Reeves, James Walter

Summary

Father: Augustus Wade Reeves
Mother: Mary Ida Schee

Birth: 2 July 1885
Birth Source: See Death

Death: 28 January 1950
Death Source: California, Death Index, 1940-1997

Relationship1: Dorothy H Alexander
Spouse1: Katherine Wendell, m. 21 Jun 1923, Los Angeles, California

Narrative

Children of James Walter Reeves and Dorothy H Alexander:

1. Robert Frederick Johnson, b. 12 April 1927

Children of James Walter Reeves and Katherine Wendell:

1. Douglas Wendell Reeves, born 1928

James Walter Reeves was born on 2 July 1885 in Iowa. By April 1895, he must have been in Santa Monica with his mother, whose presence there is documented in an article in the LA Times on 28 April 1895 summarizing a day's divorce business, noting "Mrs. Mary I. Reeves of Santa Monica made a similar application to Judge Shaw upon the same grounds and was granted a decree divorcing her from A. W. Reeves, by default".

Based on census records, we can see that James Walter Reeves lived in the Los Angeles area from the time of his arrival until his death. In the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses, he is living with his mother. In the 1920 census, his occupation is shown as a physician. On 21 Jun 1923, he married Katherine Wendell. On 16 May 1928, he and his wife welcomed their son, Douglas Wendell Reeves. In 1930, he and his wife and son were living on South Hope Street in Los Angeles, and his occupation is noted as a physician in general practice. In the 1940 Census, he is living with his sister and brother-in-law in San Gabriel, and is shown as a married physician in general practice, although his wife is not living there with him.

James Walter Reeves graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at the University of Southern California on 12 June 1913. He received a medal at graduation for the highest average in gynecology and abdominal surgery. He was granted his medical license on 28 August 1913.

In 1941 (according to a newspaper article) and 1942 (according to his draft registration card), his address is 1036 North Granada Ave., San Marino, California. According to his son Douglas's World War II Draft Registration card, by 1946, he and he son were living at 863 North Gainsborough Drive, Pasadena, California.



He died on 28 January 1950 in Pasadena.

Research Notes

According to the United States Deceased Physician File (AMA), James Walter Reeves of Los Angeles graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1913. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and was for many years a professor of anatomy and physiology at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. He was on the staff of California Hospital, and died in St. Luke's Hospital on 28 January 1950, aged 64. In May, 1948, he received an award for "outstanding service to dentistry" by Dr. D. Lynn Openshaw, president of the County Dental Society (Los Angeles Times, 23 May, 1948). According to his obituary (Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, 31 Jan 1950), he was a member of the senior staff of the California Hospital and was a trustee of the USC dental school.

Sources

Birth:  Iowa County Births - FamilySearch, Reeves, male, 2 Jul 1885; citing Iowa, United States; county district courts, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,011,017.

Death:  California Death Index - FamilySearch, James Walter Reeves, 28 Jan 1950; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
Burial:  Find-a-Grave, Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, San Bernadino County, California.

1900 Census:  1900 Federal Census - FamilySearch, James W Reeves in household of Walter S. Schee, Santa Monica Township Santa Monica city Ward 2, 3, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 133, sheet 17A, family 458, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,092.
1910 Census:  United States Census, 1910 - FamilySearch, Walter J Reeves in household of Ida M Reeves, Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 219, sheet 3A, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 80; FHL microfilm 1,374,093.
1930 Census:  1930 Federal Census, FamilySearch, J Walter Reeves, Los Angeles (Districts 0251-0500), Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 483, sheet 7A, line 7, family 132, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 150; FHL microfilm 2,339,885.
1940 Census:  1940 Federal Census - FamilySearch, James W Reeves in household of Carl R Howson, San Gabriel Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-866, sheet 2B, line 47, family 35, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 254.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California 28 Apr 1895, Sunday, Page 10.
"Movie Stars Present Problems to Dentists", Los Angeles Times, 23 May 1948, Newspapers.com.
Obituary, Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, 31 Jan 1950, Newspapers.com.
United States Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864-1968, FamilySearch, James Walter Reeves, 28 Jan 1950, Los Angeles, California.
World War I Draft Registration, FamilySearch, James Walter Reeves, 1223 Magnolia Ave., Los Angeles, California, 9 Sep 1918.
World War II Draft Registration, Family Search, James Walter Reeves, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).