James Milton Reeves was a farmer who spent most of his life in Crawford County, Georgia, near Roberta. He was born in Jasper County, Georgia on June 15, 1824, the son of William and Milly Cleveland Reeves. His parents later moved to Fayette County, Georgia. James married there, and later moved his family to Upson County, Georgia, and then to Crawford County.

 

James married twice and had a total of 18 children, 16 by his first wife Lousia Bates Reeves, and two by his second wife Julia Perkins Reeves. Seven children by his first wife died before reaching maturity.

 

James is said to have been a Methodist preacher, but no documentation of this has been found.

 

James enlisted in the Fayette County Horse Cavalry known as the "Georgia Generals" at age 24 while still living in Fayette County.  He later enlisted in the Georgia State Guards during the War Between the States for a period of 6 months, serving in Company A, 8th Battalion Cavalry.

 

James Milton Reeves was known as "Milt," and owned a total of 940 acres at the time of his death. In the 1860 slave census he was listed as ownig seven slaves. He is buried on the land he owned near Roberta, in the Reeves family cemetery near the family home site. Directions to this cemetery are given below.

 

If any descendants of James Milton Reeves visit this site, I invite them to correspond with me at reeves1@bellsouth.net, and I will share with them any further details about his life and progeny that is available. I would also be grateful for any additional information that can be offerred about him.

 

ADDITIONAL KNOWN FACTS:

 

The following extract was located in a pamphlet entitled "Estate Records of Crawford County, Vol III:"

 

(start quote)

REEVES, JAMES M. (dec.)

Page 238, 14 Oct 1897: A. J. JOHNSON, WALTER WHITE, F.A. ADAMS and JOHN W. HAMMOCK as appraisers returned an inventory and appraisement of the property produced to them by J. N. SMITH as Administrator. Land included: 101-1/4 acres in Lot No. 224 valued at $506.25; Lot No. 188 valued at $1,012.50; 404 acres in Lots No. 229, 266, and 267 valued at $2,020; 101-1/4 acres in Lot No. 224 valued at $506.25; and 131 acres (deed misplaced) valued at $655. They also returned rent not delivered to appraisers but in hands of renters; WAYNE REEVES 1/4 of corn and 1/5 cotton not gathered; GURLEY REEVES 1/4 corn and 1/5 cotton not yet gathered; GASPARD REEVES due 1/4 corn on 4 acres; GENE REEVES due 1/4 corn and 1/5 cotton; JAMES M. REEVES, JR., 1/4 of corn and 1/5 cotton; and JAMES M. REEVES crops not gathered; They also returned notes and accounts on the following:

BLASINGAME, J.S. CHILDRE, J.J.

REEVES. G.G. REEVES. E.W.

COCHRAN, THOMAS COCHRAN, JOHN

WALKER, W.J. AUTRY, J.H.

REEVES, G.G. & MITTIE REEVES, JOHN R.

REEVES, JAMES M., JR. PERKINS, E.C.

(end quote)

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The following is an extract from Miscellaneous Estate Records of Crawford County, GA, Vol III:

(start quote)

 

REEVES, J. M. (dec.)

 

Page 95, 3 Jan 1898: Mrs. M.J. REEVES appointed Guardian of orphans JOE and HERSHAL REEVES. Security: E.C. PERKINS, E.W. REEVES, AND G.E. REEVES. Bond: $1,628.

 

Note: Mrs. M.J. Reeves was James M. Reeves' second wife, and Joe and Hershal are believed to have been the only minor children remaining at that point, necessitating that someone be appointed their legal guardian.

 

The following is a listing of those buried in the Reeves Cemetery, about 100 yards from the old home place of James Milton Reeves.

