George E. Reeve

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

George E. Reeve

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

This honored resident of Morristown is a descendent of one of the old families of the county, the members of which came to Morris county at an early date and were supposed to have originated from French stock. The father of G. E. REEVE, named Fenwick Nelson REEVE, was born July 24, 1827, and was a carpenter and builder, also carrying on farming to some extent. He married Miss Elizabeth BONNELL, a daughter of Henry C. BONNELL, whose ancestors came from New England and were originally of English extraction. He was born in Warren county, November 10, 1804 and came to Morris county at an early age. He married Miss Mary DOLAN, who died July 3, 1882, aged eighty-four years; and Henry C. BONNELL died February 20, 1890.

Fenwick Taylor REEVE, the grandfather of G. E. REEVE, was born in Morris county, February 1, 1790, and followed farming. He married Miss Rachel WOODRUFF, and they became the parents of nine children, both parents living to the good old age of eighty-seven and eighty-five respectively. By the union of F. N. REEVE and Elizabeth BONNELL were born eight children, as follows:

Mary E.;
Rachel A., who married Richard TREGISE;
David B.;
George E.;
William K.;
Minnie, who married Lucius BARBER;
Lutie, who married Addis RIDNER, and
Grace.

Mr. G. E. REEVE, our subject, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, on the 25th of March, 1863, and spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the district school, later taking up the carpenter's trade, with his father at Morristown, securing work as a journeyman. In 1889 he formed a partnership with John R. BURR, under the name of Reeve & Burr, doing all kinds of building and contracting in the building line. In the year 1895 the firm bought out the entire plant and factory of Greenwood & Hayo, and have since carried on all kinds of building mill work in addition to their already extensive business, making the largest and most complete establishment of its kind in the county. The most notable of their contracts were those for the New Jersey state hospital for the insane at Morris Plains, this state, built in 1896-8, and numerous palatial residences in and about Morristown.

Mr. REEVE was united in marriage with Miss Mary BRANT, March 19, 1890. She is the daughter of William and Emma (LINDSLEY) BRANT, both of Morristown, and she died the following November; and December 31, 1896, Mr. REEVE married Miss Emma A. FRASER, a daughter of Caldwell and Elize (LAWRENCE) FRASER, formerly of New York city. By the latter union there is one daughter, born November 14, 1897, and named Madeolin.

In his social relations Mr. REEVE is a member of the Masonic fraternity, connected with Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, Of Morristown, and he is also an active member of the volunteer fire department.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.