Reeves, Benjamin Harrison
Summary
Father: Brewer ReevesMother: Martha Davis Long
Birth: 21 Mar 1787, Augusta County, Virginia
Birth Source: Obituary
Death: 16 Apr 1849, Todd County, Kentucky
Death Source: Probate Documents of Todd County
Spouse1: Martha "Patsy" Donley
Spouse2: Mrs. Virginia T. Garth Cross
Narrative
Children of Benjamin Harrison Reeves and Martha "Patsy" Donley:- William Long Reeves, 1807-1886, m. Martha Brown c1829
- Davis Clarke Reeves, 1809-1841, m. Mary Jane Phillips on 18 Jun 1834 in Todd County, Kentucky
- Peggy McKinney Reeves, b. 1811
- Jennette Reeves, b. 1812, m. Judge Abiel Leonard
- Sarah Eleanor Reeves, 1815-1816
- Mary Elizabeth Reeves, b. 1817, m. William Adair Wilson
- Edward Davis Reeves, 1819-1820
- Martha Willis Reeves, 1821-1826
- Benjamin Harrison Reeves, Jr., 1830-1913, m. Martha Kaziah Patton
- Missouri Reeves, b. 1838, m. John Ainsley on 20 Oct 1857 in Todd County, Kentucky
- Eugenia Reeves, b. 1840, m. Martin Griffin
- Crittenden Reeves, 1842-1894, m.1 Virginia Louisa Dickinson on 14 Dec 1863 in Todd County, Kentucky; m.2 Martha "Mattie" Ann McElwain
Col. Benjamin H. Reeves, was born in Augusta County, Va., but about the close of the eighteenth century, when in infancy, he removed to Kentucky with his parents. His father had served in the Revolution and he took part, as a captain, in the war of 1812, being of the greatest assistance to the cause in Indiana and Kentucky and relieving Zachary Taylor when the latter was besieged near Lafayette. During his residence in Kentucky he was for many years a member of the legislature. In 1818 he removed to Missouri, where he was a member of the constitutional convention, later state senator from his district, and afterward lieutenant-governor of the state for one term. He was one of the commissioners appointed by the president of the United States to locate the Santa Fe trail. Both while in Kentucky and Missouri he was active in the skirmishes with the Indians, and during the Iowa Indian war he was colonel of a regiment. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty-two years. Politically he had been an ardent supporter of Henry Clay and the Whig party.
Source: Biography of his grandson the Hon. Adair Wilson, associate judge of the Colorado State Court of Appeals.
His obituary is as follows:
"Benjamin H. Reeves, the eldest son of Brewer and Martha Reeves, was born in Augusta County, Va., March 21, 1787, and moved with his parents to Christian County, Ky., about the commencement of the present century, and settled on the West Fork of Red River. Shortly after their arrival in Kentucky his father died, leaving his widow and infant children in comparatively a wilderness, surrounded by the red men of the forest. His mother, a lady of uncommon energy, firmness, and fine powers of mind, richly stored with the truths of the Gospel, in the absence of anything like good schools, laid the foundation for his future elevation in life by her industry, and, with his assistance, they managed to support the younger members of the family. To them he was both a parent and an elder brother; his heart seemed to be entwined around them during life. By his own generous worth and energy of character he soon acquired the esteem and confidence of his countrymen. On the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain in 1812, he took up arms in defense of his country's rights, and was, on the fourth day of July in that year, elected Captain of the first company of volunteers from Christian County, and in a short time joined the army in the then Territory, now State, of Indiana, stationed at Vincennes; was shortly after promoted to the rank of Major; commanded an escort to the relief of Zachary Taylor, the present President of the United States. In November, 1812, he returned to Kentucky, having been, at the August election previous, elected a member of the Legislature of Kentucky from Christian, and took his seat as a member of that body on the first Mon-day in December thereafter, and continued a member of that body, with the exception of one or two years, until 1818, when he moved to the then Territory of Missouri. In 1821 he was elected a Delegate from the county of Howard to assist in framing a Constitution for that State, and was, a few years thereafter, elected Lieutenant-Governor of Missouri. In 1826 he was appointed by the Government of the United States a Commissioner to survey and mark out a road from Missouri to the Spanish provinces in a direction to Santa Fe. In the recent Indian wars on the frontiers of Missouri, he again took up arms in defense of his country. In 1836 he returned from Missouri, and settled in Todd County, Ky. The partiality of his countrymen soon called him to represent them in Legislature in several successive years. He filled many civil and military offices in Missouri and Kentucky. In private life his virtues shone most conspicuous -a dutiful child, a kind husband, a fond parent, a devoted friend. Warm-hearted, generous, and devoted in his sentiments, he had many personal and devoted friends. About the first of January last his health began to decline rapidly, and on Monday, the 16th day of April, 1849, at his residence in Todd County, having, as his friends fondly hope, made his peace with God, with a smile on his countenance, and without a struggle or a groan, fell asleep in Jesus, universally lamented by his family, relations and friends."