 

REEVES CEMETERY

Crawford County, Georgia Coordinates: 324156.1N - 0841056.3W

 

Contributed by: Tina Clark Hortman, Route 1, Box 905, Roberta, Ga. 31078

 

Directions: From Roberta, Georgia go west on US 80 for about 10 miles, turn left (south) on Olive Grove Church Road (paved). There is a store at that intersection named "Racers," a gas & convenience store (Note: Store ownership and name may have changed since this was written). Proceed straight down Olive Grove Church Rd. for 3.5 miles. At that point road will change from paved to dirt. Proceed straight on dirt road, and you will  cross a bridge in another 0.4 mile. Continue straight for another  1.2 miles. It looks like a dead-end at this point, but actually, the main road continues to the left. Turn right onto the smaller dirt road, and almost immediately you will see a cleared pulloff area on the right, and a sign saying "REEVES FAMILY CEMETERY." Just beyond the sign are two iron pipe gates across logging roads. Park car in cleared space and proceed past the gate on the left, going up the hill on the graveled logging road. At the top of the hill, you will see the Reeves Family Cemetery. There is a chain link fence surrounding the cemetery. The cemetery is maintained by descendants of James Milton Reeves who live in Georgia.

 

GRAVE MARKERS

 

Inez Reeves, Daughter of J.J. Reeves (burned to death)

 

Laurenza Reeves, Son of J. M. Reeves

 

Garforde Eugene Reeves, 11 Jul 1860 - 10 Dec 1904,

Consort of Laura Reeves

 

Mittie (Milly) Reeves, Daughter of J. M. Reeves, B: 1864, D: July 1880

 

John T. Reeves, Son of J. M. Reeves (He had a twin brother)

 

Fred Reeves, Son of W. M. Reeves

 

Maude Reeves, Daughter of W. M. Reeves

INFANT, b 18 Oct 1880, daughter of Robt. Wm. Reeves

 

Cora Bell. Reeves, b 29 Jan 1894, d 13 Mar 1894 (daughter of Ethan Wayne Reeves)

 

Mrs. James M. (Louisa) Reeves, b 13 Jan 1829, D: 1876 (First wife of James M. Reeves)

 

(NOTE: James Milton Reeves' second wife, Mary Julia Perkins Reeves, died at the age of 78 in 1923, while living with J.J. Reeves, one of her sons, in Monroe County, GA. She is probably buried somewhere in Monroe County, exact location unknown. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church)

 

James Milton Reeves, b 15 June 1824, d 12 Jul

1897, Co. B, 8 BN, GA CAV - CSA

 

James Thomas Reeves (Jim Tom), b 13 Dec 1883, d 10 Feb 1908 (son of Ethan Wayne Reeves)

 

INFANT, of J.T. and Alma Majors (Alma was daughter of G.G. Reeves)

 

INFANT Son of Jim Autry and Martha Reeves Autrey

 

Duroc Reeves, Son of G. G. Reeves (no dates)

 

REEVES

Ethan Wayne Donnie Agnes Mallory

18 Oct 1857 20 Apr 1862

12 Jul 1924 9 Mar 1930

These are marble slabs side by side

 

INFANT of Franklin Harris, B: June 12, 1839, D: June 13, 1839 . These dates may be in error, as James M. Reeves did not live at this location this early. James M. Reeves was only 15 years old in 1839. A female descendant of James Milton Reeves named Charlie Grace Reeves married a Franklin Harris in the late 1800's, and this infant is probably one of their children who died shortly after birth.

 

Mr. Kermit spence

Aug 5, 1921- Apr 5, 1985

Memorial Chapel

This man died at the Roberta Nursing Home. Having been left at the nursing home by unknown persons, and having no known relatives at the time of his death, he was cremated and a burial site was donated in the Reeves cemetery. His ashes were put in a tube or pipe and buried there by descendants of the Reeves family named Gaultney. This was told to me by Gary Gaultney, one of the descendants of James Milton Reeves, during my visit to the cemetery (Paul Reeves). Subsequent to that visit, it was learned that Kermit Spence was listed in the 1930 census as living in Savannah,  Georgia, and was the son of Charles E. Spence and Minnie Emalie Spence. Charles was born Jul 1, 1884 in NC. His father was John Spence, his mother Fannie Spence. Kermit Spence had 5 siblings - Myrtle, Glennie, Elbert, Raymond, and Freddy. Their status and whereabouts are unknown.

 

A chain link fence encloses the above graves, but there are said to be other graves behind this cemetery, probably slave graves, according to Gary Gaultney. Sadly, the headstones of the slave graves were said to have been removed by hunters and used to build a firepit at some unknown time in the past, and the slave graves are no longer visible.

 

Ethan Wayne Reeves, Jr., B: April 26, 1875, D: July 3, 1926 (his body has been moved to the city cemetery in Thomaston, Ga.). He died of burns suffered in an accident.

