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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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J. A. Reeves, a member of the firm of Reeves & Son is one the pioneer merchants of Camden, Ark., and being public-spirited, liberal-minded and generous in disposition, he receives a most liberal share of public favor. His establishment is one of most attractive of the kind in Southern Arkansas, and as he sells his goods at very low prices, and is honest and upright in his dealings with his patrons, he fully deserves his present success. He was born in Troup County, Ga., August 22, 1836, and is a son of James and Nancy (Harper) Reeves, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Georgia. They were married in the latter State, and lived and died there, the former having been an active participant in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Reeves, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. James Reeves, was a minister of the Baptist Church, and followed the occupation of farming for a living. A family of twelve children was born to himself and wife, only three are now living: James (a Baptist minister in Georgia), Eliza (Barzell, in Cleveland County), and Joseph A. (the immediate subject of this sketch). The latter was not named until sixteen years of age, then as his parents could not decide on a name he took the matter into his own hand and named himself while going from Atlanta to Covington, Ga. He remained in the State of Georgia until almost grown, receiving the most of his education there, and in 1855 went to Mississippi, and was engaged in clerking in a store until 1859, when he came to Camden, Ark., where he was making his home when the war broke out. On May 15, of that year, he joined the City Guards of Camden, but became a lieutenant in Company H, Sixth Arkansas Regiment, and was afterward promoted to captain. He commanded the company for two years and was a participant in all the engagements west of the Mississippi River. After the final surrender he returned to Camden and resumed merchandising, which occupation had received his attention before the war, being associated in business with D. W. Fellows, receiving one-third of the profits. By economy he managed to save considerable of this money, but after remaining a member of the firm until 1880, he withdrew and became associated in business with a Mr. Ross, their connection lasting three years. In 1886 the present firm was organized, and they are now doing an exceptionally paying business. Their stock of goods is valued at $12,000, and they do an annual business of $120,000. Mr. Reeves was married in 1866, to Miss Lizzie Parker, a native of Camden, and by her he has two sons and a daughter: Orlin C. (who is associated with his father), Edwin J. (a medical student in New Orleans), and Lizzie E. Mr. Reeves is a member of the K. of P., the R. A., the K. of H., and he is a stockholder in the Camden National Bank and the Camden Compress and Electric Light Company.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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