Reavis, Marcus A.

Summary

Father: Isham Reavis, Sr.
Mother: Anne Matilda Jones

Birth: about 1772 in Northampton County, North Carolina
Birth Source:

Death: before 6 Nov 1835 in Boone County, Missouri
Death Source:

Spouse1: Lucy Bradley

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Narrative

Children of Mark Reavis and Lucy Bradley:

1. Jones Bradley Reavis, b. 1794
2. Andrew Ashley Reavis, b. 1796
3. Edwin Reavis, b. 30 Mar 1798
4. James Elza Reavis, b. 22 Dec 1800, Warren Kentucky, d. 17 Oct 1874
5. Mark Overton Reavis, b. 27 Feb 1803
6. Daniel Reavis, b. 1805
7. Goodwin Reavis, b. 1808
8. Martha Bradley Reavis, b. 16 Mar 1810
9. Calvin Reavis, b. 1812
10. Mary B. Reavis, b. 1815
11. John Newton Reavis, b. 17 Oct 1817

On the 17th of August 1799, Mark Reavis along with his father Isham, brothers Edward, Charles, Isham Jr. and brother-in-law Royal Potter were appointed by the County Court of Warren County, Kentucky to work on a road under overseer Robert Lee.

He is listed on the 1800 tax lists of Warren County, Kentucky along with Edward (listed as Revis), Charles and Isham Reavis (there is no indication of whether this is Isham Sr. or Jr.). Mark is still listed as a resident of Warren County in the 1810 census along with other family members such as brothers Edward (listed as Revis), Isham, Jr., Daniel and William, as well as cousin Harris Reavis. But by 10 Jul 1824, Mark who was described as ″of Boon County, Missouri″ had received a certificate for 80 acres in Boone County which was followed by more certificates for land there in 1827 and 1833.

Mark Reavis was an original member of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church, now extinct, in Missouri Township, Boone County, Missouri which was organized on 2 Nov 1823 (Evans and Thompson, Tombstone Records 1934, 122).

In an 1884 biography of Thomas M. Reavis published in the History of Monroe and Shelby Counties, Missouri, the following is found in regard to his grandfather, Mark Reavis:

Mr. Reavis grandfather, Mark Reavis, an early settler in Kentucky from North Carolina, became a pioneer settler in Saline county, Mo., but finally made his home near Columbia, in Boone county, where he resided until his death. He moved from Virginia to Buncombe county, N. C., and from there moved to Warren county, Ky., in or about 1800. After a residence in Kentucky of some 18 or 20 years he came on to Missouri in 1820, locating at first in Saline county St. Charles, Cote Sans Dessein and Old Franklin were then small landings or villages on the river. In the upper part of Saline county, his uncle, Ned Reavis, discovered a valuable salt spring and decided to engage in the manufacture of salt. He accordingly procured kettles in St. Louis or some other place where they could be obtained, and other utensils necessary for that purpose. He made salt in that county until after steamers began to navigate the Missouri in 1819. They made the cost of transportation so cheap that salt could be brought up the river from other and larger works at a distance and sold for less than it could be made for in Saline county or this part of the country. The manufacture of salt was therefore discontinued. Mr. Reavis, the subject of this sketch, remembers hearing his father relate what an excitement the advent of the first steamboat up the Missouri created. The father went some distance to see it, and knew of many who went miles to view the great wonder. Saline county then being too far away even from the outposts of civilization, the family moved back and settled near Columbia, Boone county, where the grandfather spent the remainder of his days, one of the highly respected old citizens of that county.

Research Notes

Sources

Warren County, Kentucky Court Records
Tax Lists of Warren County KY
1810 Census - Warren County, Kentucky
Evans and Thompson, Tombstone Records 1934
1830 Census - Boone County, Missouri
U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907
History of Monroe and Shelby Counties, Missouri, pub 1884