Reeves, Milton Othello
Summary
Father: William F. ReevesMother: Hannah M. (Gilson)
Birth: 24 Aug 1864, Rush County, Indiana
Birth Source: Death Certificate
Death: 4 Jun 1925, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana
Death Source: Death Certificate
Spouse1: Amanda Malvina Kirkpatrick, m. 26 Oct 1882, Rush County, Indiana
Narrative
Children of Milton Othello Reeves and Amanda:- Alta Doy Reeves, b. Aug 1884
- Ron Reeves, b. Jul 1886
- Paul Beatty Reeves, b. Apr 1889
- Carl Reeves, b. Sep 1896
The Columbus Republican, 15 Sep 1898
A Speed Bearing Machine
Invented by Milton O. Reeves, Which Will "Revolutionize Machinery."
Milton O. Reeves, vice president of the Reeves Pulley Co., has recently received a patent on a speed bearing machine. Mr. Reeves has been for years working out this idea and now announces it a success.
It can be attached to bicycles, motor cycles, street cars, railroad trains, and in fact every kind of a locomotive machine. By its use the exact rate of travel of a street car is plainly indicated. The motorman can readily see just how fast or how slow the car is travelling and can adjust the speed to the power that is applied.
Several of the leading scientific journals have printed articles concerning its work and it will, according to the opinion of a machine expert who recently tested it in this city, "revolutionize machinery." It is given out on good authority that this machine will be manufactured in this city.
The Columbus Republican, 10 Aug 1899
Speed Varying Device Improved
Milton O. Reeves, of this city, was yesterday granted a patent on an improvement to his speed varying mechanism.
Rushville Republican, 6 Jun 1925
Funeral Services for Milton Reeves Today
Former Rush County Man Dies at His Home in Columbus - Widely Known Manufacturer
Leaves Estate of Million
Funeral services for Milton O. Reeves, 60 years old and former Rush county, man, who died at his home in Columbus, Ind., Thursday night were to be held at the late residence this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, with burial in the Columbus cemetery.
Mr. Reeves, who was a wealthy and widely known manufacturer, had been ill for several months with cancer of the liver. He was born and reared on a farm in this county and lived here until he became of age. In 1884 he went to Columbus and took a clerical position with Reeves & Co., manufacturers of threshing outfits. When the Reeves Pulley company was organized in 1888, Mr. Reeves was made president of it and held that position at the time of his death.
He also was president of the Union Trust Company of Columbus, a director of the American Security Company and of the Federal Underwriters of Columbus.
He was married in 1882 to Miss Amanda M. Kirkpatrick, by whom he is survived. He also leaves three sons, Paul B., of Columbus; Carl M. of Detroit, Mich., and Ross F. of Rush county; a brother, G. L. Reeves, of Columbus. A brother, Marshall T. Reeves died last December. Mr. Reeves was a successful manufacturer and his estate is estimated at nearly $1,000,000.
The Republic reported on 20 Jul 1900 that Milton had received the Edward Longstretch Medal of Merit by the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for his speed varying device (variable speed transmission). Milton's company manufactured a number of car models, the first being called the Motocycle, first build in 1896. Examples of the Reeves cars can bee seen on the American Automobiles website.
Research Notes
Sources
Birth: Death Certificate, Milton O. Reeves, 1925Marriage1: Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 (FamilySearch)
Death: Death Certificate, Milton O. Reeves, 1925
Rushville Republican, 6 Jun 1925
1900 Census: Bartholomew County, Indiana
1910 Census: Bartholomew County, Indiana
1920 Census: Bartholomew County, Indiana
'A Speed Bearing Machine', The Columbus Republican, 15 Sep 1898
'Speed Varying Device Improved', The Columbus Republican, 10 Aug 1899
The Republic, 20 Jul 1900
American Automobiles - The Reeves Automobile & The Reeves Pulley Co.