Biography - William R. Reeves

Washington County, Tennessee

W. R. Reeves was born June 20, 1850, on the farm, where he has since resided when permanently located. He received an academical education, and attended school at Emory and Henry College, Virginia, one term; was thrown upon his own resources when of age, and has always followed farming. He owns a fine farm of upward of 200 acres, where he resides. He was married in 1881 to Miss Mary, a daughter of John A. and Ellen (Teeter) Murphy, natives of Pennsylvania and Washington County, Va., respectively. They were of Scotch-Irish and German descnt. Her father was a prominent and successful physican. To Mr. and Mrs. Reeves two children have been born: Edward Murphy (dead) and Mary Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are members of the Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran Churches, respectively, and Mr. Reeves is a Democrat in politics. He has served as recording steward and steward of his class, and has also served as Sunday-school superintendent, and in various ways has taken quite an active part in church work. He was the youngest of eight children of William P. and Mary (DeVault) Reeves, natives of Washington County, Tenn. He was a carpenter by trade, and was one of the best house carpenters of his day. He built the hotel at Limestone Springs, S. C. a very fine building, composed of 110 rooms. He was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was recording steward about forty yearas. Mrs. Reeves was a member of the same church. Mr. Reeves died August 29, 1885, aged about eighty-two years. Mrs. Reeves is still living, and makes her home with her son, our subject. Mr. W. P. Reeves was a son of Edward and Nancy (Miller) Reeves, natives of North Carolina, and Washington County, Tenn., respectively. He came to Tennessee when about twenty-five years old, where he married. He was drowned in Wolf Creek, Ky., when about forty-eight years old. Mrs. Mary Reeves was a daughter of Valentine and Susanna (Range) DeVault. Mr. William Reeves began life for himself a poor man, and accumulated considerable property by his industry and good management.