Reeves, Oscar Franklin

Summary

Father: Archibald Tanner Reeves
Mother: Mary Richardson

Birth: 1855, Lithonia, Gwinnett County, Georgia
Birth Source: Census

Death: 6 Jan 1920, Gadsden, Yuma County, Arizona
Death Source: Arizona Death Certificate

Spouse1: Mary Electa Bradley
Spouse2: Cynthia Leona Traylor
Spouse3: Annie Harland Chapman, m. 5 Jul 1908, Hill County, Texas

Narrative

Children of Oscar Frank Reeves and Mary Electa Bradley:

1. Warner Lemuel Reeves, b. 18 Oct 1876
2. Electa Reeves, b. 1878, d. 1879

Children of Oscar Frank Reeves and Cynthia Leona Traylor:

1. Richard Manley Reeves, b. 29 Jan 1882
2. Rubie Lee Reeves, b. 2 Dec 1883
3. Jimmie Etta Reeves, b. 8 Jan 1886
4. Cordelia Reeves, b. 1887, d. 1978
5. Vesta Maybelle Reeves, b. 4 Jan 1892
6. Fannie K Reeves, b. 1893
7. Ulysses S Reeves, b. 1 Sep 1897
8. Leslie Mae Reeves, b. 1903
9. Otis Flint Reeves, b. 14 Jul 1905

Children of Oscar Frank Reeves and Annie Harland Chapman:

1. Tommie Etta Reeves, b. 1910

The above is documented in the 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 census. Note that his death certificate says he was born in Alabama. Father's name is given as Archie. Census sometimes states Georgia, sometimes Alabama.

Research Notes

In many respects Oscar is a mystery. Though he was born in Georgia he moved with the family to Alabama in about 1857 or so. While in Alabama Oscar was married several times. His first wife was Alice Electa Bradley. Alice died at age 21 in May of 1879 of consumption and her year old daughter (Electa) died two months later (July). Oscar then married Cynthia Leona Traylor.

By all accounts Oscar was a drunk and frequently a mean drunk. Alice (granddaughter) and Electa (granddaughter) tell of hearing from their father (Warner) stories of Oscar coming back from town drunk and driving the wagon and horses hard.

There is some confusion as to when the family moves to Texas from Alabama. The family story is that Warner moved to Texas in about 1897 and the family came later. However, there are a couple of entries in a Dallas City Directory for the early 1890s that may indicate that Oscar came to Texas first. It is again unclear as to whether this was temporary or permanent.

There are two listing that suggest that Oscar was in Texas as early as 1891. In one listing there is an Oscar Frank Reeves living in a boarding house owned by a Mrs. Sallie Reeves for the period of 1891/92. His occupation is listed as carpenter and he is employed by the Dallas Sign Works. In another listing an Oscar Frank Reeves is living at 179 Olive, Dallas, Texas during the period 1893/94. His occupation is listed as cabinetmaker and he is employed by William Kelly. Though this might not be our Oscar Frank Reeves, the coincidence is too great to ignore.

What is documented is that in the 1900 Federal Census Oscar and the family is listed as living in Bell County, Texas. The family consist of Cynthia (wife), five daughters (Rubie L., Jimmie E., Delia, Vester, and Fannie K.) and two sons (Richard M. and Ulysses S.). All the children and Cynthia are noted as having been born in Alabama. Note that Warner is not listed as living with the family (see next generation information).

Sometime between 1900 and 1910 the family breaks up. The family story is that Warner (son) and Richard (son) drove Oscar from the house because of his drinking and abuse. Oscar is next documented in the 1910 Federal Census records where he is living in Hill County, Texas.

In this census information Oscar has remarried. His new wife’s name is Annie. She is 47 years old in 1910 and lists her birth place as Tennessee. Apparently, this is her second marriage as two step-daughters are listed with the group. The writing on the census records is very poor but the last name is Chapman and the first names appear to be Julie (or maybe Julia) and Ola Chapman. They are 15 and 11 years old respectively. A conversation with Lizelle Sikes South (Reeves relative) indicates that there might also have been a son born later. No records of this son can be found

Between 1910 and 1920 Oscar leaves this family group and next appears in the 1920 Federal census information for Yuma County, Arizona. There he is listed as a 66-year-old white male born in Alabama and living alone. He dies very shortly after this census. There is a death certificate from the State of Arizona that says he died on January 6, 1920 from “labor pneumonia”. The death certificate lists his occupation as rancher.

The certificate also says that he suffered from pneumonia for five days. This would indicate that he contracted pneumonia on or about January 1, 1920. This would be consistent with the family stories of Oscar that say he fell drunk in a ditch by the side of the road and died of exposure. Judging by the dates involved you could create a story that says he went to town to celebrate New Year’s, got too drunk to make it back to the ranch and fell into the ditch. His son Warner traveled by train from Texas to Arizona for the burial (family story).

He was buried on January 8, 1920 in the Yuma City Cemetery. This has been confirmed by a letter from Johnson Mortuary, Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, Arizona who says he is buried in location AOUW, Space 1, Lot 11, Block VIII. The AOUW indicates Ancient Order of United Workmen and was an assurance associate much like modern life insurance or burial policies. Johnson Mortuary is the company that handled the services.

Sources

Marriage3:  FamilySearch - Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965
Death:        FamilySearch - Arizona Deaths, 1870-1951

1860 Census:  Gwinnett County, Georgia
1870 Census:  Randolph County, Alabama
1880 Census:  Randolph County, Alabama
1900 Census:  Bell County, Texas
1910 Census:  Bell County, Texas
1920 Census:  Bell County, Texas

Oral Family history