Reeves, Eli
Summary
Father: David ReevesMother: Grace Renear
Birth: 7 Feb 1819, Burlington County, New Jersey
Birth Source: Obit & Bio
Death: 2 Aug 1897
Death Source: Obituary, Headstone
Spouse1: Elizabeth Taylor, m. 26 Sep 1844, Sandusky County, Ohio
Narrative
Children of Eli Reeves and Elizabeth Taylor:- Lucinda Reeves, b. 28 Apr 1845
- Melissa Reeves, b. 1 Nov 1847
- Miriam Reeves, b. 18 Sep 1849
- Rodolphus Reeves, b. 13 Oct 1851
- John C. Reeves, b. 21 Apr 1854
- Sarah A. Reeves, b. 17 Sep 1860
- Candis E. Reeves, b. 6 Oct 1864
- Grace Saville Reeves, b. 27 Dec 1866
This biography is from Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio and was published a year before he died:
ELI REEVES. A man can not hold public office without either gaining the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, or incurring their distrust and animosity. That he can retain the same office or be elected to others equally responsible, for long terms of years is, therefore, proof that he has performed his duties in an acceptable manner, and is popular in both public and private life. The record of the subject of this sketch, who since boyhood has been a resident of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county, illustrates this argument. For twenty terms he filled the important position of township assessor; he was a notary public for eighteen years; justice of the peace from 1854 to i860, and township clerk for six years. In all these capacities he earned the commendation of the community by his integrity of character and upright dealings, while his genial disposition has gained him many warm personal friends.
Mr. Reeves was born February 7, 1819, in Burlington county, N. J., son of David and Grace (Rineer) Reeves, the former born in 1778, in Burlington county, N. J. David Reeves was married in 1807, and with his family came to Ohio in July, 1821, settling in Salem, Columbiana county. Here he worked at his trade of a carpenter until 1832, when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, remaining one year. He then located in Madison township, Sandusky county, and was elected county survevor, which office he filled eleven years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Fremont, and again worked at his trade for several years, when he returned to Madison township and there died in 1849; his wife survived him until 1871, dying at the advanced age of ninety years. They had a large family, thirteen children in all, of whom four are living.
Eli Reeves was married September 26, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, who was born December 2, 1824, in Belmont county, Ohio, daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Yost) Taylor, the former born October 22, 1800, in the State of Maryland, the latter on October 21, 1802, in Belmont county, Ohio. The father came to Ohio, in 1810, living in Belmont county, where, on arriving at manhood, he rented some land which he farmed until 1822. In that year he was married, and then removed to Richland county, where he lived nine years, at the end of which time he took up his residence in Madison township where he spent the rest of his days, dying in 1873. The mother is still living at the venerable age of ninety-three years, and makes her home with our subject and his wife. She was the mother of eleven children, six of whom are living. At the time of his death Mr. Taylor owned a farm of 120 acres, eighty of which he cleared.
To our subject and his wife have been born ten children, two of whom died in infancy; the others in order of birth are as follows: Lucinda, born April 28, 1845; Melissa, November 1, 1847; Miriam, September 18, 1849; R. D., October 13, 1851; John C., April 21, 1854; Sarah A., September 17, i860; Candis E., October 6, 1864, and Grace S., December 27, 1866. Mr. Reeves began to learn the carpenter’s trade when eleven years old. In later life he bought twenty acres of land, and afterward purchased eighty acres more. He retired from active work in 1889. In politics, he is a Democrat. Popular with all classes, and interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, he enjoys the respect and esteem of all.
Gibsonburg Derrick, 5 Aug 1897
ELI REEVES.
An Old Sandusky County Pioneer Gone,
The death of Eli Reeves occurred last Monday morning at 1 o'clock after an illness of less than a week. He has suffered untold misery for a long time with rheumatism but had been able to get around on crutches until the Tuesday preceding his death.
The deceased was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, February 7, 1819. Thus making him years, 5 months, and 25 days old. He came to Madison township, Sandusky county, in 1833 from Columbiana county where he resided for twelve years. He was present when the township was organized, there being but 11 men present. Uncle Dan Smith who lives near Rollersville being the only survivor of that number. He was married to his wife, who survives him, in 1844, she being a sister to Enoch and Jonathan Taylor. Undo Eli, as he was familiarly known, was a man who attended strictly to his own business. He has filled many offices of trust to the entire satisfaction of the people. For twenty years he filled the office of assessor, was notary public for eighteen years, township clerk six years and justice of the peace four years.
He was a staunch democrat all his life. He was a life subscriber to the DERRICK having been made so on account of the valuable service rendered when Messrs Dunderman & Oswalt established the paper. He leaves a wife, two sons and two daughters, John who lives here and Dolph who lives in Bellevue, Mrs. James Brobst who lives in Nebraska, and Mrs. Long who lives at Bollaire, Mich., one brother, Henry, who lives at Jonesville, Mich., Mrs. Woolcutt, a sister, at Bradner, and another sister, Mrs. Smith, at Fremont, Mich. Besides many grandchildren and a host of friends. The funeral services were conducted from his late residence yesterday morning at 9 o'clock, by Rev. Skates, a Diciple minister, and former pastor of this church here. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery west of town.
Research Notes
Sources
Birth: See Bio, Obit, & HeadstoneMarriage1: FamilySearch - Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016
Death: See Obit & Headstone
Burial: Findagrave - West Union Cemetery, Gibsonburg, Sandusky County, Ohio
1850 Census: Madison, Sandusky County, Ohio
1860 Census: Madison, Sandusky County, Ohio
1870 Census: Madison, Sandusky County, Ohio
1880 Census: Madison, Sandusky County, Ohio
Obituary, Gibsonburg Derrick, 5 Aug 1897
Beers. (1896). Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio (p. 130)