My Genealogy Hound

B. W. Reeves, merchant, El Dorado, Ark. One of the leading characteristics of our commercial fabric is the size and extent of the dry goods trade in the various cities of Arkansas. A vast capital is invested in this important industry, and thousands of persons are furnished remunerative employment. Among the leading establishments of El Dorado none are deserving of more favorable mention and consideration than that of Mr. Reeves. This gentleman was born in Union County, Ark., in 1848, and was the third of four children born to John A. and Martha E. (Matthews) Reeves, natives of Upson County, Ga., where the father followed farming until about 1845. He then came to Arkansas, settled in Union County, and bought a farm in the suburbs of El Dorado. He cleared and improved it until 1851, when his excellent wife died and he moved to the Western part of the county, where he bought a farm of about 500 acres. This he traded for another farm in the southwestern part of the county, on which he resided until his death in 1860. He was an honest, industrious citizen and was universally esteemed and respected. After the death of Mr. Reeves’ first wife he married her sister in 1855, and to them was born one child, who is living with her brother, John A. Reeves. B. W. Reeves was fairly educated in the common schools of the county and assisted his father in cultivating the soil until the out-breaking of the war. The family kept up the farm after the father’s death, and in 1863 the step-mother married Dr. Lewis and the family removed to Louisiana. There our subject resided for two years, and in the fall of 1865 the stepmother died, after which the children returned to Union County. B. W. then engaged in farming on a tract of land purchased by himself and his brother John, about two miles from El Dorado, and there resided for three years. At the age of twenty-one he attended school for one year, and then began to clerk for the merchants at El Dorado, following this for two years. He then returned to farming, continued at this for two years more and then in 1877, he engaged in business for himself in Hillsboro for a few months. After this he sold out and returned to El Dorado, where, in the fall of the year 1878, he embarked in merchandising at El Dorado Landing, continuing here until the following spring, when he came to El Dorado. In 1879, in partnership with W. D. Gresham, they bought the large two story brick on the northwest corner of the public square and embarked in general merchandising. This partnership continued until the winter of 1883, when Mr. Reeves sold out to his partner and withdrew from the firm. In the following July, Mr. Gresham died and Mr. Reeves took charge of the business, buying a half interest in the same the following winter and becoming an equal partner under the firm name of B. W. Reeves & Co. In two years the firm was dissolved, and W. J. Miles became an equal partner with B. W. Reeves, the same continuing for two years as Reeves & Miles. In the beginning of 1888 Mr. Reeves bought Mr. Miles’ interest, and has since continued the business alone, carrying a stock of goods at the present time valued at $6,000. He does a general furnishing business, and buys considerable cotton. He is also the owner of 300 acres under cultivation, which he rents the principal part of the time, and is the owner of a fine residence in the town. The store-room is 30x70, and the second story is used for furniture, etc. An addition of 24x30 was made and used as a cotton warehouse. Mr. Reeves is a good business man, is courteous and obliging, and endeavors to anticipate the wants of the public. He was married, in November, 1879, to Miss Julia S. Moore, a native of Arkansas, Union County, where her father, Aaron J. Moore, still resides, and to this union were born five children: Minnie, John Arthur, Mattie, B. W., Jr., and Walter. The family attend the Baptist Church, the parents being members of the same.