 

For photos of the tombstones in the Reeves Family Cemetery, visit www.findagrave.com.

 

For more information about James Milton Reeves, as well as his ancestors and descendants, you may go to my complete family file at www. rootsweb.com. Click on "World Connect Project." Enter Reeves in the surname block, and James Milton in the given name block. The result will be listing of a number of links about James Milton Reeves. Scroll to the one submitted by PaulReeves94 and click on it. You will be taken to my family file, and you can read more details about James Milton Reeves, plus scroll up or down in his ancestry and descendancy as you wish.

 

This biography is a work in progress. If you have additions, questions or corrections, or wish to offer addtional information, please e-mail me at: reeves1@bellsouth.net.

 

Lineage of Paul Reeves, web page author:: James Milton Reeves > G. G. Reeves > Rodolphus Wright Reeves > Paul Reeves

 

              MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON JAMES MILTON REEVES

 

Picture of James Milton Reeves was given to me by Elsie Peugh, who got it from her mother, who got it from a cousin, who is no longer living.

 

James was a fiddler of some reknown, as reported in an Atlanta Constitution  "Gossip" column in October 1893, as follows:

"I have just got a letter from Judge James M. Reeves of Lamar's Mill saying he will be here to take part," said Judge Simmons. "Judge Reeves is 70 years old, and in days gone by was looked upon as the finest performer on the fiddle in the state. In his letter to me he says: 'I cannot say that I can beat all the others over, but I can beat more than can beat me. I have played in Atlanta, Macon, Barnesville, Butler, Griffin, Garden Valley, Starksville, etc. Some can beat me, but not many. I can name some of them: Hunter, of Griffin; Sandifer, of Houston County; House, of Carroll County; Spence, of South Carolina; Gutterberger, of Macon, all told. I do not know many of the new tunes. I stick to the old time music, the same as your father used to hear and your uncle Allen Morgan used to play.' He gave the name of some of the old tunes: Here they are: 'Billie in the Low Grounds.' 'Rackinsack Traveler.' 'Prettiest Little Gal in the County.' 'Run, Nigger, Run.' 'Angels Meet Me at the Crossroads.' 'Sugar in the Gourd.' 'Fisher's Hornpipe.' 'Speed the Plough.' 'Callahan.' 'Soldier's Joy.' 'Picnic Up the Railroad.' 'Devil's Dream.' 'Blackeyed Susan.' 'Old Mother Hare.' 'SugarJohn the Baby.' He says he can give five hundred more if we want them." Judge Simmons is down for a talk at that concert and so is Colonel George Adair; and an effort will be made to have Judge Richard Clark to tell his recollection of the old tunes.

 

In Nov. 1893, a second article about James' fiddling appeared in the Atlanta Constitution:

"Judge James M. Reeves of Crawford County, the old-time "fiddler," is at the Kimball house, the guest of Judge and Mrs. Simmons".

 

A posed photograph of James posing with the fiddle and two of his sons standing on either side of him, is in the possession of his g-grandson Paul Reeves.

 

SLAVES:

 

Per the 1860 Slave Schedule, which was performed as a part of the census, the following slaves were owned by James Milton Reeves on July 13, 1860:

 

Male -age 58 - Black              Unfortunately, the Slave Schedule gave no names for the slaves.

 

Female -age 50 - Black

Male -age 45- Black

Female - age 19 - Black

Male - age 11 - Black

Female - age 5- Black

Male - age 3 -Black

Total - 7 slaves owned

 

CENSUSES:

 

1850 Federal Census - Fayette County, GA, Roll 69, page 66, 29th district, pg 1 of 3:

Milton Reaves - age 26 - male -Farmer

Louisa Reaves - age 21 - female

Albert A. Reaves - age 5

William B. Reaves - age 3

Rodolphus Reaves - age 2 - male (Note: Rodolphus died small per Elsie Peugh)

Martha C. Reaves - age 1 -female

John Reaves - age 6/12 - Male

James Reaves - age 6/12 - male

 

1860 Federal Census - Crawford County, GA:

James Reeves - age 36 - male - farmer

Louisa Reeves - age 31 - female

Martha Reeves - age 11 - female

John Reeves - age 9 - male

Robert W. Reeves - age 7 - male

Thomas Reeves - age 5 - male

Ethan Reeves - age 3 - male

Franklin Hortman - age 19 - farm laborer

 

1870 Federal Census - Crawford County, GA:

James Reeves - M - age 46 - farmer

Louisa - age 41- F - keeping house

Martha - age 20 - F- at home

William - age 17 -M- farmer (This is Robert W., as shown in 1860 census)

James - age 14 - M- at home (This is curious, as James does not appear in 1860 census)

Etha - age 12 - F- at home (Note: This is Ethan, mis-spelled and mis-entered as female)

Jaspara - age 11 -M- at home (This is Garforde Eugene, called "Jasper.")

