Reeves, Mills Stephenson
Summary
Father: Ila ReevesMother: Frankey Stephenson
Birth: c1814, Brown County, Ohio
Birth Source:
Death: 8 Feb 1896, Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana
Death Source: Indiana Deaths
Spouse1: Rosanna McLaughlin, m. 26 Nov 1835, Rush County, Indiana
Narrative
Children of Mills Stephenson Reeves and Rosanna McLaughlin:- Minerva Reeves, b. 18 Jan 1839
- Matilda Reeves, b. 14 Jun 1840
- Ursula F. Reeves, b. 2 Aug 1845
- Louisa Catherine Reeves, b. 25 Dec 1848
- Columbus L. Reeves, b. c1851
- maybe Ada A. Reeves
- maybe Oliver H. Reeves
Biography from History of Jackson County, Indiana:
MILLS S. REEVES is a native of Brown County, Ohio. He was born near the town of Ripley, situated sixty miles east of Cincinnati. He was the first born to Ila and Franky (Stevenson) Reeves. His mother was a half sister of Col. Mills Stevenson, who built Fort Stevenson, which was so ably defended by Col. Croghan, in 1812, when it was attacked by the Indians, who fought for the British cause. Mr. Reeves' father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Delaware. They were early pioneers of Ohio. Mills S. Reeves, the subject of this sketch, spent the early years of his life upon a farm, in which neighborhood he attended the common district school of the times, attending only three months each winter. At the age of fourteen he immigrated with his parents to Indiana, where they settled in Rush County. The recently deserted Indian wigwams were still standing at that time. He remained upon the farm till the age of twenty-one, when he bound himself to a carpenter named Millburn Coe. He subsequently assisted Mr. Coe in building the first hotel in Marshal County. Returning to Rush County he was married, November 26, 1835, to Rosanna McLaughlin, an orphan. Shortly after marriage he and his young bride moved to Missouri, where he farmed for about ten years. He then removed to Iowa, where he worked at his trade for ten years. He then removed to Nebraska, where he held the position of mayor of Kearney City, where now stands Nebraska. City. Mr. Reeves was subsequently elected justice of the peace, and also served three years in the Territorial Legislature, and one year as a member of the Senate after the organization of the State; then three years as treasurer of Otoe County, Neb. In 1870 he returned east, settling at Seymour. Seven children have been born: Minerva J., Matilda A., Ursula F., Columbus L., Louisa C., Ada A. and Oliver H. He has held the position of justice of the peace of Seymour for thirteen years. On the 26th of November, 1885, he celebrated his golden wedding, upon which occasion he was made the recipient of many valuable presents by his friends. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious belief a Universalist.
Niece Ella Reeves was living with Mills and Rosanna in 1880. She would appear to have married Will King based on the following newspaper tidbit:
The Republic, 1 Nov 1881
Mr. and Mrs. Will King, of Columbus, were in the city yesterday. The latter was formerly Miss Ella Reeves of this city, niece of Mills S. Reeves, Esq.
The Indianapolis Journal, 9 Feb 1896
KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind., Feb. 8 - Mills S. Reeves, aged eighty-one, died at his home here this morning while sitting in a rocking chair. He had been in failing health for some time, but the suddenness of his death was quite a shock to his family. He was well known throughout this section.
The Columbus Republican, 11 Feb 1896
Hon. Mills S. Reeves died at his home at Knightstown Saturday morning at the advanced age of 86 years. He was a relative of the Reeves of this city.
The Indianapolis News, 11 Feb 1896
Mills S. Reeves
Knightstown, Ind., February 11. - Mills S. Reeves, eighty-one years old, died while seated in a rocking-chair at his home. He had been in failing health for some time.
Sources
Marriage: Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 (FamilySearch)Death: Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920 (Ancestry)
The Indianapolis Journal, 9 Feb 1896
The Columbus Republican, 11 Feb 1896
The Indianapolis News, 11 Feb 1896
Census: 1850 Census - Keokuk County, Iowa
1860 Census - Otoe County, Nebraska
1870 Census - Jackson County, Indiana
1880 Census - Jackson County, Indiana
History: History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 711 -712