Reeves, Alfred Benton
Summary
Father: Jabez ReevesMother: Nancy C. Coe
Birth: 13 Mar 1840, Rush County, Indiana
Birth Source: Death Certificate
Death: 5 Nov 1911, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana
Death Source: Death Certificate
Spouse1: Louisa Jane Reddick, m. 29 Feb 1860, Rush County, Indiana
Spouse2: Parthia Anna Wadlington, m. 12 Sep 1866, Henry County, Indiana
Narrative
Children of Alfred Benton Reeves and Louisa Jane Reddick:- Minnie Rosella Reeves, b. 17 May 1865, m. Arthur W. Mason
Children of Alfred Benton Reeves and Parthia Anna Wadlington:
- Ara Pendleton Reeves, b. 27 Jan 1868
- Henry Elmer Reeves, b. 24 Nov 1870
- Rose R. Reeves, b. c1874, m. Robert E. Jones, Sr.
- Halbert W. Reeves, b. Sep 1893, d. 1 Aug 1909 (Adopted)
The Republic, 6 May 1886
Patents were recently issued to Indianians as follows;.....Alfred B. Reeves, assigner to Reeves & Co., Colubmus, plowe-gauge;....
The Republic, 31 Aug 1887
Alfred B. Reeves, of Reeves & Co. this city, has been granted another patent on his straw stacker.
The Republic, 24 Oct 1911
A. B. Reeves, of Indianapolis, underwent a surgical operation at the city hospital this morning. His son, Ary Reeves, of New York, came here to be with his father at the operation. Mrs. A. W. Mason, of this city is a daughter of Mr. Reeves.
An extensive biography was published in The Republic at his death:
A. B. Reeves was Founder of Firm
Man Whose Death Occurred Sunday Gave Reeves & Co. Start.
He Lead an Active Life
Was Native of Rush County, Where he Invented Plow Which was Afterward Made Here, and Business Increased.
Alfred Benton Reeves, regarded as the father of the industry that afterward grew into Reeves & Company here, died at the City Hospital shortly before noon Sunday. He came here from Indianapolis several weeks ago to undergo an operation. It was feared then that his condition was such that an operation would not prove beneficial. However, the operation was performed and the surgeon saw that death could not be prolonged a great while. Everything possible was done but Mr. Reeves grew weaker, and during the past few days the end has been only a question of time.
The body was taken to the home of Arthur W. Mason, where it was prepared for burial. The casket will be open there from 6 o'clock this evening until 9 o'clock tonight. The funeral will be held from the Mason residence Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock and will be for the relatives and immediate friends. The services will be conducted by the Rev. Harley Jackson. Following the services here the body will be taken to Rush county, and the burial will be in the Center graveyard, near the old Reeves home. The pall bearers will be Albert B. Stevens, Walter Doup, Tom Vinnedge, William F. Schowe, O. B. Shank and Dr. T. E. Otto.
Mr. Reeves was born in Rush county, March 13, 1840 and spent his early life on a farm. He received his education in the common schools. Farming was his chief interest until in the seventies, when he invented a plow he named the Hoosier Boy Cultivator. The manufacture of these cultivators was begun at Knightstown and continued there a short time, when he came to Columbia in 1877 and was associated with his brother, William F. Reeves. They began the manufacture of the cultivators, the company being known as the Hoosier Boy Cultivator Company. This was the small beginning of the industry that was later to be one of the biggest manufacturing plants in the middle west.
Associated with Mr. Reeves in the start of the business here was his brother, J. N. D. Reeves. Later, in 1880, the firm of Reeves & Company was formed with A. B. Reeves taking an active interest in the work. He continued a member of the company with holdings there until a comparatively short time ago, when he disposed of his stock to others.
Mr. Reeves built a beautiful home at Fifth and California street and was a leading citizen of Columbus during his residence here. He was a democrat on politics and was elected to serve a term in the city council. He was a member of the Christian church.
After quitting active business here Mr. Reeves moved to a farm near Clifford, where he lived some time. There he became interested in the breeding of fine horses and dogs. About ten years ago Mr. Reeves bought the old home farm and moved there. Two years ago he moved to Knightstown, and for the past year he had lived in Indianapolis with his sister.
Mr. Reeves married Miss Louisa Jane Reddick, February 29, 1860, and to that union one child was morn (sic). She is Mrs. Minnie Mason wife of Arthur W. Mason, of this city. Mrs. Reeves died May 28, 1866. Mr. Reeves' second marriage was to Anna Waddlington, at Knightstown, and three children were born to them. They are Arry P. Reeves of New York; Harry E. Reeves, of Chicago, and Mrs. R. E. Jones of New Castle, Ind. J. N. D. Reeves, of this city, is the only surviving brother, and the only surviving sister is Mrs. Mary McCarty, who lives in Indianapolis.
Mr. Reeves lived an active life. From the time he was a young man in Rush county until he grew too old for business he was actively engaged in some industry or other. His greatest work, of course, was in connection with the establishment of Reeves & Company here. This industry has given thousands of local people employment, has advertised the name of Columbus far and wide, and has in a large measure made Columbus what it is. So Mr. Reeves can be considered one of the pioneer business men of Columbus - one of the men who did things in a large way and who paved the way to make this city bigger and better as the years go by.
Research Notes
The death certificate and obituary of son Halbert state he was adopted.The Daily Republican, 5 Aug 1909
Halbert Reeves, adopted son of A. B. Reeves died at his home west of Shively's Corner Sabbath afternoon, as the result of an operation for appendicitis performed last Tuesday.
Funeral services were held at the residence Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. Burns of Morristown and Rev. Abberley of Rushville. Interment in Center cemetery. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire neighborhood.
Sources
Birth: Death Certificate, Alfred Benton Reeves, 1911Marriage1: Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 (FamilySearch)
Marriage2: Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 (Ancestry)
Death: Death Certificate, Alfred Benton Reeves, 1911
The Republic (Columbus, Indiana), 6 Nov 1911
1880 Census: Bartholomew County, Indiana
1900 Census: Bartholomew County, Indiana
1910 Census: Henry County, Indiana
The Republic, 6 May 1886 (Patent)
The Republic, 31 Aug 1887 (Patent)
The Republic, 24 Oct 1911 (Surgery)
The Daily Republican, 5 Aug 1909 (Halbert Reeves Obituary)