STEPHEN REAVES, Obituary, 25 Sep 1905, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 15 April 2001 ***************************************************************** Tyler Daily Courier, Monday, September 25, 1905 UNCLE STEPHEN REAVES IS DEAD OLDEST CITIZEN, OLDEST LAWYER, AND OLDEST CHURCH MEMBER AND ONE OF TYLER'S GREAT MEN DIES TODAY Uncle Stephen Reaves passed away at his home in this city at two o'clock this morning. At the time of his death he was 89 years of age. His death has cast a gloom over the city, notwithstanding it was known that he could live but a few days or a few weeks longer. He was intimately associated with the history of Smith county from his early manhood up to a few years ago, when on account of his age and the loss of his eye sight, he withdrew from the practice of law, his chosen occupation. Judge Reaves was born in Hancock county, Georgia, on the 3rd day of September, 1816. He moved to Alabama in the year 1839, where he remained for about six years, when he moved from there to Tyler, Texas, landing in this city in April, 1847. It is understood that at the time of his death he was the oldest inhabitant of Tyler. He came here a number of years before the court house or any county building had been erected. What is now known as the public square was then occupied by native timber. Judge Reaves was married to Miss Amie Ann Walker, daughter of Wm. S. Walker, of Tyler. Mrs. Reaves was also one of the very earliest settlers in this county. She died in 1895. Judge Reaves leaves six children ably know throughout the whole state. No man stood higher in the confidence and esteem of his fellow man. He was a Christian gentleman, and a friend at all times to the needy. His death is deeply regretted but his many acts of kindness while living will be remembered as long as the present generation shall live. Judge Reaves leaves five children as follows: S. D. Reaves, W. L. Reaves, E. T. Reaves, A. S. Reaves, and Miss Emma Reaves. His oldest daughter Mrs. Texana Fones died about four years ago. She is remembered as the wife of Daniel G. Fones of Little Rock. Judge Reaves was the last living member of what is know now as the First Baptist church in Tyler. He was looked upon as one of the pillars of that organization and was a large contributor to the church. Out of respect to the deceased, the business men in the city of Tyler will close their doors from ten a.m. to eleven a.m., in order that all may have the opportunity to pay their last respects to this great and good man. The Masonic lodge will officiate at the funeral. The legal profession met this afternoon and adopted resolutions of respect, which will appear in tomorrow's issue of this paper. The funeral is announced for ten o'clock tomorrow at the residence THE TYLER BAR Held a Meeting This Afternoon Appointing a Committee to Adopt Resolutions this afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, the members of the Tyler Bar met at the court house, there being a full attendance, for the purpose of drafting suitable resolutions on the death of Judge Stephen Reaves. Messrs. Cone Johnson, Gordon Russell, T. O. Woldert, J. W. Beaird, H. P. Marsh, F. J. McCord and B. B. Beaird were appointed to draft the resolution and report at a meeting to be held at 8:30 o'clock in the morning. A full attendance is desired at this time. MASONS All Masons in the city are hereby summoned to attend a special communication of St John's Lodge tomorrow morning promptly at 9:30 for the purpose of paying the last and rites to our deceased brother, Judge Stephen Reaves. S. S. McCLENDON, W. M. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Tyler Daily Courier, Tuesday, September 26, 1905 LAID TO REST THIS MORNING ALL THAT IS MORTAL OF UNCLE STEPHEN REAVES WAS BURIED THIS MORNING IN OAKWOOD CEMETERY The remains of Judge Stephen Reaves were placed to rest in the family burying ground in Oakwood cemetery this morning at ten o'clock. The funeral services were held at the family home on North Bois d'Arc street and were conducted by Rev. Risner of the First Baptist church. The Masonic faternity in this city officiated; the bar of Tyler attended in a body, and all the older citizens of the town were present. The procession was one of the largest ever witnessed in our town. At ten o'clock a.m. all the business houses in Tyler closed their doors for one hour out of respect to the deceased, who was the oldest male inhabitant of this city. Judge Stephen Reaves has gone to a rich reward awaiting him in the great beyond. DIED Monday, Sept. 25th, 1905, at 3 p.m. Uncle Stephen Reaves forever closed his eyes to the scenes of earth, and his blood washed spirit was wafted away on Angel wings to the paradise above. He was 89 years old and had lived in Tyler 58 years; was one of the charter members of the First Baptist church ever organized in Tyler, and lived a consistent member of that church for more than half a century. He was a lawyer by profession, honest and straight in all his dealings, and a friend to widows and orphans. He was a good Christian man and loved his church and country. In 1861 when the distant rumblings of the war chariots began to echo all up and down the peaceful valleys of the land of Rest, like a true and loyal son of Dixie he shouldered his musket and bravely took his stand upon the side of Southern rights and state sovereignty, and through long changing years, in seasons of want and in days of abundance, perplexed by difficulties and distressed by sorest trials, his faith in Christ never faltered, and when the war was over and had ended disastrously to the side which he had espoused, like a brave defender of the lost cause he returned to his desolate home and corageously resumed the practice of law, and all through these many years he lived an exemplary Christian life, and