Reeves, Joseph A.

Summary

Father: James B. Reeves
Mother: Nancy Harper

Birth: 22 Aug 1836, Troup County, Georgia
Birth Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas

Death: 12 Oct 1912, Quachita County, Arkansas
Death Source: Gravestone in Oakland Confederate Cemetery, Camden

Spouse1: Elizabeth Barbara "Lizzie" Parker, m. 1866

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Narrative

Children of Joseph A. Reeves and Lizzie Parker:

1. Orlin C. Reeves, b. 1867
2. Edwin J. Reeves, b. 1869
3. Lizzie E. Reeves, b. 1872

The following biography from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas was published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.

J. A. Reeves, a member of the firm of Reeves & Son is one of the pioneer merchants of Camden, Ark., and being public-spirited, liberal-minded and generous in disposition, he receives a most liberal share of public favor. His establishment is one of the most attractive of the kind in Southern Arkansas, and as he sells his goods at very low prices, and is honest and upright in his dealings with his patrons, he fully deserves his present success. He was born in Troup County, Ga., August 22, 1836, and is a son of James and Nancy (Harper) Reeves, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Georgia. They were married in the latter State, and lived and died there, the former having been an active participant in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Reeves, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. James Reeves, was a minister of the Baptist Church, and followed the occupation of farming for a living. A family of twelve children was born to himself and wife, only three are now living: James (a Baptist minister in Georgia), Eliza (Barzell, in Cleveland County), and Joseph A. (the immediate subject of this sketch). The latter was not named until sixteen years of age, then as his parents could not decide on a name he took the matter into his own hand and named himself while going from Atlanta to Covington, Ga. He remained in the State of Georgia until almost grown, receiving the most of his education there, and in 1855 went to Mississippi, and was engaged in clerking in a store until 1859, when he came to Camden, Ark., where he was making his home when the war broke out. On May 15, of that year, he joined the City Guards of Camden, but became a lieutenant in Company H, Sixth Arkansas Regiment, and was afterward promoted to captain. He commanded the company for two years and was a participant in all the engagements west of the Mississippi River. After the final surrender he returned to Camden and resumed merchandising, which occupation had received his attention before the war, being associated in business with D. W. Fellows, receiving one-third of the profits. By economy he managed to save considerable of this money, but after remaining a member of the firm until 1880, he withdrew and became associated in business with a Mr. Ross, their connection lasting three years. In 1886 the present firm was organized, and they are now doing an exceptionally paying business. Their shock of goods is valued at $12,000 and they do an annual business of $120,000. Mr. Reeves was married in 1866, to Miss Lizzie Parker, a native of Camden, and by her he has two sons and a daughter: Orlin C. (who is associated with his father), Edwin J. (a medical student in New Orleans), and Lizzie E. Mr. Reeves is a member of the K. of P., te R. A., the K. of H. and he is a stockholder in the Camden National Bank and the Camden Compress and Electric Light Company.

The 1910 Camden, Ouachita Co., AR, Census, HH 149/172, showed: Joseph A. Reeves, 73, GA/NC/GA, married 43 years, Grocery Merchant; Elizabeth B., 65, AR/NC/MO, married 43 years, 3 children born, 3 children living; Lily E., 30, AR/GA/AR. The 1900 Ouachita Co., AR, Census, Camden, HH 150/152, showed: J. A. Reeves, August, 1836, GA/NC/GA, Wholesale Grocer, married 34 years; E. B., September 1842, AR/NC/AR, married 34 years, 3 children born, 3 children living. The 1880 Ouachita Co., AR, Census showed this family in Camden, HH 59/63: J. A. Reeves, Merchant, 43, GA/NC/GA; E. B., wife, Keeping House, AR/NC/MO; Orland C., 13, male, AR/NC/MO; Edwin J., 11, AR/GA/AR; Lilly E., 8, AR/GA/AR.

He was Captain of Company H, 6th Arkansas Regiment of the CSA. Confederate records indicate that he was born August 22, 1836, in Troup County, Georgia.

In Carroll County, Georgia, the tombstone of Ann Reeves Little: "Ann, wife of Saml. B. Little, died Apr. 25, 1876. By her brother J. A. Reeves July 20, 1892."

His tombstone reads: "Joseph A. Reeves Entered Life Eternal October 12, 1912" and indicates that his wife Elizabeth Barbara Reeves died 14 March 1912. They are both buried in Oakland Confederate Cemetery, Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas.

Research Notes

Sources

Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas pub 1890 by Goodspeed Publishing Company
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, online database at Ancestry.com
1870 Census - Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas
1880 Census - Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas
1900 Census - Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas
1910 Census - Camden Ward 2, Ouachita, Arkansas
Find A Grave with photo, Oakland Confederate Cemetery