William Steele Reeves, born 9 March 1794 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, was the son of Irish parents who had immigrated to the United States in 1792, about two years before his birth.  He was the first generation of his family born in the United States.  

Being orphaned in 1797 at the age of three years old, he was raised by an uncle in Nashville, Tennessee.  He married Nancy Totty in Tennessee.  Nancy was born 7 February 1799, the daughter of Robert Totty and Sarah Sandel Andrews.  

William Samuel was a farmer but also served in the governmental offices of his home area.  He enlisted and fought in the War of 1812.  Later he served as a Legislator for Hickman Co., Tennessee.  The family moved to Crawford Co., Arkansas in 1834 where he farmed and again served as a Legislator for Crawford Co., Arkansas for four years, 1842 - 1846.  

On December 29, 1845 the United States Congress accepted The Republic of Texas as a state.  Immigrants were attracted by the prospect of free land.  One of the four immigration routes into Texas was from Arkansas, crossing the Red River to north Texas.  

William S. Reeves and his family migrated from Arkansas to Texas in 1846 in a covered wagon train with neighbors to settle Peters Colony; here he was granted land near Preston Bend.  Mr. Reeves was a very active civic leader and in 1856 was a stockholder for the Memphis, El Paso, & Pacific Railroad to help get the railroad to Denison.  

William and Nancy had twelve children, six sons and six daughters.  Several of his children served Grayson Co. in prominent governmental positions.

1.  Betsy Caroline Reeves Bean
2.  John Peterson Reeves
3.  Mary Jane Reeves
4. Thomas McNairy Reeves
5.  William Jasper Reeves
6.  Mary Talitha Reeves
7.  Robert Obarr Reeves
8.  Dorinda Sandel Reeves McGlothlin
9.  Lewis Totty Reeves
10.  Matilda Jane Reeves Baird
11.  Nancy Tennessee Reeves Bradley
12.  George Robertson Reeves

William died June 7, 1872 and Nancy died March 22, 1860; both are buried at Georgetown Cemetery, outside of Pottsboro.  

BIOGRAPHY INDEX

COLD SPRINGS SCHOOLHOUSE

IRISH AMERICANS

Susan Hawkins
© 2024
Grayson County Index