Milly - age 7 - F- at home

Gully - age 5 - M- at home (This is G.G. Reeves, called "Gurley.")

Loisa - age 3 - F- at home

Jean - age 1 - F - at home (Jean was a male)

 

Note: The 1870 death schedule for Crawford County shows a John Reeves, age 18, who died in September of 1870 at home. This is most probably the John who appeared in the 1860 census above at age 9..

 

1880 Federal Census - Crawford County, Ga:

James Reeves -57- M-farmer

Julia - age? - F- wife - House Keeping (Note: Louisa had died, and James had remarried to Mary Julia Perkins)

E. Waine - 23 - M - son - Farmer

Lonia - 18 - F - daughter - Keeping House (Note: This is probably Ethan's wife Donie)

Gurley - 15 - M -son-  works on farm

Louisa - 13 - F - daughter

Jean - 11 - M -son

Camilla - 6 - F - daughter

Bill Durham - 15- black - M - Servant - works on farm

Joe - 2 - M - son (Note: This was first child of James and Julia)

Mittie - 16 - F - daughter - deceased (Note: This was lined out, indicating she died during year of census)

 

1890 Census is non-existent, but James was still alive and living in Crawford County.

1900 Census - Crawford County, Ga.:

James Reeves was deceased. Mittie Reeves must be Mary Julia Reeves, who was his 2nd wife:

Mittie E. Reeves - Head of Household - 55

Camilla Reeves - Daughter - 27

Joe - Son - 21 - Farmer (Apparently Joe was running the farm)

Herschel - Son - 18

 

REAL ESTATE & OTHER PROPERTY:

 

October 25, 1856: James bought land in Upson County, Ga. (originally Houston) from Mary Toler for $250, 1st District, Land Lot # 199. The number of acres is indistinct on the microfilm deed record available. Deed book 24-page 176.

 

Dec.  1, 1856: James bought household goods from W.B. Spain for the sum of $500. The goods are listed as "one sorrell mare, 40 bushels corn, two beds and bed clothing, one bureau, one sewing table, cooking and washing utensils, two trunks, one chest, one couch, two pictures, one looking glass, one two-horse wagon, one rifle, and other goods which are indistinct on the copy available. Deed Book 24 - page199, Upson County, Ga. .

 

In 1857, James was reportedly living in Houston County, Ga (Now Upson County), .

 

James bought Lot# 210 South of Auchumpkee Creek and the west half of Lot# 100. All lying in the 1st District of Houston County (Now Upson). Lot containing 450 acres for $2,700. James sold this land to William Worthey Aug. 9, 1858. Jsmes was living in Crawford County, Ga. in 1858.

 

Aug. 15, 1859: James bought land from Joseph Brown-504 acres, Lots# 229,266&267 - Dist 1, that lies east of Auechunkaw dreek, Crawford County, Ga. Sale price was $4,975. Recorded deed book Y, pgs. 154-155.

 

January 23, 1867: James bought from Thomas Raines for $600 the west half of Land Lot 220 (101-1/4 acres), District 1, Crawford County, Ga. Washington C. Cleveland and John R. Reeves witnesses. Recorded deed book H pg. 220.

 

Dec 16, 1868. James bought from Thomas Raines for $1200 Land Lot #188, first district, Crawford County, Ga. Washington C. Cleveland was one of witnesses. Deed book H, pg 288

 

Oct 18, 1869 James bought the east half of LL #224 1st district, formerly Houston now Crawford county, Ga. from from John R. and Annie P, Miller for $700. Total 101-1/4 acres, Recorded deed book Y pgs. 155-156.