when the roll is called up yonder he'll be there. We knew him for more than forty years and enjoyed his conversations so often. How sad the thought that we shall never again see his face on earth. Good-by, Uncle Stephen, till the resurrection morn. Oh, grave where is thy victory? J. J. BOYETTE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tyler Daily Courier, Tuesday, September 26, 1905 THE BAR'S RESOLUTIONS (Picture) - This picture hangs in the First Baptist Church Archives - Note by Mary Love Berryman, FBC Archivist JUDGE STEPHEN REAVES From a Photograph Made 12 or 15 Years Ago. The following resolutions were drafted and adopted by the Tyler Bar To the Hon. F. J. McCord Chairman Your committee appointed at a meeting of the Bar of the City of Tyler on the 25th day of September, 1905, to draft and present suitable resolutions upon the death of Judge Stephen Reaves, who departed this life in the 25th instant, at the residence where he had lived for about fifty years, beg have to report as follows: Judge Stephen Reaves was born in Hancock county, Georgia, Sept. 3, 1816, and moved from the state of Alabama to the city of Tyler in the year 1846 and resided here until the date of his death. At the time of his death he was the oldest citizen of Tyler and the oldest lawyer who had practiced in the courts of this place; he having been granted license in practice by the first district court which was organized in this county, which was in the year 1846. At the date of his death he was eighty nine years old and had been a useful and honored practioner of law for nearly sixty years. His early education was limited, and it was by his own exertion, industry and imdomitable will that he took high rank in the profession as a lawyer and as a trusted public citizen and public official during the years of his long residence at this place. A few years ago he became afflicted and helpless and was confined to his bed for many months, where he was patiently and lovingly nursed by his children and family, who have spared no pains to prolong his life and make easy his affliction. For nearly two years he has been blind, but at all times he has been cheerful and resigned and has had the tender sympathy of our entire citizenship who today mourn his death, which in view of his great age and enfeebled condition was not unexpected. Judge Reaves held several public offices of importance in the State of Alabama before his removal to Texas. By reason of his having to pay security debts he arrived in Smith county with only 12 1/2 cents in money, but by hard work; untiring industry and worthy frugality he had accumulated a nice estate and lived to see a large family of children prosperous and well provided for. In the year 1851 he represented Rusk and Smith counties in the senate of Texas. Drawing a short term, he served one regular and one extra session. His career in the senate was marked by persistent opposition to the Nuecces Land bill and to the River Appropriation bill, both of which passed; but Judge Reaves, having ammended the latter by a clause which submitted it to ratification by the people, had the pleasure of seeing it defeated at the polls. During his term in the senate he was tendered a special commission as a Supreme Judge by Governor P. H. Bell, but he declined this proffered honor, preferring to remain in the position to which he had been elected by the people. From 1854 to 1864 he served as Justice of the Peace at Tyler; and on a number of occasions the members of the Bar elected him to act as special judge in the County and District Courts. Judge Reaves was a good solid democrat and a typical Southern gentleman. At the close of the war he was again at the foot of the ladder financially, but went to work with renewed energy, and in 1879 his office and many valuable papers and documents were destroyed by fire. He was not discouraged by this additional reverse, but though advanced in years soon accumulated a comfortable property. Judge Reaves was a member of the following law firms: Robert & Reaves, the firm being composed of Governor O. M. Roberts and Judge Reaves; Reaves & Dodd; Reaves & Meliwaine (?), and during much of his career as a lawyer he was alone in the practice. He obtained a wide reputation as an able and painstaking lawyer a safe and concientious advisor, a man of strictest integrity, justice and kindness. He was quiet and unassuming in his manner, social and friendly with all and held in the very highest esteem both as a lawyer, citizen and friend, and such is the testimony of all those who have known him. At the time of his death he was probably the only living charter member of the First Baptist church of Tyler. His Christian life was exemplary: he walked uprightly and lived in the fear and favor of the Lord. He was never known to use an oath, to willfully neglect a duty or fail in the discharge of his duty as a citizen, lawyer, public official or Christian. He reared a large family of children, some of whom with his wife, preceded him to the grave. He is survived by two children who reside in Tyler, to wit: Hon. S. D. Reaves and Mrs. Morgan Oden, and three sons who reside in Little Rock, Ark. - Will Reaves, Tom Reaves, and Sid Reaves, all of whom have the sympathy of the members of this Bar and of the general citizenship of Tyler in this their bereavement. Judge Reaves was a stalwart character, and example to his generation for truth, integrity, industry, neighborly kindness and Christian fortitude. We ask that a copy of these resolutions be presented to the District Court of this county and spread upon the minutes of the Court and that a copy be furnished to the family of the deceased and to the local newspapers for publication. B. B. Beaird Gordon Russell Cone Johnson H. B. Marsh J. W. Beaird F. J. McCord T. O. Woldert Committee