Reeves, Mrs. Arthur (Elizabeth) 1844-1933

REEVES, MERCER

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 6/19/2004 at 18:50:57

Mrs. Arthur Reeves Was Resident Here for Sixty-Three Years

Funeral services were held Wednesday in the Seney Methodist church for
Mrs. Arthur Reeves, well known pioneer of Plymouth county and were
largely attended. Six grandsons carried the body to the grave.
Mrs. Arthur Reeves was born in the parish of Hawkhirst, Kent, England,
August 29, 1844, and died at her home in Seney June 5, 1933.
Mrs. Reeves passed her girlhood days in England. Her maiden name was
Elizabeth Mercer. She was united in marriage with John Eason December
16, 1865, and in 1870 with their two little children came to America and
settled here. On their arrival in LeMars the family lived for a short
time in a sod shanty northeast of Seney. In the spring of 1871 they
moved to Sioux county where a shack on the prairie was their home.
The little son, George, died of black diphtheria August 27 in that year
and on September 30, of the same year, the husband and father died of
the same disease, leaving the young wife and mother with an infant girl
to face hardships and trials in a new land among strangers.

BRIGHTER DAYS CAME
On September 3, 1872, she was united in marriage to Arthur Reeves and
they lived on a homestead one and one-half miles northeast of Seney in
which they spent the rest of their days on earth.
In 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Reeves celebrated their golden wedding anniversary
and renewed vows taken fifty years before. One year ago last January
her husband, Arthur Reeves, passed away. Besides a host of friends and
neighbors, she leaves to mourn her loss, seven children who are: Mrs.
Geo. Hughes, of Haxtun, Colorado; Mrs. C. W. Cook, Mrs. Frank Becker,
Will, Bert, and Clarence of this vicinity, and Mrs. R. E. Chambers, of
Hazel, S.D. There are also twenty grandchildren and nine great
grandchildren who will miss the kind and sympathetic love of one who
always seemed to understand.
Mrs. Reeves lived a long and useful life. She experienced pioneer life
in this county and knew what hardships and necessity meant. These but
strengthened her faith and endeared her to family and friends.
At the age of fifteen years, Elizabeth Mercer united with the Primitive
church of England. When she came to American she brought her church
letter and united with the Methodist society of Seney, there being no
organized church here at the time. When the first church was built, she
became a charter member of the church, of the Missionary society and of
the Ladies Aid society. She remained a faithful members of these
societies until she heard the Master say, “Well done” and she was taken
home.

Source: Publication and date unknown (possibly the Sioux City Journal--Elizabeth died June 5, 1933):
-----------------------------
DEATH TAKES MRS. REEVES
HONORED RESIDENT, OF SENEY, DIES FOLLOWING AN ILLNESS OF ONE WEEK

Following an illness of one week, Mrs. Arthur Reeves, one of the first
settlers in Seney community, died Monday afternoon. Mrs. Reeves suffered a
stroke Monday of last week and never rallied from the effects. Her husband,
Arthur Reeves, one of the pioneers of Plymouth County, and stalwart
upbuilders of the community, died a year ago.

Mrs. Reeves, a home builder, devoted wife and mother, kindly neighbor and
friend, will be mourned by many old associates and acquaintances. She was
one of the salt of the earth, esteemed by all who knew her. She attained
the age of 89 years.

She leaves to treasure her memory her daughters, Mrs. Frank Becker and Mrs.
C. W. Cook, of Seney, Mrs. Jessie Chambers of Hazel, S.D., and sons William,
Bert, and Clarence Reeves, of Seney.

Funeral arrangements had not been completed last evening.
~Source: The LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, June 6, 1933
-----------------------------

PIONEER RESIDENT DIES AT SENEY
Funeral Services Held For Mrs. Arthur Reeves Wednesday

SENEY, IA., Special: Mrs. Arthur Reeves, an old time resident of Plymouth county, was born on August 29 (error--July 19), 1844, in the Parish of Hawkhirst Kent county, England and died at her home in Seney on June 5, 1933, at the advanced age of 88 years, 9 months and 7 days (actually 88 years, 10 months and 17 days). Her early life was spent with her parents in England.

On December 16, 1865, Elizabeth Mercer was united in marriage with John Eason. In 1870, accompanied by their two children, George, age 3 1/2 years and Elizabeth, nine months old, they set sail for America and arrived in LeMars, Iowa, on April 26. The family lived for a short time in a sod shanty northeast of Seney. In the spring of 1871 they moved to Sioux county where a shack on the prairie was the home. On August 27 of that year the little son, George, died of black dyphtheria and on September 30 of the same year the husband and father died of the same disease.

Her faith in God was the only thing that sustained her in such a trying time as she was left alone in a new country with only a two and a half year old baby girl to comfort her through the trials and hardships of pioneer life. On September 3, 1872, she was united in marriage to Arthur Reeves and they lived on a homestead one and one-half miles northeast of Seney. In the spring of 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Reeves retired from the farm to a residence in Seney in which they spent the rest of their days.

At the age of 15 years Elizabeth Mercer gave her heart to the Lord and united with the Primitive church of England. When she came to America, she brought her church letter and united with the Methodist Society of Seney, there being no organized church here at that time. When the first church was built she became a charter member of the church, of the missionary society and of the ladies aid society. She remained a faithful member of these societies until she heard the Master say, "Well done" and she was taken home.

In 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Reeves celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and renewed vows taken 50 years before. One year ago last January her husband, Arthur Reeves, passed away. Besides a host of friends and neighbors, she leaves to mourn her loss, seven children who are Mrs. George Hughes, of Haxtun, Colo.; Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Frank Becker, Will, Bert, and Clarence Reeves, of this vicinity; and Mrs. R. E. Chambers of Hazel, N. D. There are also 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, who will miss the kind and sympathetic love of one who always seemed to understand.

Grandmother Reeves had lived a long and useful life. She experienced pioneer life in this county and knew what hardships and necessity meant. These but strengthened her faith and endeared her to her family and friends.

Funeral services were held from the home and from the Seney Methodist church on Wednesday afternoon. The same six grandsons who had carried Mr. Reeves to his resting place acted in that capacity for their grandmother.

It is not she who lieth here,
'Tis but the empty shrine--
The pitcher at the fountain broken
Spilled it's life's rich wine.

~Source: local newspaper, June 1933