen years he was a resident, during which period Mr. Reed’s hand was frequently in his pocket to help those less fortunate than himself. Ned Reed was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 27, 1840; he died in Dayton, Ohio, November 27, 1891. C. W. PRINGLE was for many years associated in the management of Richard’s and Pringle’s Colored Minstrels, a popular organization. He died in Marysville, Cal., March 18, 1893. BILLY GRAY (Cornelius O’Donnell) was well-known as a versatile black-face comedian. He entered the variety profession about 1862. In 1873 he joined Harry Robinson’s Minstrels, and two years later was with Hooley in Brooklyn, N. Y. Subsequently he joined the company of Harrigan and Hart in New York, where he long remained. Billy Gray was born in Ireland; he died in New York, November 21, 1882. BILLY REMINGTON, a prominent black-face performer, who was an especially clever bone player, died at Grand Rapids, Mich., April 16, 1870. PEASLEY AND HUGHES were a well-known black-face song and dance team of the variety and minstrel stage, where they played many notable engagements. Mr. Peasley was also of Peasley and Fitzgerald; they opened with the Dearborn Minstrels in Chicago, August 21, 1871. John A. Peasley died in Syracuse, N. Y., April 22, 1893. Mark Hughes died in Chicago, Ill., February 6, 1882; age 34 years. WILLIAM DWYER was a well-known tenor singer, and played successful engagements with Bryant’s, and the San Franciscos in New York, and Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. [Illustration: BILLY DE RUE BOBBY DE RUE (DE RUE BROS.) BERT. LEIGHTON FRANK LEIGHTON (LEIGHTON BROS.) BILLY FREEZE LARRY FREEZE (FREEZE BROS.)] He was born in Dublin, Ireland; he died in Washington, D. C., December 30, 1898. * * * * * In the author’s possession is a document dated July 17, 1850, wherein one James Norris purchased a fourth interest in a prominent minstrel company of that day for $200.00. Imagine what a similar interest in Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels would cost to-day. * * * * * “COOL” BURGESS (Colin Burgess) was one of the most famous names in minstrelsy. Tall and slender, with long, drooping moustache, he provoked merriment at sight. He first appeared professionally in his native city about 1857, at the Melodeon. Subsequently he was identified with many minstrel organizations, amongst the earliest was Burgess and (J. E.) Green’s. About the closing of the Rebellion he joined Hooley’s Company in Brooklyn, where he became quite popular.