Hiram A. Reeves Biography


	This biography appears on pages 593-594 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HIRAM A. REEVES. 

	Hiram A. Reeves, familiarly known as "Harry," has been an 
efficient representative of various manufacturing companies and is well 
known in and around Scotland, South Dakota. He has also taken an active 
interest in political affairs and has held a number of city and county 
offices, discharging the duties incumbent upon him with dispatch and 
faithfulness. He was born April 23, 1850, in the Empire state, his 
birthplace being in the vicinity of Watertown, Jefferson county. His 
parents, Abner and Laurinda (Merriman) Reeves, continued to reside in 
New York throughout their entire lives. 

	Hiram A. Reeves came to the Dakotas as a member of John I, 
Blair's engineering corps, reaching Yankton on Decoration day, 1877. In 
connection with a Mr. Wingfield of Sioux City, Iowa, he ran levels for 
two seasons for a railroad which was projected northwest of Yankton and 
up the Sioux valley. He and Mr. Wingfield took turns at the instrument. 
which was very heavy, and at the rod, which was light in weight. The 
railroad was never constructed and after the abandonment of the project 
Mr. Reeves decided to remain permanently in South Dakota, as he was 
very favorably impressed with the opportunities offered here. As the 
town of Scotland gave promise of rapid growth, he opened a hardware and 
implement store there January 5, 1880, and continued in the business 
for ten years, when he sold out and entered the employ of the Buckeye 
Reaper & Mower Company. A year later he and a Mr. Herrick, of Mitchell, 
became general managers for that company for the territory of which 
Scotland was the center. They supervised the different local agencies, 
did a great deal of collection work and in every way possible increased 
the sale of implements. Subsequently Mr. Reeves was for a few years the 
representative of Burns & Hunt, of Sioux City, and from 1898 until 1910 
was in the employ of the Baum Iron Company of Omaha. Since 1910 he has 
traveled the territory for Henry & Allen, also an Omaha firm. 

	Mr. Reeves was married in New York, November 13, 1871, to Miss 
Jennie Girard, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Wilson) Girard, the 
former a kinsman of Philadelphia's famous philanthropist. Mrs. Reeves 
was born upon the banks of the St. Lawrence river and by her marriage 
has become the mother of a son, Ernest W., the date of whose birth was 
September 25, 1872. He married Miss May Mooers, of Yankton, a daughter 
of Timothy Mooers, deceased. On the opening of Stanley county for 
settlement both Mr. Reeves and his son filed on claims. The former 
commuted his claim, but his son preferred to reside there the required 
length of time. The latter has served as United States district 
commissioner at Belvidere, South Dakota, since 1906, receiving 
reappointment at the end of his first term. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are active members of the Episcopal church of 
Scotland, which is a memorial chapel to the memory of the Rev. 
Melanchthon Hoyt, a figure prominent in the religious annals of South 
Dakota. Mr. Reeves is an enthusiastic democrat and has rendered his 
party much able service. For twenty-five years he was committeeman and 
for eight years was a member of the executive board of the state 
organization. He served on the city council for eight years and for one 
term held the office of mayor, giving to the municipality a 
businesslike administration. He was one of the board of county 
commissioners for four years and for six years was a member of the 
board of education. His record as an official is one of which he may 
well be proud, as he was always conscientious and efficient in the 
discharge of his duties. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, 
holding membership in the blue lodge and chapter of Scotland and in the 
commandery at Yankton. He well remembers the "winter of the deep snows" 
and relates that for four months the drifts were so deep at Scotland 
that the city was altogether cut off from railroad service. Moreover, 
throughout the summer belated mail continued to reach them. At the time 
of the terrific blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Reeves happened to be 
at home, but at the ringing of the church bell to guide those who were 
lost, he became alarmed, mistaking it for a call of fire. He feared 
that his store might be burning and made his way several blocks down 
the street and back to the house again through the raging storm. This 
was his first experience in a real blizzard with snow as fine as flour 
that penetrated clothing, filled the eyes and nostrils and suffocated 
as well as chilled. Although he has reached the age when many men 
retire from the active business of life, he is as alert and energetic 
as he was twenty years ago and probably has many efficient years before 
him yet. One reason for his settling in South Dakota was the hope that 
his wife's health might be improved and the invigorating climate of the 
state has strengthened her beyond all expectation. He has always 
manifested a laudable public spirit and no appeal for aid for a worthy 
cause has been made to him in vain.