JUDGE STEPHEN REAVES AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 2 February 2001 ***************************************************************** JUDGE STEPHEN REAVES AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter XVII - Pages 96-100 - Picture on Page 96 Judge Stephen Reaves was born in Hancock county, Georgia, September 3rd, 1816; settled in Alabama in 1839; and emigrated to Texas April, 1847. He is, properly speaking, an old-timer -- being the oldest male settler in Tyler at this writing. Judge Reaves is a lawyer by profession, and was enrolled as a practicing attorney at the spring term of the district court of Smith county in 1847, and has since occupied a distinguished position as a lawyer since that time. He has always been a safe counselor, and his advice on a legal point is received as good authority. He is what the world terms a successful lawyer -- makes the necessary preparation and is ready for trial. He has the confidence of the people, and receives the best of attention when either addressing the court or jury. Being a pleasant and forcible speaker, he impresses his hearers with the honesty of his convictions. He is logical and pointed, presenting the strong points in his case. In the probate practice he is quoted as good authority and his opinion considered as settling any given question. When a member of the Texas senate, he took a prominent part in framing a good code of laws. He is a man of acknowledged ability, and the very soul of honor, and looked to as a leader. His life appears to have been a placid and successful one -- of pleasing manners and cheerful disposition, he has endeared himself to our people. Having lived a consistent member of the Baptist church, his example has been a model one. Judge Stephen Reaves married Miss Amie Ann Walker, daughter of Wm. S. Walker, a prominent and leading man of Tyler, who died a few years after the civil war. Mrs. Reaves was a Christian woman of intellence and popular with those who knew her. She died in this city in 1895, and was buried in Tyler cemetery. They had five children, Texana Dustin, Stephen (Pete) Douglas, William Lee, Edwin Thomas and Algernon Sidney. Miss Texana Dustin Reaves married Daniel G. Fones, of Little Rock, Ark. Mrs. Fones was a woman of fine accomplishments and of popular manners. She had a host of friends and admirers. They had no children. Mr. Fones is now a leading hardware merchant of Little Rock. Stephen (Pete) Douglas Reaves married Miss Bengia Abbott, of Appomattax, Va., and resides in Tyler. They have one child, James Gould, who is bookkeeper for Hamblin Manufacturing Company of Little Rock, Ark. Gould is a young business man of much promise. S. D. (Pete) Reaves is in the insurance and real estate business and driving a good trade. William Lee Reaves married Miss Hattie Hobson, of Hot Springs, Ark., and lives in Little Rock. They have three children -- William Hobson Hart Walker and Helen. He is a leading business man of that enterprising city. Edwin Thomas Reaves married Miss Hattie Whitmore, of Omaha, Neb., and are residents of Little Rock, Ark. They have three children -- Hattie Lucile, Lottie Fones and Emma Whitmore. Mr. Reaaves is assistant cashier of the German National Bank of that city, and a leading business man. Algernon Sidney Reaves is a single man, and like his brothers Will and Tom, makes his home at Little Rock. He is traveling agent for the Consumers' Oil Mill, at his home. Judge Reaves at this writing is afflicted with rheumatism and his eye- sight is failing him. He, however, enjoys a good appetite and sleeps well. IT is his declining years; and he is cheerful making the autumn of life one of serene happiness and contentment. It has been a busy and useful life with Judge Reaves, the grandest and oldest citizen of Tyler. ERRATA: Page 98, an omission: Miss Emma Reaves married Morgan Oden. They reside at the old homestead in Tyler, Texas. Mrs. Oden is a good business man of this city. Judge Reaves makes his home with them.