  J.H. Reeves 29 July 1846 - 25 March 1930 Ellen Batsell Reeves 18 October 1854 - 5 December 1926 The Whitewright Sun Thursday, December 9, 1926 pg.1 Mrs. J.H. REEVES ANSWERS SUMMONS Last Sunday morning at 5:15 o'clock the spirit of Mrs. J.H. Reeves entered into rest of the pure and faithful. This good woman had been sick for the past 3 months, following a stroke of apoplexy, and for several weeks it had been known that she could not recover, yet her death came as a great shock to her beloved ones and friends. Deceased was the wife of J.H. Reeves, by whom she is survived. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Batsell, who came to this section in 1850 from Kentucky. She was born October 18, 1854, four miles north of where Whitewright now stands, and was among the first white children born in Grayson County, and was known to the pioneers of this section by her maiden name, Miss Ellen Batsell. In early life she became Christian, and was a charter member of the Central Christian Church, and was next to the oldest member of that church, of which she was an active and useful member. Mrs. Reeves was married to J.H. Reeves, February 25, 1875, by Rev. Robert Jones, pioneer Presbyterian minister. Before moving to Whitewright Mr. Reeves was in the general merchandise business at Kentuckytown, 3 miles west of Whitewright, and when the survey was made for the extension of the M-K-T railway south from Denison in 18-- he moved his store building to the site selected for Whitewright and established the first mercantile store in Whitewright. He and his partner, James Batsell, had charge of the platting and sale of the original town lots and directed the town's development over a period of many years. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves selected a building site for a home at the corner of Blanton and Maple streets, where they have resided for approximately 50 years. Three children were born to them, a daughter, Buena, who died in infancy; a son, Judge Jim H. Reeves of Houston, who died March 2, 1925; and Mrs. Clyde Reeves Brodhead of this city, who survives. Mrs. Reeves is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mark Ayres, north of town; and Mrs. Peter McKenna of El Paso. The funeral service was held at the residence Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. W.A. Stuckey, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Henrietta, who was a neighbor of the family for 3 years, assisted by Rev. J.E. Montgomery, pastor of the Central Christian Church and Rev. J.H. Hankins, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Rev. Stuckey spoke feelingly of the life that had been so well lived and confronted the hearts of the stricken loved ones and with the gracious promises of the gospel. At the close of the service a large number followed the remains to the City Cemetery where the body was laid to rest. The new mound was covered with flowers from relatives and friends. Several of the most beautiful wreaths were sent by relatives and friends from out of town. The active pallbearers were Lucian LaRoe, W.H. King, W.P. Vaughn, J.W. Davidson, R.H. May and John Reeves. Among those from out of town attending the funeral service were: Dr. and Mrs. E.J. Neathery, Mr. an d Mrs. Ferd Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Z.R. Langston, Mrs. T.B. Moore, Mrs. Charlie Batsell, William Batsell and Mrs. Rosa Batsell, Sherman; Mrs. Mary Guthrie, Tioga; Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Ayres, Trenton; Lon Reeves, Gould, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dee Ray, Bonham; Mrs. Ed Brodhead, Dallas; Mrs. Wayne Whittington, Ruby, a nd Mrs. Earl Thurmond, Denison.  Friday, December 10, 1926 pg. 2 WIFE OF FOUNDER OF WHITEWRIGHT IS DEAD Whitewright, Texas, December 7 - Mrs. Ellen Batsell Reeves, 72, wife of James H. Reeves, founder of the town of Whitewright, died here. She is survived by her husband and a daughter, Mrs. Clyde Reeves Brodhead, of this city. Funeral services were held at the Reeves home, conducted by Rev. W.A. Stuckey of Henrietta, former neighbor of the family, with the assistance of Rev. J.F. Fender and Rev. J. Erwin Montgomery, of this city. Burial followed at the City Cemetery in east Whitewright. Mrs. Reeves was born at the farm home of her parents, 4 miles north of Whitewright. She was married to James H. Reeves February 25, 1875.   Judge Jim H. Reeves 5 July 1893 - 1 March 1925 s/o J.H. & Ellen Reeves  The Whitewright Sun Thursday, March 5, 1925 pg.1 A pall of gloom came over Whitewright Sunday morning when a message was received here announcing the death of Judge Jim H. Reeves at Houston. Judge Reeves had been critically ill for several days, but his many friends here were unprepared for the sad news. He was such a strong man physically that his friends felt sure he would overcome the disease. Jim Reeves was born and reared in Whitewright and was one of the most popular young men this town has produced. The people of his home town had watched his career with interest and had rejoiced with his loved ones as he made rapid advance in his profession. Jim was first taken ill with influenza. His parents were kept informed of his condition daily. He made a brave fight, but Wednesday of last week pneumonia developed. His parents, Mr. an d Mrs. J.H. Reeves, and his sister, Mrs. Howard Brodhead, left at once for his bedside, where they remained until life passed from his body Sunday morning at 7 o'clock. Mr. Brodhead reached the bedside a few minutes before the end came. After funeral services were held in Houston, the body was escorted to the Katy station by members of the American Legion and a police guard of honor. The body arrived here Monday morning at 11 o'clock and was met by a large concourse of friends and taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Reeves. The funeral service at Houston was held after city officials and many others had made the request, so that the Houston friends of Judge Reeves might have the opportunity of paying their respects to their departed friend. The service was attended by hundreds of people. All traffic on Main street was brought to a standstill while the body was being escorted to the station. Those from Houston who accompanied the