J. A. Reeves, Ouachita County, AR

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SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Contributed by Carol Smith.
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Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas

J. A. Reeves, a member of the firm of Reeves & Son, is one of the pioneer merchants of Camden, Arkansas and being public spirited,
liberal-minded and generous in disposition, he receives a most liberal share of public favor. His establishment is one of the 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, Georgia on 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 no 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, Georgia. 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,
Arkansas, 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
associate din 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..