 

Recorded May 18, 1871: Agreement between Henry J. Lamar, James M. Reeves, Taylor F. Gibson and George F. Holloman. Parties formed a partnership to erect and run a water mill  on Ulcohachee Creek for the purpose of grinding wheat and corn. Mill to be built on land owned by James M. Reeves. Twelve total shares - 3 by Lamar, 4 by Reeves, 1 by Holloman, and 4 by Gibson. Parties made various agreements to furnish right of way, timber, water rights, mill stones, etc., and to divide profits according to shares in partnership. Note: This may be the "Lamar's Mill" referred to in the Atlanta Constitution fiddle article above. Deed book H, pgs 455-456.

 

MILITARY:

 

James was a private in the 8th Battalion Georgia State Guards - Co. B - Cavalry - Crawford County, Ga. He enlisted July 7, 1863, and mustered out on January 7, 1864. Capt John Ellis was commander of company B. A roster of this company appears in "History of Roberta and Crawford County, Ga.-1976."

 

DEATH:

 

Obituary - The Butler Herald, July 13, 1897;

"Death of Milton Reeves of Crawford County who lived near Gray's Mill died on Thursday last. Was about 60 years old. Was brother-in-law to Eugene Perkins."

 

Obituary - Macon Telegraph, July 14, 1897

J. M  Reeves Crawford County

Knoxville, Georgia July 13

"Mr. J. Milton Reeves, an old man living some twelve miles west of this place died Monday morning. He leaves a large number of children, sons and daughters."

 

LEGAL DOCUMENT FROM CRAWFORD COUNTY RECORDS RELATING TO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAMES M. REEVES AND WILLIAM REEVES, HIS FATHER:

(Crawford County, GA, Book Y, page 155. James M. and one of his brothers and two of his sisters gave up their inheritances from their father William Reeves' estate, in favor of two of their sisters' husbands, Romulus Matthews and Terrell Jackson, because the first four had previously received an inheritance from their mother Camilla White Reeves (formerly a Cleveland). Lawyers from Fayette Co. went to Crawford County to execute the will.).:

 

This indenture made and entered into this the fifth day of December, 1856 between the CRAWFORD COUNTY following parties, namely James M. Reeves, Romulus W. Matthews in light of himself and wife, and Terrell A. Jackson, now of the state of California and John T. Reeves of Lee County for himself, all of the state aforesaid, but Terrell A. Jackson, and all legatees of the estate of WILLIAM REEVES, late of Fayette County deceased. That James M. Romulous W. represents himself and Terrell A. Jackson two shares in said estate and John T.Reeves, as by these presents relinquish all their rights and title to William R. Miller and Joshua H. Starr legatees in right of their wives Eleathy A. Miller, Melissa C. Starr, to said estate in the following manner and under the following restriction, - that portion of the estate now in the hands of the administrator on said estate or that may come into the hands

of said administrator or his successor, (the Negro property given to the children of Milly W. Reeves by their grandfather William Cleveland wholly exempted from this relinquishment) but all the rest of said estate is herein included. The estate is to be divided into nine shares equally between the widow and her eight children and the said William R. and Joshua W. is to receive one share apiece of the nine shares or two shares, which two shares are to be forever exempted from a division with the said James M. Romulous W. in right of himself and wife and in right of Terrell A. Jackson and John R. Reeves,

for himself and the said two shares the said William R. and Joshua W. are to hold forever in fee simple - and further the said James M. John R. Romolous W. in right of himself and wife and Terrell A. Jackson does by these presents forever in fee simple relinquish their right and title to their interest in the division of land laid out and run off to the widow of said deceased William Reeves to the said William R. Joshua W. for their own use and benefit forever. In witness whereof we have here unto set our hands and seals, this the day and year above within. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us:

WASHINGTON C. CLEVELAND JAMES M. REEVES,LEONIDAS BREWSTER JOHN R. REEVES.

ROMOLOUS W. MATTHEWS

GEORGIA Personally appeared before me Leonidas Brewster, one of the witnesses of the same

FAYETTE COUNTY deposed and said that he signed the same as witness and that the said James M. ReevesJ.R. Reeves and R.W. Matthews, sign the the same for the within contents and that he was a

witness to the same. Sworn to before me this the 11th February 1857. M.W. HAMMOCK, J.P. LEONIDAS BREWSTER.Recorded August 7, 1857