Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Thomas T. REEVE ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, July 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern March 9, 1891 A Banker's death T.T. Reeve Passes From Earth The President of the Commercial Bank Dies Suddenly of Pneumonia, Aged About 83 Years- A Sketch of His Life. The death of Thomas T. Reeve removes one of the leading business men of Oshkosh. His death occurred at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home, 388 Algoma street. His illness was short. His long and active life had naturally taken away some of the vigor of his youth, but he was strong enough to come down to his business as usual last Monday, but he was attacked with pneumonia and his death followed in less than a week. Thomas Tusten Reeve was born in Goshen, Orange county, New York, January 2, 1808. He was educated at The Farmers' Hall academy at Goshen, where he was a schoolmate of William H. Seward. In 1822 he began his active life. The beginning of his commercial career was a clerkship in a store at his native city. Ten years later he removed to Newburg, N.Y., where he became connected with the mercantile establishment of Oakley, Davis & Company, first as a clear, and afterwards as a partner. He returned to Goshen in 1837 and opened a general store which he conducted until 1846. At that time he was elected cashier of the Bank of Orange county, at Goshen. In 1857 he came west and located at Milwaukee and in connection with Gilbert W. Roe he opened a banking office there. That was maintained only a year, however, and in 1858 he and Mr. Roe came to Oshkosh and purchased the Commercial bank of Fletcher & Strong. Mr. Reeve was elected president of the bank and for thirty-three years he has been at the head of the institution. Mr. Reeve was married to Miss Agnes Ross, at Newburg, N.Y., on May 19, 1836. Mrs. Reeve survives him. Four children were born to them. The first born died in its infancy and their surviving children are Mary E., wife of Congressman L.M. Miller; Caroline R., wife of John S. Fraker, and George K. All of them live in this city. There are few men more prominently identified with the commercial growth of Oshkosh then Mr. Reeve. He was an active, energetic business man. The history of his life tells its own story. His rapid advancement from a clerk in a New York town to the presidency of a bank in this city, tells the story of his energy and ability, and it is a better tribute to the man than anything that could be said. The confidence in which he was held in the community and its respect and esteem for him is a more eloquent eulogy than words of commendation. Mr. Reeve was one of the wealthiest men of this city. His death closed a successful life and he was able to pass to another life with the consciousness that he had lived well. Mr. Reeve was a communicant of the episcopal church and he was prominently identified with Trinity church of this city. He was made vestryman and treasurer of this church soon after he came to Oshkosh. Afterwards he was made junior warden and since the death of Captain Jenkins he has held the office of senior warden. The funeral will probably be held from Trinity Episcopal church at two o'clock next Wednesday afternoon.