Reeve, Isaac Nelson

Summary

Father: Isaac Reeve
Mother: Sally Carpenter

Birth: 9 Sep 1825, Middletown, Orange County, New York
Birth Source: Obituary

Death: 24 May 1902, Port Jervis, Orange County, New York
Death Source: Obituary

Spouse1: Parmelia A. King, m. c1846
Spouse2: Mrs. Frances C. Van Inwegen, m. 8 Feb 1872

Narrative

Children of Isaac Nelson Reeve and Parmelia A. King:

1. Estella Reeve, b. c1847
2. Charles D. Reeve, b. c1852

Children of Isaac Nelson Reeve and Mrs. Frances C. Van Inwegen:

1. Isaac Nelson Reeve, b. c1874

Tri-States Union, 29 May 1902
Isaac Nelson Reeve.
Mr. Isaac Nelson Reeve, proprietor of the American House, died at his home, No 42 Front street, at 4 30 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, of kidney trouble, from which he had been a sufferer for the past six years. He had been confined to his home for the past six months, and to his bed for about six days.
Mr. Reeve was 76 years of age. He was born in Middletown on September 9, 1825, and was a son of Isaac Reeve and Sally Carpenter. He lived on a farm near Middletown until in his 21st year, when he was united in marriage to Miss Parmelia A. King, of New Vernon, N. Y., and went to Bloomingdale to take the position of foreman over a force of men who were employed in constructing the Hudson River Railroad.
He was in that position one year, when he accepted the position of foreman with the late Thomas King over a force of men employed in constructing the Erie Railroad. Mr. Reeves worked with his men along the entire system until he reached Chautauqua county.
Fifty years ago on February 14th, while working in Chautauqua county. Mr. Reeves lost both of his eyes by a premature blast of rock.
He went to Bellevue Hospital in New York, where he was treated for two years, but when he was discharged was totally blind.
He became employed then by the R. Henry Ward Beecher, selling his books and periodicals, and followed this vocation six years, when he sold his property at Middletown and bought the American House in Port Jervis. This was at the close of the war in 1865, and Mr. Reeve conducted the hotel successfully until his first wife died in 1871, when he moved to New Jersey, and lived a private life there for about 12 years.
Ten years ago he came to Port Jervis again and lived retired, here until about three years ago, when he again came into public life and took the management of the American House. During his absence from town he had rented the hotel to other parties. Although totally blind, Mr. Reeve for many years was an authority on records, and had a wonderfully retentive memory. He was frequently consulted on the authenticity of dates, and when traveling on a railroad on which he had ridden before he was blind, could locate every station at which the train stopped, and tell its distance from New York and the nearest station.
Though not a member of any church, Mr. Reeves had deep religious convictions and was a supporter and member of the congregation of the Baptist Church here for many years. He is the last of a family of 12 children.
On February 8th, 1872, he was married for the second time to Mrs. Frances C. Van Inwegen, daughter of Elias Woodward and Julia Buckbee, and is survived by her. Isaac Nelson Reeve, a son, three grandchildren by his first wife, Mrs. John Mattison and Mrs. Grant Lowrie, of Scranton, Pa., and Theodore B. Reeve, of Matteawan, N. Y.; one grandchild, Hazel Slawson Reeve, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Reeve, of Port Jervis, and four great grandchildren, of Scranton, also survive him.

Research Notes

Sources

Death:        FamilySearch - New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956

1850 Census:  New Albion, Cattaraugus County, New York
1860 Census:  Wallkill, Orange County, New York
1870 Census:  Deerpark, Orange County, New York
1880 Census:  Sandyston, Sussex County, New Jersey

Findagrave - Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis, Orange County, New York