Harvey Chester Reeves (1896-1983) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Harvey Chester Reeves

Born 11 Apr 1896 in Silsbee, Hardin, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Son of Christopher Lourancis Reeves and Sophia Elizabeth (Brown) Reeves

Brother of Martha Ann (Reeves) Pickett, John Hardemon Reeves, James William Christopher Reeves, Richard Columbus Reeves, Doughial Doyel Reeves, Irene Permelia (Reeves) Milstead, Lewis Ferguson Reeves, Bertha (Reeves) Ennis, Elma Elizabeth (Reeves) McMinn and Arthur Cooper Reeves

Husband of Zeffa Robena (McMinn) Reeves — married 19 Dec 1919 (to 24 Apr 1977) in Port Neches, Jefferson, Texas, United States

Descendants

Father of Violet Ruth (Reeves) Dowden, Lois Marie Reeves, Florence Adele (Reeves) Smith and Harvey Boyd Reeves

Died 11 Feb 1983 at age 86 in Jefferson, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions

Profile last modified 21 Dec 2023 | Created 14 Oct 2021

This page has been accessed 372 times.

Biography

Harvey was born April 11, 1896; he appears in the historic record in the Hardin County, Precinct #5, 1900 U. S. Census as a four year old boy, with several older brothers and two older sisters; he also had one younger sister in 1900, Bertha Reeves. Bear in mind that Texas, in 1900, is still pre-Spindletop, so life on the farm is still the usual lifestyle.

By the 1910 U. S. Census for Precinct #5, Hardin County, Texas, Harvey has grown to a young man of 14 years of age. Southeast Texas, the City of Beaumont, and Jefferson County, Texas, are now in the middle of the "Oil Boom" following the discovery of oil at Spindletop; this meant that the possibility of employment off of the farm had become attractive. The family on the farm had changed; in the 1910 Census report, Sophia Brown Reeves is not present; she died earlier that year. In addition to Harvey's younger sister, Bertha, he now has another younger sister, Emma, and the youngest brother, Arthur Cooper, added to the family. Several of his older brothers are still living on the farm to help their father, who is now beginning to feel his age, and who has become a widower.

Now, Harvey Chester Reeves is the maternal grandfather of Dowden-595, who is writing this biography. "Grandpa" Reeves told me that he "ran away from home" at 14 years of age. The 1910 Census was enumerated on the Reeves farm on April 29, 1910, which would have been just after Harvey's 14th birthday; he was born 11 April 1896. According to the newsaper article by L. A. Darnall, "H. C. Reeves Builds Home as Retiree," Harvey "started work in Texaco Roofing Plant in Port Neches in 1917. May 28, 1918, he was inducted into Battery F of the 123rd Field Artillery, a unit of the 36th Division."

Harvey Chester Reeves

The family photo collection has photos of Harvey Chester Reeves, his fiancee, Zeffa Robena McMinn, and other friends and family members on various apparent church gatherings, picnics, prior to the onset of World War I and Harvey's induction. On returning from France, Harvey and Zeffa are married in Port Neches, Texas, December 1919. Harvey, as a returning veteran from the "Great War" has his job at Texaco waiting for him; he and his new bride set up housekeeping in Port Neches, Texas, and by 24 April, 1921, have their first born child, Violet Ruth Reeves.

He passed 11 February 1983.

Sources

"Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-FBYK : 9 March 2021), Harvey Chester Reeves, 28 May 1918; citing Military Service, Kountze, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin. [1] [2] [3]

See 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Hardin County, Yexas.
See 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Justice Precinct 5, Hardin County, Texas.
See 1920 U.S. Census, Justice Precinct #5, Hardin County, Texas.

*See 1930 U.S. Federal Census for District 0080, Port Neches, Jefferson, Texas.

*Find A Grave: Memorial #55989799

* Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55989799/harvey-chester-reeves: accessed 21 December 2023), memorial page for Harvey Chester Reeves Sr. (11 Apr 1896–11 Feb 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55989799, citing Knupple Cemetery, Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Rita A Bomher (contributor 47319873).

Memories: 2

Enter a personal reminiscence or story.

William Dowden Jr.

The newspaper article that was referenced in Harvey's bio mentions that Harvey liked to go squirrel hunting with his son-in-law. Harvey only had two sons-in-law, Thalmage G. Smith, Jr., and William Thomas Dowden, Sr.; the latter was my father. I cannot vouchsafe that "Uncle Smitty" ever went squirrel hunting with Harvey and W. T., but I can certainly remember going hunting as a boy with Granpa Reeves and my father. We would go to a tract of woods up in East Texas near Warren, Texas, as I recall. Several things I recall when Granpa would take us hunting: Rule Number One was not to get ahead of the men with the guns; they might need to get a quick shot off at any prey that might appear. Secondly, Grandpa always carried a big brass Police-type whistle, in case we ever got lost, we could use it to call search parties, but more likely it would have been used to call the dog back to us. Also, he always carried a military type lensatic compass. I thought that reflected back on his military service in World War I; an artilleryman would certainly have been well trained on the uses of a compass.

posted 25 Dec 2021 by William Dowden Jr. [thank William]

William Dowden Jr.

Granpa Reeves had an antique chest stored at his home in Port Neches, Texas. As a boy, the first grandson, I was allowed access to this chest, where I found various Army reminders from the War: a "Doughboy helment", a physical exercise manual, and leg wrappings, among a few other items. The chest is still in the family; it is now more than a century old.

posted 21 Dec 2021 by William Dowden Jr. [thank William]

Is Harvey your ancestor? Please don't go away!