You Wouldn't Believe It

REAVIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/3/2010 at 17:28:27

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Feb. 2, 1923

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT

J.W. Reavis Doesn't Look Within Many Years of His Age.

J.W. Reavis is one of the youngest old men in Grinnell. Mr. Reavis is over eighty years old and he and Mrs. Reavis are now looking forward to their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary. To see Mr. Reavis on the street one would put his age a good many years below what it really is. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Reavis lived in North Carolina and against his will was forced into the Confederate army. He saw active service and at the battle of Cold Harbor was struck just at the base of the neck by a spent minnie ball which ranged back and was cut out of the back of the neck by a surgeon with a dull knife. In spite of this unsanitary treatment Mr. Reavis recovered completely and reported for duty in thirty days.