G. G. Reeves was one of the sons of James Milton Reeves, of Crawford County, Georgia. He was born in Crawford County and grew to adulthood there. After marrying Martha Rogers he established his own home, somewhere on or in the vicinity of the property of his father, and started his family. All of his children were born there. Sometime in the early 1900's he moved with his family to Ben Hill County, Georgia and resumed his occupation as a farmer. He lived on a farm east of Fitzgerald, Georgia until all his children were grown, and at some point he and his wife went to live with his son R.W. Reeves, Sr. and his wife. They remained there until their deaths.

 

Several photographs exist of G.G. Reeves, including one of all his children and their spouses in front of his home in Ben Hill County. These may be viewed in the Portrait Gallery.

 

                           MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON GAULT GURLEY REEVES

 

Observation from Dot Stone's research:

G.G. Reeves  and his wife did not want "Dolphus" to marry. They wanted him to continue to live with them and care for them. However, in their later years their health failed and they lived with Dolphus and Edith. They were critical and often demanding, but in the end Grandma Reeves (Martha Ann Rogers) admitted that she had been wrong in trying to keep him from marrying. R. W., Jr. was less than a year old in 1922-1923 when they came to live with Dolphus and Edith. Martha Ann Reeves died two or three years after they came, but G.G. lived until about 1932, or 10 years after Martha Reeves died.

 

Viola Reeves, wife of William Massey Reeves, verified near the end of her life that G.G. spelled his first name as "Gault."

 

1870 Census - Crawford County, Ga.:

G.G. is living in the household of his father James M. Reeves:

"Gully" - age 5

Note: "Gully" was either a nickname, or a mispelling by the census taker.

 

1880 Census - Crawford County, Ga.:

"Gurley" is living in the household of his father James M. Reeves

Gurley - age 15 - works on farm

 

1890 Census - Not available, but G.G. was probably living in Crawford County, Ga., as he was married in 1886, and would have had several children by that time.

 

In the 1900  Crawford County Census, Roll 190, Sheet 13 &14, E.D. 1, the following appears:

G.G. Reeves - Age 35

Mittie - Age 38

Alvord L. - Age 12

James F. - Age 10

Edward C. - Age 12

Rodolphus W. - Age 10 (Note: Rodolphus was born in 1895, so his age is in error)

Amos L. - Age 9

Lona Jane - Age 2

G.G. Reeves had a homesite somewhere close to his father James Milton Reeves at this time, as they appear close together in the census schedule.

 

In the 1910 Census of Ben Hill County, GA, dated April 14th and 20th, 1910, Militia District No. 1171, Williamson's Mill, G.G. Reeves is listed as follows:

 

Gurley G. - Age 45 - farmer       

Martha A. - wife- age 47

Edward C. - son - age 19 -Farm laborer

Rodolphus - son - age 15 - Farm laborer

Amos - son - age 13 - Farm laborer

Lona - daughter - age 11- None

Massey - son - age 9 - None

Leonard - son - age 7 - None

Alma - daughter - age 5 - None

 

It is interesting that he is listed as "Gurley G." instead of "Gault Gurley," which is what several of his children said his birth name was.

Since he was referred to as "Gurley" in most censuses, it is possible that is what he was usually called, and he simply reversed his names for the sake of practicality.

Note: It is obvious from the above that G.G. Reeves moved his family from Crawford County to Ben Hill county sometime between 1900 and 1910.

 

LAND TRANSACTIONS:

 

On Dec. 12, 1906, G.G. Reeves sold for $540 ninety acres of the north portion of Land Lot 267, District 1, Crawford County, Ga. to J.J.(Joe) Reeves, a son of James Milton Reeves. Property bounded on west by Ulcohatchee creek. Deed recorded Dec, 21, 1906, Book V pg. 30.

 

G.G. Reeves apparently sold more of LL 267 to J.J.(Joe) Reeves on Nov 5, 1913, who later sold the land to the Flint River Power Company. The land is referred to as the "Reeves Fishery Site." The deed is recorded in Book J Pg 1. Since G.G. appeared in the Ben Hill county census in 1910, he apparently retained this Crawford county land for some 3 years after he moved. This information was obtained from another party.

 

In the 1920 census of Ben Hill County, Militia District 1537,  Jan 4, 1920, G. G. and his family appears as follows:

Gurley G,. - Age 55 - farmer

Martha - Age 57 - None

Rodolphus - Age 24 - Salesman - Standard ?

William H. - Age 18 - Laborer - Farm

Leonard G. - Age 17 - Laborer - Farm

Martha A. - Age 15 - None

 

By this time, Amos and Lona had apparently left home to pursue their destinies elsewhere. It appears that Rodolphus was staying close to home, employed as a salesman with an oil  company - probably Standard Oil.

 

In the 1930 census of Eatonton, Ga., Gurley G. Reeves, age 65, appears in the household of his son Rodolphus Reeves. Gurley's wife is deceased.

 

Miscellaneous Facts per Mabel Fletcher 10/18/97:

 

-Dr. Bill Dorminey was G.G.'s doctor at death

-G.G. lived with Rodolphus and Edith Reeves while they were in Eatonton, Ga.

-G.G. died at West Pine Street residence of Rodolphus Reeves

-G.G. was a vegetable gardener and gave much of his harvest away

-G.G. got along well with adults, but wasn't interested in children much.

-G.G. was probably buried by Littlefield Funeral Home, which was bought out by Paulk Funeral.

 

Recollection of Velma Reeves Cain on 7/22/2005, granddaughter of G.G., who remembered him as a girl:

 

Velma says G.G. was lean and small, and like most farmers of his day, not subtle in expressing his opinions, and intolerant of those who did not do as he thought they should. I.e., a bit of a curmudgeon!

Velma says her sister Hazel got the old A.L. Reeves family pictures, and Hazel's son inherited them.

 

Inscriptions on Gravestones:

 

G.G. Reeves: "Remember the words that I spoke unto you while I was yet with you."

 

Mittie Reeves: "a precious one from us has gone. A voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our home which never can be filled."

 

Death certificate 25615 was issued for Gurley in Ben Hill County, Ga.

 

Cause of G.G.'s death was head injury sustained from falling out of bed. Per second oldest child, grandson (Living)..