William James Reese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 3, 1804. He graduated from the Philadelphia Law School in 1827, moving thereafter to Lancaster, Ohio, where he began the practice of law. While living in Lancaster, he served a number of years as the editor of the Lancaster Gazette; he held several municipal offices, and conducted a mercantile business. In 1829 he married Elizabeth Sherman, the eldest daughter of the late Judge Charles R. Sherman, who served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1824, and sister of General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Brother Reese was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and during his active life, was one of its most valuable, influential and leading officials.
At one period in his life, Brother Reese served as a Brigadier General of the Ohio Militia and as a member of the Governor’s staff.
Brother Reese received his Master Mason degree in Lancaster Lodge No. 57 in November 1828 and served as Worshipful Master of Lancaster Lodge from 1831 to 1838. In 1830 he was a representative of Lancaster Lodge at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio and was elected Senior Grand Deacon. He was re-elected Senior Grand Deacon in 1831. In 1833 he served as Senior Grand Warden pro-tem and elected Deputy Grand Master. In 1834 he was elected Grand Master and continued in that office until 1843.
Brother Reese became a member of Lancaster Chapter No. 11 in 1829 and in the year 1833 was elected as Grand High priest, an office to which he was re-elected in 1836, 37 and 38. He received his Council degrees in the now defunct Council No. 4 at Lancaster, helped organize the Grand Council of Ohio at Worthington in January of 1830, and was elected as the first Grand Recorder. In 1834 he was elected Grand Puissant (Most Ill. Grand Master), which office he held until 1838. Mt. Vernon Commandery No. 1 conferred the degrees of Knighthood on him in Worthington on May 22, 1830. He later became the first Commander of Lancaster Commandery No. 2, which was organized on April 4, 1838 and continued in that office until 1843, when he became active in the Grand Encampment.
He is believed to have been the first Scottish Rite Mason in Ohio, although it is unknown where or when he received these degrees.
Due to financial reverses he left Lancaster and returned to Philadelphia in 1843. Many years later he carne back to Ohio where he suffered a stroke several years before his death, making it impossible for him to lead an active life.
Brother Reese was a member of the important Grand Lodge committee whose work resulted in the publication for the first time in Ohio of the “Ancient Constitutions”. The Constitution of the Grand Lodge and the By-laws of the Grand Lodge, as well as the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge for the government of subordinate Lodges.
He died at Lancaster on December 17, 1883, at the age of 80, and was interred in the Elmwood Cemetery, Section B, Row 12 in that city.