Eliza Reeves(1818-1911)

REEVES, WESTLAKE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/30/2008 at 07:49:07

Maquoketa Excelsior
January 12, 1911

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE ENDED.

Mrs. Eliza Reeves, a Pioneer Resident of the City
Passed Away Monday, January 9th, at the
Advanced Age of 92 Years.

A beautiful character was removed from our midst Monday January 9th when Mrs. Eliza Reeves, aged 92 years passed away at her home on north Main street. She was seated in her rocking chair with her son Frank and grandson, William, by her side when she fell into a peaceful slumber, a sleep that knows no awakening. This dear old lady, although she had been ailing for many years was a patient sufferer and the end came as a great relief to her. Mrs. Reeve was a woman of culture and refinement. She was a great literary woman and spent many pleasant hours among her books and magazines. In her earlier days she was considered one of the most intellectual women in the city. She devoted much of her time administering to the wants of the sick and afflicted and was ever ready to go where duty called her. She was surely a grand and noble woman. To know her was to love her.

Eliza Westlake was born in Illminster, Somersetshire, England, August 6th., 1818. She was a daughter of Captain William Westlake of the 19th regulars British service. She was married to Abner Reeve at Dondas, Ontario in 1833 and came to Iowa locating in Maquoketa in the year 1884. Four children were born to them only one of whom survives, Frank Reeve of this city. She is also survived by four grand children eight great grand children and five great great grandchildren. She requested that her old pastor, Rev. S. F. Millikan officiate at her funeral and that the funeral service be a service of marked simplicity, no singing and only a prayer and reading of a chapter. The funeral was held from the late home yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock and the remains of this loved one were laid to rest in Mt. Hope cemetery.