Horace Orville Reavis (1890 - 1967)

Born 3 Oct 1890 in Mulberry Grove, Bond County, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Maude Alice (Rollings) Reavis — married 26 May 1920 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States

Died 28 Jul 1967 at age 76 in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Larry Ridgley [send private message]

Private Horace Reavis served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 29 May 1918
Unit(s): Company A, 10th Infantry, 14th Division
Service ended: 24 June 1919

Biography

Horace Orville Reavis was born on 3 Oct 1890 in Mulberry Grove, Bond County, Illinois, United States, son of Will Reavis FamilySearch Person: G68W-VR6 and Ida Belle (Reavis) Helms (1869 - 1938). His step father was Benjamin Franklin Helms (1874 - 1962).

His siblings were:

1. Clarence Smith (1892 - 1972)
2. Clifford Franklin Helms (1898 - 1956)

On June 5, 1917, Horace registered for the draft in Bond County, Illinois. He was a resident of Keysport [Bond Co.], Illinois, age 26, a natural born citizen born Oct. 3, 1890 in Mulberry Grove [Bond Co.], Illinois. He was single, had no dependents, and was working as a machinist for the Chicago & Northwestern Rail Road. He was described as tall, of medium build, with grey eyes and light brown hair, was not bald and had no physical disabilities. ^[1]

Horace served in the U.S. Military during the First World War as a Private in Company A, 10th Infantry, 14th Division. He entered service on May 29, 1918 in Greenville, Illinois; sent to Ft. Thomas, Kentucky; transferred to Rock Island, Illinois; and was discharged on June 24, 1919 at Camp Custer, outside of Augusta, Michigan.^[2][3]

Horace married Maude Alice Rollings (1889 - 1965) on 26 May 1920 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States. Their children were:

1. Horace Julius Reavis (1922 - 2000)
2. Miriam Alice (Reavis) Hockin (1923 - 2007)
3. Winifred Louise (Reavis) Ormae (1932 - 2020).

In April 1940, Horace Reavis, age 49, his wife Maude, age 50, and children Julius, 18, Miriam, 16, and Winifred, 7, were living at 508 South Seventh Street in West Terre Haute, Indiana. Horace was working as a laborer on a farm, Maude was working as a cutter for a WPA sewing project, and Julius was working as a school aid. All three children had attended school.^[4]

Horace died on 28 Jul 1967 of cancer of the bladder and prostate at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon aged 76.^[5][6]

Research Notes

1. Birth and Parentage: Direct, primary sources for Horace's date and place of birth have not yet been found, nor have those proving his parentage. However, secondary sources are available that speak to his date of birth and/or parentage.

I am presuming for the moment that Horace Orville is the biological son of Ida and the son of Will Reavis. He has her maiden name. He was born a year before Ida married her first husband (Edward Smith), and several years before she married Benjamin Helms. In some records, she is named as his mother.
Benjamin Helms seemed to claim him as his own in the 1900 census, but he also claimed Clarence Smith as his own, even though he was the son of Ida's first husband. This assumes that the census copy is accurate and the information was provided by Benjamin or Ida, and not a neighbor or other non-member of the home. It is also a little puzzling that Ida only claims to have mothered one child, presumably Clifford. But, of course, that may only indicate children born to this husband even though that was not the information wanted.
In the 1910 census, however, Ida said she had given birth to 3 children, and Orville was surnamed Reavis in this enumeration. This seems to bear out her being the mother of Horace Orville Reavis.
In her 1938 obituary, Orville Helms [sic] is mentioned as her surviving son, along with his 2 [half-]brothers.
In the 1956 obituary of Clifford Helms, Horace Revis [sic] is mentioned as a surviving half-brother.
Although none of this proves anything absolutely, the preponderance of evidence shows that Horace Orville is almost certainly the biological son of Ida Belle Reavis and possibly the son of "Will Reavis", and the step-son of Benjamin Helms.

