The Skaggs-Files

According to Juanita LaPorta the marriage to Margaret Lee was Johns third wife. Also Dad (Harold Eugene Reeves) told me (Donna Reeves) that Great Grandpa John was killed by a horse. Information of death was published in the Central City Paper in Merrick County, Nebraska. As follows:

John Reeves, for twenty-three years a resident of our county and one of our most prominent citizens, passed away Monday, December 21st, at his home on the old Black Farm, six miles east of this city. He had attained the age of 90 years, 2 months, and 21 days. He came to Nebraska from Kentucky and resided continuously on his place near the mounth of the Warm Slough until the time of his death. He was a man of sterling character and will be sadly missed. He is survived by his wife and twelve children, three of whom were by former marriage. Members of the family reside in this community and are all valued citizens. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon, December 24th at two o'clock from Baptist Church. December 24, 1914
After a brief illness at his home northeast of the city, John Reeves, on of Merrick County's oldest and best known citizens, passed away quietly into the Great Beyond Monday, December 21, 1914. John Reeves was born in Green County, Kentucky, September 10, 1824 and at the time of his death was 90 years, 3 months, and 11 days of age. He was married to his present wife, who was formerly Miss Margaret White Lee, June 8, 1860, in Green County, Kentuchy, where they resided until the fall of '87, when he purchased and moved to what is known as the old Thompson place, where he resided at the time of
his death.

In early manhood he made a confession of religion at the country church near his old home. He was one of a large family and living as he did on the border between the north and the south, suffered all the hardships and privations to which the neutral faction was subjected. He could relate many interesting incidents of our great civil war. His memory was remarkably clear for a man of his age, an
d even at the last he expressed his willingness and readiness to go. The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon from the Baptist Church. In spite of the stormy weather, a large number of neighbors and friends gathered to pay their respect to the departed one. Rev. Stansbury, paster of the Baptist Church in this city, assisted by Rev. Brown of Chapman, conducted the last sad rites and spo
ke feelingly of the life of the loved one. After the conclusion of services, the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery north of town.

Besides his wife, Margaret White Lee Reeves, he leaves to mourn his loss twelve childern: G. R. Reeves, G. M. Reeves, Mrs. Geo Evertt, G. C. Reeves, S. L. Reeves and Mrs. E. J. Jewell of Central City, E. T. Reeves of Chapman, Mrs. Geo. Rice of Fullerton, Mrs. F. R. Berry, of Henry, Nebraska, Mrs. P.P. Gumm of Buhl, Idaho, Mrs, Silvia Thompson of Bufffalo, Kentucky, and Mrs. Bettie Warren of Ballinger, Texas. All of the children except Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Warren, Mrs.Gumm and Mrs. Thompson were present at the services.

Central City Paper ( Merrick County, Nebraska )
Story has it that John Reeves had a large plantation in Kentucky ( about 1300 acres ) and had several slaves. He made a trip back and forth to Louisville, Kentucky twice a year and took tobacco, lard, bacon, and mutton to trade. Had 2 wagons that he loaded with tobacco, and the trip took 2 days there and 2 days back. A neighbor, Charner Hoover would go with him on these trips.

During the war Soldiers came to the house and took things, kidnapped John and stold all of his horses. Somehow he managed to escape.

In November of 1887 they moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Central City Nebraska and bought 80 acres of land with a 4 bedroom house on it. Paid $19.00 and acre for the land. Later he sold it to Bob Reeves (?) for $316.00 and acre. Apparently some time later the house was destroyed by a Cyclone. The only thing left standing was the chimney.

This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/chickenlady/3/data/54

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bhendricks&id=P826869426