Reeves, Stephen 1824-1897

REEVES

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 2/7/2006 at 20:42:32

From the LeMars Sentinel, date August 31, 1897:
DEATH OF STEPHEN REEVES
One of the Prominent Pioneers of Plymouth County
Dies at Garretson

Stephen Reeves died at Garretson, South Dakota, Sunday, August 28, 1897, at 8:20 o'clock p.m. He was born in Kent, England, May 10, 1824, was married in 1843 to Rhoda Reeves and came with her to America in 1849, settling in Schenectady, New York, where his wife died, November 13, 1852, leaving two small children and on January 1, 1853, he was married to Mrs. Abigail Magulphin, of Schenectady, New York. This union was blessed with nine children, all of whom are still living. He moved to Kane county, Illinois, in 1855 and was a successful farmer there until 1868, when he moved to Plymouth county, Iowa, and located on a homestead in Elgin Township which adjoins the town of Seney, where he resided through all the vicissitudes of pioneer life and saw the wild prairie bloom into beautiful homes. In 1886 he moved to eastern Iowa, where he resided for a few months, then moving to Nebraska, where he lived for two years when he again moved back to Plymouth county, but soon concluded to cast his lot in South Dakota and moved to Garretson, where he spent the last six years of his life.

During the pioneer years of Plymouth county, Iowa, he was prominent in public affairs, holding many offices of trust, among them being a member of the board of county supervisors, in which capacity he made an honorable record. He was a consistent member of the M.E. Church and lived a religious life, trusting in the Master always and setting an excellent example for the large family of children which came to his care. He was a loving father and husband to the dear wife and children who are left to mourn his departure who can never find anyone to fill the vacant place left in their hearts by his going.

His second wife, Abigail Reeves and their children, also the children of his first wife, all survive him as follows: Samuel Reeves of Hitchcock, Nebraska; Mrs. Sarah J. Small of LeMars, Iowa; William H., Walter S., Josephine (error--Joseph M.) and Alfred H. Reeves of Garretson, South Dakota; A. M. Reeves and Mrs. M. H. Sheely (sic--Sheeley) of Sioux City, Iowa; M. S. Reeves of South Sioux City, Nebraska. His surviving wife also had two children by a former husband, who were babes when she married the subject of our sketch and they were the same as his own. They are Mrs. Sarah M. Jenkins of Akron, Iowa, and Mrs. E. Callihan of Oregon. All the members of the family with their husbands and wives were present at the sad last rites, excepting Samuel and Anna, who were too far away to get the summons in time.

Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church at Garretson on Monday, August 30th, at 4 o'clock p.m. and the remains taken to Sioux City on the Sioux City & Northern train where they were taken to the residence of M. H. Sheeley, one of his sons-in-law, and a short service held on Tuesday morning, after which interment was made in Logan Park Cemetery.

To those who knew Uncle Stephen, as he was called in life, it is hard to realize that he has gone. His familiar voice and step will long be missed by friends. He has gone to receive the crown of glory of which he constantly talked while with us here below. He died, as he lived, praising God, from Whom all blessings flow.
(Note--Stephen and Abigail's two eldest children, Elsie Reeves Darville and Thomas J. Reeves, are not mentioned.)