• No birth record found yet
• Jun 1900 census: Orvill Helms [sic], son [sic] of Benj Helms and presumed son of Belle Helms, born Oct 1890 in Illinois, age 9
• Apr 1910 census: Orville Reavis, son [sic] of Benjamin Helms and presumed son of Ida B Helms, age 19, born in Illinois
• Jun 1917 draft card: born 3 Oct 1890 in Mulberry Grove, IL
• 1919 military service index card gives his date of birth as 3 Oct 1890
• Honor Roll of Kalamazoo County, 1917,1918,1919, 1920. Gives Horace's birth as Oct 3, 1890, Mulberry Grove, IL, son of Ida Helms Reavis.
• Jan 1922 "Orville Reavis" age 31, born in IL was named as the father of Horace Julius Reavis
• Apr 1923 "Orville Reavis", age 33, born in IL, was named as the father of Miriam Alice Reavis
• Apr 1930 census age 39, born in Illinois
• Sep 1932 "Horace Orville Reavis", age 43, born in IL, was named as the father of Winifred Louise Reavis
• Jan 1938 obituary for Ida Belle Helms names Orville Helms [sic] as her surviving son.
• Apr 1940 census age 49, born in Illinois
• Apr 1942 draft card: born 3 Oct 1890 in Mulberry Grove, IL
• Aug 1944 Voter Registration gives his place of birth of Mulberry Grove, IL, and parents' names as Will Reavis and Ida [no last name]
• Death certificate gives birth Oct 3, 1890 in Mulberry Grove IL. Informant was daughter Mrs. Winifred E. Ormae
• Headstone photo has year born 1890

2. Marriage and Children: Direct, primary sources for Horace's date and place of marriage have not yet been found. However, secondary sources may be available that have a bearing on his marriage.

• Jan 1922 "Orville Reavis" and "Maude Alice Rollings" were named as parents of Horace Julius Reavis
• Apr 1923 "Orville Reavis" and "Maude Alice Rollings" were named as parents of Miriam Alice Reavis
• Apr 1930 census, wife Maud. He was age 39, married age 29, and she was 40, married age 30. Son Julius, 8, and daughter Mirriam, 6
• Sep 1932 "Horace Orville Reavis" and "Maude Alice Rollings" were named as parents of Winifred Louise Reavis
• Apr 1940 census, wife Maude. He was age 49, she was 50. Son Julius, 18, daughter Miriam, 16, and daughter Winifred, 8
• Apr 1942 draft card: Mrs. Maude Reavis, at same address, was named as closest relative.

3. Census and Other Records: 1900 census of Seminary Township, Fayette County, Illinois Census date 1 Jun 1900; actual enumeration date 8 Jun 1900 Abstracted by Ron Johnson on 28 Feb 2022.

• Benj Helms, head of house, white, male, born June 1872, age 37 [?? should be 27], married 3 years, born in Indiana, both parents born in Indiana, occupation is farmer, can read, can write, can speak English, rents a farm
• Belle Helms, wife, white, female, born Feb 1869, age 37, married 3 years, mother of 1 child, 1 child still living, born in Indiana, both parents born in Indiana, can read, can write, can speak English
• Orvill Helms [sic], son [sic], white, male, born Oct 1890, age 9, single, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Illinois, attended school 4 months
• Clarence Helms [sic], son [sic], white, male, born Sep 1892, age 7, single, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Illinois, attended school 2 months
• Clifford Helms, son, white, male, born May 1898, age 2, single, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Illinois. 1910 census of Seminary Township, Fayette County, Illinois Census date 15 Apr 1910; actual enumeration date 10 May 1910 Abstracted by Ron Johnson on 1 Mar 2022.
• Benjiman [sic] F Helms, head of house, male, white, age 37, married once, this marriage 13 years, born in Indiana, both parents born in Indiana, occupation is farmer on a farm on his own account, rents farm
• Ida B Helms, wife, female, white, age 40, married twice, this marriage 13 years, mother of 3 children, 3 children living, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois, speaks English, can read and write
• Clifford Helms, son, male, white, age 11, single, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Illinois, speaks English, can read and write, attended school
• Orville Reavis, son, male, white, age 19, single, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois, speaks English, occupation is laborer on home farm, can read and write, attended school

1930 census of Wabash Township, Clark County, Illinois Census date 1 Apr 1930; actual enumeration date 2 Apr 1930 Abstracted by Ron Johnson on 7 Mar 2022.