body to Whitewright, said that the service was one of the largest held in Houston in many y ears. The flag on the city hall was lowered to half mast when the death of Judge Reeves was announced. In the short span of a few years Jim had won the love and respect of the people of a city th at almost equaled the love that the people of his home had for him. Tuesday afternoon the people of Jim's home town gathered at the home of his parents to pay their respects to their departed friend. The service was conducted by Rev. J.F. Fender, who had known him from childhood, assisted by Rev. G.M. McNeilly and Rev. W.A. Stuckey. Rev. Fender paid a beautiful tribute to the short but useful life of Judge Reeves. Interment was at the City Cemetery. The active pallbearers were Al DeLang and Andrew Woods of Houston; Randolph Bryant, Sherman; Ben Roberts, Dallas; Bryant King and Bob Sears of this place. The floral offering was the largest ever seen here, many beautiful flowers coming from Houston, Dallas, Sherman and other places. Judge Reeves is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Reeves; and one sister, Mrs. Howard Brod head. The Sun is printing the following account of Judge Reeves' death from the Houston Chronicle, which shows in a small way the high esteem in which he was held in Houston; also an editorial from the same publication. The Sun readers are familiar with the excellent record Jim made in his home town, and for this reason we are printing what others have to say so that all may know of the wonderful success he made after he left home. "Judge Jim H. Reeves, 31, judge of the corporation court of Houston, died at 7 a.m. Sunday at a local hospital after an illness of 2 weeks. Funeral services were held at the chapel of t he Settegast-Kopf Company at 7 p.m. Sunday under the auspices of the American Legion, of which he had been a member since organization. Rev. Clifton Ferguson officiated. Pallbearers were: Captain J.J. Kuykendall, G.W. Blanchard, P.D. Hanna, R.M. Hooper, G.G. Seiber and W.J. Galbraith. Following services the bod was escorted to the Katy Depot by a police guard of honor. The body was sent over the Missouri-Kansas-Texas at 8:30 p.m. Sunday to his old home, Whitewright, Texas, for burial. T.J. Harris, Lucien Andler, Andrew Woods, Al DeLang and Miss Myrtle Ryals accompanied the body to Whitewright. MADE CITY JUDGE Mr. Reeves was appointed to the position of corporation court judge during the early part of May or Holcomb's administration and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death. There is not a traffic law violator, male or female, during the past 2 years but who remembers his smiling face at the city court, and his ready wit at weak excuses. For Judge Reeves was one of the best liked men of the legal profession in Houston. Not a lawyer but who was his friend. Court clerks idolized him. It was his friends who knew the real Judge Reeves. He was not a lawyer, nor judge, but a soldier, a lover of the out-of-doors, a hunter, fisherman, a true sportsman. Judge Reeves was born in Whitewright, Texas. As a boy he delivered the Dallas Morning News and worked during vacation time at school. When he entered the University of Texas, he was again forced to earn while learning. When he left a few years later, he carried his degree in law. He first came to Houston in 1916 where he was admitted to the bar. A partnership with John Stewart followed until the United States entered the war. Then Jim Reeves enlisted. ENLISTED AS PRIVATE He enlisted as a private in the air service and was promoted rapidly to fist lieutenant, but he gave up that rank for that of second lieutenant that he might get to the front quicker. Then after several intensive engagements with the enemy, Jim Reeves was cited for bravery. The citation is in a frame in his law office in the State National Bank Building. He would never talk about it much. Just blush when mention of it was made by a friend. But the citation was to the effect that the commanding officer of the First Army cited Second Lieutenant Reeves, A.S., U.S.A., 199th Aerial Park Squadron, for exceptional devotion to duty in three principal offenses; that he had supplied material to the Third Corps group during heavy firing and had furnished necessary information at a most trying time. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY When the war ended Jim Reeves came back and became assistant district attorney under Tom Branch. But he did not stay there long. The law office of Love, Wagner & Wagner made him an offer and he became connected with that firm up to January 1, this year. Then he joined with Andrew Woods, the two taking an office in the State National Bank Building. In 1922 he ran for county judge, and was one of the first to come out as against the Klan and all it stood for. In his campaign advertisements he let it be known that the experiences he had met across the sea with imperialism had been enough to convince him that the Klan and its principles were not his. THE EDITORIAL He came to Houston from a country town 9 years ago. "Jimmie" Reeves was his name. He had graduated from the law school at the University of Texas. When the great war came he was one of the first to volunteer. He was young and vigorous and he was glad to serve his country and his fellow men. " Jimmie" came to Houston to make his fame and fortune. It was not an easy struggle at first, for there were a lot of other country boys in the big town striving to do the same thing. But "Jimmie" smiled as he worked. He made friends easily and within a few years it seemed that everybody in Houston knew him and loved him. "Jimmie" died early Sunday morning in his thirty-first year. He who had smiled and laughed at war, he who had fought for his convictions in many a political battle in Houston, without malice in his heart, met death bravely just in the springtime of life. Last night the country boy's body was sent back to his old home town. The American Legion did him honor, city officials gathered to bid him farewell; practically the entire police force formed an escort to the train; lawyers and judges of courts stood with bowed heads. "Jimmie" has passed on."  Whitewright City Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |