Marshall Earle Reid Junior was born in Milton, Pennsylvania on August 31^st, 1886. As an early pioneer in aviation history, his life story included many accomplishments and thrilling stories of death-defying accidents.

His father, Marshall Reid Sr. owned Reid Tobacco Company in Milton, Northumberland County, which had several offices, including Buffalo, NY. The family resided in Milton, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, NY throughout Marshall's life. His mother was the daughter of Francis Proctor Myers, a successful realtor in Lock Haven, Clinton County, PA. 

As young Reid’s exploits gained nationwide attention, his local roots were not forgotten by the folks of Milton. The May 09, 1912, Miltonian newspaper, recalled, “The many friends and acquaintances of young Reid will be pleased to remember him as a very young lad riding about town on his bicycle doing stunts that only the celebrated trick riders would dare attempt. He was undoubtedly the most expert rider who ever lived in Milton.”

In 1911, and 1912, Reid was thrilling crowds in the New York-Philadelphia area and was regarded somewhat as a daredevil. Reid was the first licensed pilot in Pennsylvania and was awarded the Federation Aéronautique International License No. 114, on April 13, 1912, which meant he was the 114th person in the world licensed to fly an airplane.

In August 1913, Reid was licensed by the Post Office Department to fly mail between Ocean City and Stone Harbor, N.J. on seven scheduled trips, and said later in an interview "They all went off on time." The two resorts paid $1,750 for his work.

One of Reid’s narrow escapes was reported in the Miltonian newspaper on October 17, 1912. “(Reid) had a thrilling experience on Friday when he attempted to make a trial flight from Cape May Point to League Island Navy Yard, in his hydroplane. He had as a passenger, Lieutenant Commander H. C. Mustin. They left about 2:30 and twenty-two minutes later, after traveling a distance of 10 miles, the engine exploded, when they were driving about 100 feet in the air. Young Reid never for a moment lost his head as the plane (fell into) the water. The explosion set the machine and gasoline tank on fire, but the aviators used their caps to smother the flames with water. They were safe on the remains of the hydroplane but out of sight of land and they paddled from 3 p.m. until 11 o'clock that night when they tied to a stake and waited for dawn. They were rescued at 6:45 Saturday morning by a police boat, and on the way to League Island Navy Yard enjoyed a good breakfast of ham and eggs. Neither man was the worst for his experience, but their relatives were nearly overcome with anxiety.”

In 1917, at the age of 30, Reid signed up for the military in Philadelphia. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps during the First World War as a Lieutenant.

Reid died December 06, 1955, at the age of 69 in a Baltimore Hospital. At the time of his death, it was reported Reid lived most of his life in Philadelphia and was chairman of the board of the Reid-Avery Company, Baltimore, manufacturers of welding wire and electrodes. He founded the company in 1919 in Philadelphia. In 1926 the company's plant was moved to Baltimore, and in 1936 the general offices were moved there.

Information from the website Find-A-Grave listed Reid as having been married at least two times and he had two children.