• Horace O Reavis, head of house, rents home, lives on a farm, male, white, age 39, married, age at first marriage 29, can read and write, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois, occupation is laborer on steam railroad, is a veteran of the WW
• Maud Reavis, wife, female, white, age 40, married, age at first marriage 30, can read and write, born in Illinois, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois
• Julius Reavis, son, male, age 8, single, attended school, born in Indiana, both parents born in Illinois
• Miriam Reavis, daughter, female, age 6, single, attended school, born in Indiana, both parents born in Illinois

1940 census of West Terre Haute Ward 3, Sugar Creek Township, Vigo County, Illinois Census date 1 Apr 1940; actual enumeration date 10 Apr 1940 Abstracted by Ron Johnson on 7 Mar 2022.

• Renting 308 S. 7th St, Horace Reavis, head of house, male, white, age 49, married, completed 7 years of schooling, born in Illinois, 1935 lived in same house, occupation was laborer for farm
• Maude Reavis, wife, female, white, age 50, married, completed 8 years of schooling, born in Illinois, 1935 lived in same house, occupation was cutter for WPA - sewing project
• Julius Reavis, son, male, age 18, single, attended school, completed 3 years of high school, born in Indiana, 1935 lived in same house, occupation was NYA school aid
• Miriam Reavis, daughter, female, age 16, single, attended school, completed 8 years of school, born in Indiana, 1935 lived in same house
• Winifred Reavis, daughter, female, age 7, single, attended school, completed 1 years of school, born in Indiana, 1935 lived in same house

Sources

1. ↑ United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7WMD-3P3Z: accessed 7 March 2022), Horace Orville Reavis, 1917-1918.
   Right-click HERE to view original registration card.
2. ↑ United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W9KY-41N2: accessed 7 March 2022), Horace Orville Reavis, 24 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA film 76193916, roll 189A (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985) Right-click HERE to view original index card.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Michigan, U.S., Honor Roll of Kalamazoo County, 1917-1919 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: 2020. Original data: Mrs. O. H. Clark. Honor Roll of Kalamazoo County, 1917,1918,1919. Princeton, Illinois, USA: 1920. Entry for Horace Orville Reavis, page 182, No. 20. Ancestry Sharing Link Free to view Ancestry Sharing Image of page 182 of Honor Roll of Kalamazoo County, 1917,1918,1919, pg 182 Transcribed by Johnson-66920 on 10 Mar 2022.

   20. Horace Orville Reavis, Pvt. Co. A, 10 Inf, 14 Div.; son of Ida Helms Reavis; born Oct. 3, 1890 Mulberry Grove, Ill.; ent.svc. May 28, 1918 Greenville, Ill.; sent Ft. Thomas, KY.; tsfd. Rock Island, Ill,; mustered out June 24, 1919 Cmp. Custer.

4. ↑ United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1BX-YT2: accessed 8 March 2022), Horace Reavis, West Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana; citing ED 84-80, sheet 9A, family 196, NARA microfilm T627, roll 1105. Right-click HERE to view original census page.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #98312447
6. ↑ "Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZWW-V89 : 11 December 2014), Hoarce D Reavis, 28 Jul 1967; from "Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2000); citing Multnomah, Oregon, certificate number 10754, Oregon State Archives and Records Center, Salem.

• FamilySearch Person: LRJ3-VBM